Can't build muscle in a caloric deficit - why?

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  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited August 2015
    balboasuze wrote: »
    How is that explained, if you assume that "no muscle gain in caloric deficit" is true? (Disclaimer: this is a genuine question - I'm not fishing for people to tell me that I've gained muscle...) Does muscular strength not equal muscular gain?

    I don't have a position on the overall subject, but I did experience this:

    DEXA in late August 2014, about 150 lb, about 100 lb lean mass.

    DEXA in late January 2015, about 130 lb, about 96 lb lean mass.

    During that same time period I was working a progressive strength training program, made substantial strength gains, and looked more muscular at the end of it (which obviously is due to less fat to cover it up).
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    edited August 2015
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    balboasuze wrote: »
    How is that explained, if you assume that "no muscle gain in caloric deficit" is true? (Disclaimer: this is a genuine question - I'm not fishing for people to tell me that I've gained muscle...) Does muscular strength not equal muscular gain?

    I don't have a position on the overall subject, but I did experience this:

    DEXA in late August 2014, about 150 lb, about 100 lb lean mass.

    DEXA in late January 2015, about 130 lb, about 96 lb lean mass.

    During that same time period I was working a progressive strength training program, made substantial strength gains, and looked more muscular at the end of it (which obviously is due to less fat to cover it up).

    So for 20 lbs lost, 4 of them were lean mass. Or 1:5. That's better than 1:3 (in this case 7 lbs of lean mass) which seems to be the kind of result you'd expect without lifting weights.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    balboasuze wrote: »
    How is that explained, if you assume that "no muscle gain in caloric deficit" is true? (Disclaimer: this is a genuine question - I'm not fishing for people to tell me that I've gained muscle...) Does muscular strength not equal muscular gain?

    I don't have a position on the overall subject, but I did experience this:

    DEXA in late August 2014, about 150 lb, about 100 lb lean mass.

    DEXA in late January 2015, about 130 lb, about 96 lb lean mass.

    During that same time period I was working a progressive strength training program, made substantial strength gains, and looked more muscular at the end of it (which obviously is due to less fat to cover it up).

    Mmmm great info
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