Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'm 46, 6ft 5 (1.7m), and 180 lbs (82 kg) and about 16% body fat. I've been lifting for about 18 months. I want to get to about 10 to 12% body fat and I'd like to keep my weight in the 180 to 185 range. I've been doing compound lifting (squats, deads, chins, rows, etc.) and adding weight to the bar consistently. I train to near failure each workout, and am planning my first HST cycle.
I had the idea that I could simply convert a few percentage points of my current body fat into muscle. But after a year and a half of hard work, I'm not showing a huge amount of progress. I'm stronger, for sure. And I think I've gained some muscle. But progress seems slow.
After reading the forum at bit, I'm now thinking that I've got it wrong. Should I be looking to gain weight and muscle and then, in a separate phase, lose fat. In other words, is it even possible to convert fat to muscle or does muscle tissue have to come from current food intake rather than from existing fat stores?
I had the idea that I could simply convert a few percentage points of my current body fat into muscle. But after a year and a half of hard work, I'm not showing a huge amount of progress. I'm stronger, for sure. And I think I've gained some muscle. But progress seems slow.
After reading the forum at bit, I'm now thinking that I've got it wrong. Should I be looking to gain weight and muscle and then, in a separate phase, lose fat. In other words, is it even possible to convert fat to muscle or does muscle tissue have to come from current food intake rather than from existing fat stores?