Fat loss vs muscle loss

emmab0902

Hi

I have read tonnes about the starvation mode myth etc and wondered this: Is there a set (or approximate) body fat percentage below which a significant calorie deficit will result in muscle loss/slowed metabolism and preservation of fat stores?? Does this occur when a person hits essential body fat % - I am assuming that for persons carrying a higher percentage of fat the body would burn this as preferred fuel source, and am curious when this shifts.

stroutman81

No, there isn't a set percentage. There's research all over the place, which is why it's hard to peg a specific percentage. Not to mention the fact that there's going to be individual variation regardless. But some degree of every pound lost is going to be lean body mass. That's just the nature of things. Our bodies don't pull solely from fat. It's a very efficient energy source, yes. Therefore the majority of tissue utilization will be fat.

However, based on genetics, training, nutrition, and level of leanness... the proportions are going to vary. Yes, the leaner you get, the more muscle you're likely to lose while eating hypocalorically. If I had to throw out numbers, I'd say muscle loss tends to pick up when men go below 12% and women go below 18%.

But this can be offset, tremendously, by eating and training right. And worrying about it is sort of trivial. Be intelligent in your approach and the rest is left up to your genetics.