Which first?

[IronKid55]

hey everyone,

Im kinda new to bodybuilding, 21, been working out for about a month mostly HIIT. Im relatively skinny with my upper body but, I have a pretty big gut. Do I loose the fat first then build muscle? Or the other way around? I heard its not the most efficient to build muscle and loose fat at the same time. can anyone help? Sorry if this question is stupid. I'm 5'10" and 168lbs.

Thanks.

[TALO]

If your new to the gym then I would say that you will start to see a huge difference in strength gain, muscle gain and fat loss all at one time. More important is the way you eat.

[hrdgain81]

Talo is correct, as a newb you should see very good body recomposition right off the bat if your diet and training are in order.

[EricT]

It's really your bodyfat percentage and not just having a gut that gives you the answer. If you are very skinny like you say, or, in other words your bodyfat is pretty low then like the others said you'll get those quick body comp changes. If your body fat is high...I'd say higher than 15% but better would be no higher than around 12% then it would be better to focus on strength expression and fat loss for a while and not muscle gain "as such". But it sounds like you should do what the others suggested.

I don't think it's a stuped question at all though. I think it is a very common and important one. Many have asked it and I'm wondering what the others think. I've seen where pretty overweight people come on and they get mixed responses. I've also seen that the trend in the "personal training" industry is to put overweight people onto bodybuilding style routines right off the bat with the premise that all the muscle gained will burn more fat.

I disagree with this completely. Yes more muscle burns more fat but it doesn't burn nearly the extra amount of fat as it is commonly made out to do. Also, you just aren't going to gain so much damn muscle right off the bat that it will have that much impact on you fat buring goals. Better to focus on the post exercise effect which means higher intensity. Especially since as body fat percentage rises, the ability to gain muscle lowers.