How much muscle loss is reasonable when losing?

wagnerpe123

Since July, 2015, I have lost (as of today) 106lbs. I have a fitbit aria scale and I know that it's not perfect, but if I use the year's worth of data, my weight has decreased in both categories (lbs of fat and lean muscle mass)

I got the scale after I started this journey, but on July 20, 2015 I was 287.9lbs with 53.4% fat or 134.2lbs lean, 153.7lbs fat.

This morning, I was 185lbs, 42.8% fat or 105.8lbs lean, 79.2lbs fat.

Is losing 28lbs of muscle, 78lbs of fat reasonable for a 106lb loss or is that too much muscle?

Kdp2015

I've lost 3 stone, according to my scales I've lost 1 stone of lean mass - given the chance again I would rather have lost 2 overall and no muscle - it would have taken a lot longer though and hindsight is a wonderful thing!

vespiquenn

I will let someone more educated on this answer the actual question because that seems like a lot of muscle loss to me with your body fat being that high. But then one needs to consider that scales are inaccurate in measuring body fat.

But what are you doing to preserve muscle? Are you on any progressive lifting program? Are you making sure to meet protein goals?

robininfl

In the other direction, starting at about 20% bodyfat and underweight I gained about 80% muscle and 20% fat, so stayed about the same lean % - you lost 35% muscle and 65% fat, so you are getting leaner. I think you are doing well as long as you are getting leaner. It's well-nigh impossible to lose only fat.

Like vespiquenn asked, are you doing anything to preserve your lean mass while losing weight?

Francl27

Impossible to know either way unless you do an expensive body fat scan before and after.