How can I build muscle and burn fat at the same time?

My knowledge of fitness revolves around bulking and cutting phases. Increasing calories to build muscle and cutting them to lose fat. As I understand it, you can accomplish both at the same time, maybe?? I've tried looking it up online, but it seems so damn complicated. It can't really be this difficult, can it?

I had a friend in the army. He went to basic for 12 weeks and when he came back, he had way more muscle and was really lean. Anyone have any ideas what the training and diet would be like to accomplish these both at the same time? Something tells me this will involve breaking bodybuilding myths that I didn't even realize were myths.

 

High nutrition food( do your research) and working out. You'd like to be more active too( more frequent walks, swim, do more in general.)

 

I've been reading and watching videos about these online. I think I may try this!