Can you build muscle in a calorie deficit #shorts
In this short video, Eric Roberts addresses the common question of whether muscle can be built while in a calorie deficit. He outlines two specific situations where this is possible: (1) true beginners who start a genuine strength‑training program (or switch from non‑strength modalities such as Orange Theory, Beachbody, P90X, or HIIT boot camps) – a phase that typically lasts 6–12 months – can add muscle even while eating fewer calories; (2) individuals who have taken a short break (about 2–3 months) from a regular strength‑training routine can also regain muscle during a deficit when they resume training. For anyone outside these scenarios, Roberts recommends a calorie surplus to maximize lean‑muscle growth, followed by a deficit for fat loss while maintaining existing muscle. He notes that strength can still improve in a deficit, but muscle mass is best preserved rather than built.
