From pro bodybuilders to your bodybuilding enthusiasts, it’s everyone’s dream to build muscle while shedding fat. However, Chris Bumstead explained why it’s not always possible to do so. The five-time Olympia champion spoke about the hotly debated subject while appearing on The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes.

Howes asked Chris Bumstead if “it’s possible to burn fat and build muscle and stay lean at the same,” while discussing nutrition. Cbum explained the catch. “It’s very dependent on where your body is,” said the 29-year-old bodybuilding champion. He explained that it’s easy for some who have never done weight training and may be overweight.

“If you’re someone who never worked out and you’re like 300 lbs overweight, then of course,” said Bumsted. The King of Classic physique even said that a person with similar stats will achieve the golden ratio even with minimal effort. However, building muscle while simultaneously burning fat becomes much harder for someone already in shape.

Chris Bumstead used himself as an example and said it would be nearly unfathomable for someone like him. The five-time champion said it becomes difficult to even maintain muscle mass while cutting weight during a prep. Building muscle in such a state may not even be possible. “So I really can’t answer. It’s very dependent on the person,” confessed Bumstead.

Chris Bumstead also said that just to maintain his muscle mass, he has to consume 300 gm of protein per day. So, to gain more muscle, he would have to increase protein and calorie intake, which would inevitably increase weight and fat mass. However, some bodybuilding veterans like Greg Doucette argue that trained individuals can gain muscle while staying lean.

Greg Doucette on the main gaining

While Chris Bumstead said he couldn’t give a clear answer, Greg Doucette seems to have the answer. Doucette is a proponent of a principle called main gaining. He believes that bodybuilders don’t need to cut if they don’t go on a bulk in the first place. Instead, he believes, a person can put on muscle while maintaining the same body fat level through main gaining.

“You need protein, water, and energy,” to build muscle said Greg Doucette in a video. The former Canadian National Bodybuilding Champion explained that as long as someone has those three elements, they can build muscle even on a calorie deficit. “It’s harder, but it can happen,” said Doucette. So, bodybuilding doesn’t believe in following the bulk-cut routine that pros like Chris Bumstead do.

The subject of trained individuals gaining muscle and burning fat remains a subject of debate. While Chris Bumstead believes it depends on a person’s physique, Greg Doucette believes even experienced bodybuilders can gain muscle without gaining fat.