Did i really lose that much muscle???

shawn1112

So I went a head and joined a gym after reading on here and other sites that I'm probably losing a lot of lean muscle. Long story short I lost 67lbs in 6-7 months just watching my calories and doing cardio. Mostly walking first 6 months or so and running last 10 weeks. Well I worked on strictly chest today and I couldnt complete a set of 10 bench presses at 95lbs! I know roughly 2 years ago just messing around at a buddies house I benched 175lbs 10 times with no problem and I wasnt working out in any way, shape, or form back then?? So have I lost that much muscle by losing weight?

QuilterInVA

If you don't eat enough protein and do weights while losing, you lose a lot of LBM. Cardio just doesn't do the job.

Mr_Knight

Here's the thing...somewhere between the ages of 35 and 45 (exact number is different for every male)...the male body goes down the ****ter unless you start taking steps to prevent it.

Strength and LBM aren't strictly correlated, it is quite possible to lose tons of strength without losing much (or even any) muscle mass.

shawn1112

If you don't eat enough protein and do weights while losing, you lose a lot of LBM. Cardio just doesn't do the job.

Just started whey protein in the last 2 weeks. I drink a 8oz shake for breakfast and one after either cardio or the gym.

shawn1112

Here's the thing...somewhere between the ages of 35 and 45 (exact number is different for every male)...the male body goes down the ****ter unless you start taking steps to prevent it.

Strength and LBM aren't strictly correlated, it is quite possible to lose tons of strength without losing much (or even any) muscle mass.

Well I'm 38 so in that range. Hopefully I'm on the rite path to prevent it.

Mr_Knight

It's not to late to get it back. I'm a few years older than you, and went from "Novice" to "Intermediate" weights in just 3 months of 2x/week lifting StartingStrength.

RunBrew

[snip]... I couldnt complete a set of 10 bench presses at 95lbs! I know roughly 2 years ago just messing around at a buddies house I benched 175lbs 10 times with no problem and I wasnt working out in any way, shape, or form back then?? So have I lost that much muscle by losing weight?

Probably not. Male ego and adrenalization are not to be underestimated. It's certain you lost *some* muscle, but not that much.

You just weren't fired up at the gym because your bro wasn't watching, waiting for the opportunity to call you a p***y.

Lifting gains are 90% neuromuscular facilitation in the beginning. You have the muscle fibers, your brain just hasn't learned to recruit them into the fight....yet. Keep lifting and you'll get there.

shawn1112

[snip]... I couldnt complete a set of 10 bench presses at 95lbs! I know roughly 2 years ago just messing around at a buddies house I benched 175lbs 10 times with no problem and I wasnt working out in any way, shape, or form back then?? So have I lost that much muscle by losing weight?

Probably not. Male ego and adrenalization are not to be underestimated. It's certain you lost *some* muscle, but not that much.

You just weren't fired up at the gym because your bro wasn't watching, waiting for the opportunity to call you a p***y.

Lifting gains are 90% neuromuscular facilitation in the beginning. You have the muscle fibers, your brain just hasn't learned to recruit them into the fight....yet. Keep lifting and you'll get there.

lol, true

shawn1112

It's not to late to get it back. I'm a few years older than you, and went from "Novice" to "Intermediate" weights in just 3 months of 2x/week lifting StartingStrength.

Glad to hear, I felt like a total newb at the gym today while hitting the bench press and other presses. I couldnt lift the bar up straight, if I didnt have the pins on the bar the plates would have fell off, lol.

mustgetmuscles1

Muscle loss and strength loss are two different things. Just like gaining strength does not always equal gaining muscle.

It is likely you lost some lean body mass while dieting without resistance training but it might not be that much depending on how big of a deficit you had, how much protein you ate and your age.

Just stick to the gym and keep adding weight when you can and you will get it back and maybe more.