****Official 2013 Weight Loss Challenge****

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by candyman

Then how do you explain my ability to do more reps and my increased bench max?

And I can't tell if you are here to get help from those who know or if you already know it all? It shouldn't surprise you that there are a few here who have degrees in this sort of field, practice what we preach and even compete in weighlifting competitions. I am not here to toot my own horn but to really clear up so many myths that the fitness "industry" has told to make a quick buck. It really is simpler than anyone really thinks.

I would gladly be of assistance to anyone on this board who is here to get serious about getting in shape, stronger, leaner or anything in between.

[candyman]

Originally Posted by lewdog

And I can't tell if you are here to get help from those who know or if you already know it all?

Not tryying to come off that way, just assumed when I workout and my arms get bigger around/bench increases that I must be gaining muscle. So it's not possible to lose your gut and build your arms/chest at the same time? Because my diet, cardio every other day, and weights on the other days have equated to that for the last few years. I let myself go all winter every year, arms get smaller, chest gets flatter, gut gets bigger...and weight goes up.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by candyman

Not tryying to come off that way, just assumed when I workout and my arms get bigger around/bench increases that I must be gaining muscle. So it's not possible to lose your gut and build your arms/chest at the same time? Because my diet, cardio every other day, and weights on the other days have equated to that for the last few years. I let myself go all winter every year, arms get smaller, chest gets flatter, gut gets bigger...and weight goes up.

As I said, you can a can muscle/lose fat for the first 4-6 weeks of newb gains, which sounds like you hit every year since you let yourself go over the winter. The "increase" in the size of your muscle is likely sarcoplasmic fluid which doesn't necessary increase the contractile proteins and size of muscle fibers. Likely that what you notice is an increase in the ability to see your muscle with the fat decreasing over them. Are you just going by how they look or are you actually measuring your arms getting "bigger?"