# trained vs untrained (melbourne q&a followup) weight gain/muscle loss

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/trained-vs-untrained-melbourne-q-a-followup-weight-gain-muscle-loss/5513>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [April 18, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/trained-vs-untrained-melbourne-q-a-followup-weight-gain-muscle-loss/5513 "2019-04-18T00:22:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/aem/32/6050_2.png) [@aem](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/aem)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/trained-vs-untrained-melbourne-q-a-followup-weight-gain-muscle-loss/5513/1 "2019-04-18T00:22:47Z")

</div>

hello good doctors,

in your melbourne q&a, jordan mentioned that, in general, untrained folks can gain muscle “whilst” losing fat, and trained folks (generally) cannot. how are you defining “trained” and “untrained” here? i realize it’s a spectrum, but outside of the obvious (has never picked up a barbell; world record holder) what are some indicators and/or metrics we might use to place someone on this spectrum?

thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/trained-vs-untrained-melbourne-q-a-followup-weight-gain-muscle-loss/5513/2 "2019-04-18T00:49:20Z")

</div>

There’s no clear dividing line that can be used to predict such a thing with any degree of confidence. It’s going to depend a lot on individual factors including genetics, anabolic sensitivity, and a whole host of other contextual factors.