When first starting a weight lifting program, most people have the same basic idea in mind: the goal of looking ripped/shredded/jacked…having ~10% body fat…and being really strong. While each of these goals are attainable, the process by which one achieves these objectives must be fully and correctly understood. Many people believe falsely that you can simultaneously make consistent gains in muscle mass and strength while leaning-out. Unfortunately, human biology and physiology says otherwise.

For an in-depth analysis of this popular training fallacy, read this explanation. The aforementioned article walks the reader through the processes required for building muscle/acquiring strength and getting razor abzzzz (as the kids call them on Instagram). The bottom line: getting stronger takes much longer than getting leaner; you cannot get strong without gaining some body fat; body fat is easy to lose when you have built up muscle mass; get big and strong first, then lose the body fat. Now go train!