Muscle Memory And Muscle Loss Confusion

camille97

Since school has started, I find that it is increasingly difficult to find the time to exercise, so I may not be exercising for days at a time. However, this poses a source of stress for me, because I am worried I may lose muscle and gain fat.
A few questions I would like to understand more about:

When you are losing weight, do you gain fat if you lose muscle? If I do not exercise for several days, will I gain fat?

How long does it take to lose muscle? How much is lost? How long does it take to gain it back?

I would appreciate detailed and comprehensive responses, but any insight is helpful.

Thanks!

ninerbuff

Since school has started, I find that it is increasingly difficult to find the time to exercise, so I may not be exercising for days at a time. However, this poses a source of stress for me, because I am worried I may lose muscle and gain fat.
A few questions I would like to understand more about:

When you are losing weight, do you gain fat if you lose muscle? If I do not exercise for several days, will I gain fat?

Only if you're calories surplus.

How long does it take to lose muscle? How much is lost? How long does it take to gain it back?

Muscle takes time to lose. But it does atrophy. It's still there just not conditioned. Depending on how long you were inactive will depend on how long it takes to get it back.

RoanneRed

The training effect on a muscle from the last time you 'stressed' it in a workout starts to fade after 3 days if you don't 'stress' it again but I wouldn't imagine that the rate of loss of lean muscle tissue is very fast.

The problem with losing muscle weight is more that your base/resting metabolic rate will slow over time - if you don't watch your calorie intake then you may ultimately store some more fat.

rileysowner

Even with muscle loss the effect on BMR will be small. I was reading about this a while back. If I can find the article I will post it, but if I recall correctly the latest is about 15 calories extra per pound of muscle, not the 50 that is often quoted.

Keefypoos

I checked this out and found 6 Kcals per day per lb

rileysowner

I checked this out and found 6 Kcals per day per lb

Thanks, I see I did not remember correctly. Here is the article. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/16/health/la-he-fitness-muscle-myth-20110516