What happens to muscle when you stop weights

tmcginley
tmcginley Posts: 28
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi - for the past 6 months I have included some weight training (2x a week) into my regular workouts of running, HIIT, and functional training. I'm terminating my gym membership until next year as I am moving and need to save a bit so, I will return to just running and bodyweight exercises. Will I lose muscle mass? I am currently trying to lose 10 lbs so if I eat 1g of protein per lb of bodyweight can I still reserve the muscle mass I have built thru using weights?

Replies

  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    This may be worthless info and I'm sure others might be better informed but it seems to me the muscles would adapt to the stress levels they're exposed to so I think they'd atrophy a bit no matter how much protein you eat. Maybe not back to their original size but they'd reduce a bit.
    Interested in other responses...
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Will you still be eating at a deficit? If yes, you will definitely lose some muscle mass. If you are eating at maintenance and still working out with body weight, you will retain some, but not all.
  • tmcginley
    tmcginley Posts: 28
    Yeah I'll be eating at a deficit because I'm hoping for fat loss
  • gangsterfurious
    gangsterfurious Posts: 56
    It disappears and becomes a lumpy mass of chubby thighs. At least that's been my personal experience. :(
  • arghbowl
    arghbowl Posts: 1,179 Member
    It instantly disappears and turns into twice it's weight in fat.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Yeah I'll be eating at a deficit because I'm hoping for fat loss

    I would consider getting some weights you can use at home then. If you have decent muscle mass/definition now, you will be disappointed after taking the time off from lifting while eating at a calorie deficit.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    It instantly disappears and turns into twice it's weight in fat.

    And this.
  • awise19
    awise19 Posts: 154 Member
    You don't need the gym. You can do bodyweight style training at home without the gym to help this.
    Do wall sits, push ups, lunges, squats, burpees, jumping jacks, jump ropes at walmart are 2 dollars, calf raises, tricep dips, stairs, or bleachers, step ups, or box jumps.

    Go the playground early in the morning or when the sun is going down, do pull ups on the monkey bars or do moneky bars. If there is a big slide, climb up it, do it in a circuit style.
  • tmcginley
    tmcginley Posts: 28
    You don't need the gym. You can do bodyweight style training at home without the gym to help this.
    Do wall sits, push ups, lunges, squats, burpees, jumping jacks, jump ropes at walmart are 2 dollars, calf raises, tricep dips, stairs, or bleachers, step ups, or box jumps.

    Go the playground early in the morning or when the sun is going down, do pull ups on the monkey bars or do moneky bars. If there is a big slide, climb up it, do it in a circuit style.

    erm, yes, as I said originally i WILL be doing bodyweight exercises but no longer lifting heavy
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    It instantly disappears and turns into twice it's weight in fat.

    And this.

    Yep!
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    Everybody knows that when you lift weights your fat turns into muscle, and when you stop lifting your muscle turns into fat. Duh.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Everybody knows that when you lift weights your fat turns into muscle, and when you stop lifting your muscle turns into fat. Duh.

    Way to give half information. Everyone knows this only happens if you don't drink enough water.

Categories