Muscle Loss - how fast does it happen?

deanadimples

I have been working out with weights the past 6 months or so. I've had no problems and haven't been straining myself. But Tuesday am I got my laptop from my car and had a back spasm. It was just one of those things that happen. My back has been locked up since. It's Saturday and I'm still having issues with it. I haven't worked out since Monday. I'm missing my workouts!!

I don't know if this is coincidence....but I've lost 4 lbs this week. I never lose weight like that. I'm a strict 1-1.5 a week kinda girl. My diet hasn't changed this week and I've been hitting my 1,200 net calories. The only change is I haven't exercised. TMI....I usually plateau the week or 2 before TOM. Then I seem to lose TOM...which was this week.

I was beginning to wonder if I'm losing muscle? I didn't think it would happen that fast but could it? Did TOM just lose more than normal? Or am I just rockin a week?

Any ideas??

KavemanKarg

You may lose lean tissue weight with water loss as muscles can be 80% of weight in water, but you will never actually lose 4 pounds of muscle tissue itself in a week. The tissue is there, and if you started training tomorrow, it would wake back up quickly.

The usually preached guideline is that you can recover strength 3 times faster then you lost it, for this reason.

kellyscomeback

I'm not an expert but I'm confident enough to say it's not muscle. It could be a (good) fluke week, because you are still maintaining a calorie deficit or something else.

ninerbuff

I have been working out with weights the past 6 months or so. I've had no problems and haven't been straining myself. But Tuesday am I got my laptop from my car and had a back spasm. It was just one of those things that happen. My back has been locked up since. It's Saturday and I'm still having issues with it. I haven't worked out since Monday. I'm missing my workouts!!

I don't know if this is coincidence....but I've lost 4 lbs this week. I never lose weight like that. I'm a strict 1-1.5 a week kinda girl. My diet hasn't changed this week and I've been hitting my 1,200 net calories. The only change is I haven't exercised. TMI....I usually plateau the week or 2 before TOM. Then I seem to lose TOM...which was this week.

I was beginning to wonder if I'm losing muscle? I didn't think it would happen that fast but could it? Did TOM just lose more than normal? Or am I just rockin a week?

Any ideas??

Not working out reduces the need for water and glycogen. It's NOT uncommon to lose more weight than usual when you don't work out.

deanadimples

I didn't really think it was muscle loss. Heck I can still see em lol

It was just so odd to lose so much. I didn't lose this much my first week when I was shocking the heck out of my body!

It's going to be interesting to see what happens when I hit my regular routine again. Now...if I could just get this back to calm down. I miss exercise!