Can you lose fat and muscle at the same time.

frumpytofit

I'm dropping weight but my upper body feels weak like I've lost some muscle strength and size. I'm female and haven't been able to do upper body strength training for a few weeks because I'm healing from an injury. Meanwhile the fat won't move from my lower body( same pants size). I walk for exercise.

I always thought excess body fat was used for fuel before muscle. Is it possible my body is eating into the muscle while it still has fat around?

LuckyLeprechaun

yes of course. While you're at a deficit you'll lose both.

Rae6503

Pretty much everyone will drop muscle at the same time as fat (obese people don't lose as much). A small-moderate calorie deficit, strength training and adequate protien intake will help preserve as much muscle as possible. You should be getting at least 1 gram of protien for every pound of lean body mass. And yeah, get back into strength training as soon as you can.

tangal88

Muscle is much more nutrient dense then fat. So the body gets more "useful stuff" from muscle vs fat, in the break down process.

The body breaks down all tissue, based on whats easiest to get to (in relationship to blood vessels), the types of stresses it is under at the time, nutrient needs, etc.

Fat can be stored in many body areas, some deeper in the body, some closer to the surface. Densities differ, and fat type. Not all areas are equally easy to access. Not all breakdown at the same rate.

In many cases muscle is as easy as - or easier to breakdown.
And if the body is not using the muscle, it is "wasted" tissue, taking up space and needed body resources (in the body's eyes) so it is available, and useful, for fast breakdown, to help maintain and preserve other body processes.

If you are actively using the muscle (strength training, where you actively challenge the muscle and stress it to create new growth) the body senses that it "needs" that tissue, and will be less likely to break it down for fuel needs.

If you are giving your body adequate protein, nutrients, - it can use that to build and or maintain muscle, and is less likely to breakdown the muscle tissue for protein needs. (often needed to heal injuries as well as daily function, and tissue rebuilding)

If your calorie levels are to low, muscle will be broken down at a faster rate. (usually seen in very low calorie diets, and /or those below 1200). Much will also depend on your current body fat levels.

frumpytofit

Muscle is much more nutrient dense then fat. So the body gets more "useful stuff" from muscle vs fat, in the break down process.

The body breaks down all tissue, based on whats easiest to get to (in relationship to blood vessels), the types of stresses it is under at the time, nutrient needs, etc.

Fat can be stored in many body areas, some deeper in the body, some closer to the surface. Densities differ, and fat type. Not all areas are equally easy to access. Not all breakdown at the same rate.

In many cases muscle is as easy as - or easier to breakdown.
And if the body is not using the muscle, it is "wasted" tissue, taking up space and needed body resources (in the body's eyes) so it is available, and useful, for fast breakdown, to help maintain and preserve other body processes.

If you are actively using the muscle (strength training, where you actively challenge the muscle and stress it to create new growth) the body senses that it "needs" that tissue, and will be less likely to break it down for fuel needs.

If you are giving your body adequate protein, nutrients, - it can use that to build and or maintain muscle, and is less likely to breakdown the muscle tissue for protein needs. (often needed to heal injuries as well as daily function, and tissue rebuilding)

If your calorie levels are to low, muscle will be broken down at a faster rate. (usually seen in very low calorie diets, and /or those below 1200). Much will also depend on your current body fat levels.

Thanks for this info! This is so helpful. I was under the belief that fat is always burned before muscle