Working out and weight loss question. `

hottbutch

I started on MFP a month ago and have lost 11 pounds and quite a few inches. When I first started I was working out 3-5 times a week mostly circuit training (boot camp, Jillian Michael's 30DS) and usually my treadmill and lots of walking with my baby.
This past week I've been really sick and only worked out once for 50 minutes at my boot camp and I have been sticking to my calorie limit (mostly). I have been losing more weight. I was at a mini plateau for a week before this one.
The question then, is this because the diet is just causing me to lose weight or because I'm losing muscle mass due to lack of exercise?
Also, should I just stick to my calorie limit and work out maybe twice a week until I lose my goal weight and then start working out more again to tone everything?
I see how supportive people are on here but I'm not looking for peoples 2 cents, I want people who have real knowledge with this and facts to back it up. Sorry if that is harsh but I don't want opinions.

Thank you in advance.

GeorgieLove708

I don't have a real answer for you but my reply will bump up your post and maybe someone else who is more knowledgeable will reply. But, whenever I'm sick I lose weight. I don't think it's muscle you're losing, just a consequence of being sick and your body working hard to heal itself.

AllTehBeers

A week is not long enough to determine anything. You can lose plenty of fat just by diet alone and exercise is to keep one fit and help maintain muscle while eating a calorie deficit.

Most people agree that it takes at least three weeks of not losing pounds or inches to actually be on a plateau. Keep working out and get plenty of protein.

chris1816

I started on MFP a month ago and have lost 11 pounds and quite a few inches. When I first started I was working out 3-5 times a week mostly circuit training (boot camp, Jillian Michael's 30DS) and usually my treadmill and lots of walking with my baby.
This past week I've been really sick and only worked out once for 50 minutes at my boot camp and I have been sticking to my calorie limit (mostly). I have been losing more weight. I was at a mini plateau for a week before this one.
The question then, is this because the diet is just causing me to lose weight or because I'm losing muscle mass due to lack of exercise?
Also, should I just stick to my calorie limit and work out maybe twice a week until I lose my goal weight and then start working out more again to tone everything?
I see how supportive people are on here but I'm not looking for peoples 2 cents, I want people who have real knowledge with this and facts to back it up. Sorry if that is harsh but I don't want opinions.

Thank you in advance.

I feel like you are daring me to be a smartass.

Anyway, let's think about this for a minuto. You're sick so there are a couple factors at play here.

1) Not sure what you have, but you are likely losing a bit of water due to recovery/trying to work out. You should focus on rest; stay within your calories or at least around (work with what feels best at this point).

2) Being sick, even without a fever will raise the body's temperature. This takes energy to do. Your body measures energy in calories which are composed of the well known macronutrients. If you have excess fat and are still eating at a caloric deficit your body is forcing that deficit to increase by effectively raising your BMR at rest
.
3) You said losing weight (fat) versus losing muscle; the catabolic (muscle loss) process happens much; much more slowly than the average internet superhero thinks. You are losing water, likely fat, and an imperceptible about of muscle. It takes a long time for lean mass to be that actively consumed and if you have plenty of excess body fat to consume that tends to go first as it is A) Easier to metabolically break down into glucose as a higher caloric value, 1 gram of fat is 9 calories versus 1 gram of protein being 4 calories. Remember, energy costs.

So focus on getting rest and then worry about the path forward. You seem to have a slew of really generalized questions so I recommend you sit down and read this, top to bottom: http://4chanfit.wikia.com/wiki/Harsh's_Worksheet_(WIP)

AllTehBeers

3) You said losing weight (fat) versus losing muscle; the catabolic (muscle loss) process happens much; much more slowly than the average internet superhero thinks. You are losing water, likely fat, and an imperceptible about of muscle. It takes a long time for lean mass to be that actively consumed and if you have plenty of excess body fat to consume that tends to go first as it is A) Easier to metabolically break down into glucose as a higher caloric value, 1 gram of fat is 9 calories versus 1 gram of protein being 4 calories. Remember, energy costs.

This is my favorite one. People don't understand that real changes to body composition takes weeks/months. 4 or 5 days of being sick isn't long enough for your body to do anything.

chris1816

3) You said losing weight (fat) versus losing muscle; the catabolic (muscle loss) process happens much; much more slowly than the average internet superhero thinks. You are losing water, likely fat, and an imperceptible about of muscle. It takes a long time for lean mass to be that actively consumed and if you have plenty of excess body fat to consume that tends to go first as it is A) Easier to metabolically break down into glucose as a higher caloric value, 1 gram of fat is 9 calories versus 1 gram of protein being 4 calories. Remember, energy costs.

This is my favorite one. People don't understand that real changes to body composition takes weeks/months. 4 or 5 days of being sick isn't long enough for your body to do anything.

Well in the case of lean mass consumption yes, however it can go much much faster for fat loss than people realize; especially depending on existing amount of fat stores, and how much excess energy is being consumed above normal maintenance by the body having to fight off illness.

To give an example in high school I went on a back packing trip in the Andes (I lived in Argentina at the time) and I've always been a fatty even though then I lifted and played rugby. So my chubby *kitten* trucked it up a mountain over the course of a day with a heavy pack and then again the next day. Came back into the nearby town for two days of drinking, partying and delicious chocolate shops (the town was famous for it). By the time I got home in 5 days I had lost 25lbs, and I guarantee you that was not all water weight.

hottbutch

I started on MFP a month ago and have lost 11 pounds and quite a few inches. When I first started I was working out 3-5 times a week mostly circuit training (boot camp, Jillian Michael's 30DS) and usually my treadmill and lots of walking with my baby.
This past week I've been really sick and only worked out once for 50 minutes at my boot camp and I have been sticking to my calorie limit (mostly). I have been losing more weight. I was at a mini plateau for a week before this one.
The question then, is this because the diet is just causing me to lose weight or because I'm losing muscle mass due to lack of exercise?
Also, should I just stick to my calorie limit and work out maybe twice a week until I lose my goal weight and then start working out more again to tone everything?
I see how supportive people are on here but I'm not looking for peoples 2 cents, I want people who have real knowledge with this and facts to back it up. Sorry if that is harsh but I don't want opinions.

Thank you in advance.

I feel like you are daring me to be a smartass.

Anyway, let's think about this for a minuto. You're sick so there are a couple factors at play here.

1) Not sure what you have, but you are likely losing a bit of water due to recovery/trying to work out. You should focus on rest; stay within your calories or at least around (work with what feels best at this point).

2) Being sick, even without a fever will raise the body's temperature. This takes energy to do. Your body measures energy in calories which are composed of the well known macronutrients. If you have excess fat and are still eating at a caloric deficit your body is forcing that deficit to increase by effectively raising your BMR at rest
.
3) You said losing weight (fat) versus losing muscle; the catabolic (muscle loss) process happens much; much more slowly than the average internet superhero thinks. You are losing water, likely fat, and an imperceptible about of muscle. It takes a long time for lean mass to be that actively consumed and if you have plenty of excess body fat to consume that tends to go first as it is A) Easier to metabolically break down into glucose as a higher caloric value, 1 gram of fat is 9 calories versus 1 gram of protein being 4 calories. Remember, energy costs.

So focus on getting rest and then worry about the path forward. You seem to have a slew of really generalized questions so I recommend you sit down and read this, top to bottom: http://4chanfit.wikia.com/wiki/Harsh's_Worksheet_(WIP)

haha "daring you to be a smart *kitten*"

Thanks for the reply. I honestly have no real knowledge about how my body works regarding weight loss. I can be the first to admit that! It's happening but I'm the type of person who wants to know how and why. I will sit down and read that link you sent me and hopefully that will help me. Thanks again and I didn't think you were a smart *kitten*. Almost. haha

hottbutch

Thanks everyone else for your responses too! It all helps.

chris1816

haha "daring you to be a smart *kitten*"

Thanks for the reply. I honestly have no real knowledge about how my body works regarding weight loss. I can be the first to admit that! It's happening but I'm the type of person who wants to know how and why. I will sit down and read that link you sent me and hopefully that will help me. Thanks again and I didn't think you were a smart *kitten*. Almost. haha

It was an exercise in tremendous restraint for me.