Building Strength on huge deficit

Ok so I asked this else where and the consensus is "could be anything". Anyone else have an opinion.

I did about 12 weeks of a 500 calorie deficit a few days a week dropping 1,000 cal below BMR, starting at about 14% body fat. I would then do a refeed about once every 2 weeks.

I was doing an Olympic squat conjugate routine and PR'd my back squat 340 -> 380 and my front squat 240 -> 300 pounds.

14% is no way close to body building standards but it isn't obese either...

MY QUESTION: Is it my fat storage that allowed me to still build strength or better training? Or better training?

I mean my training has to be pretty decent to already squat 340# at 1 year training.

Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    Could possibly be that your training is just going well.

    In the first few years of training, I think you can still get stronger on a deficit, it just gets tougher as time goes.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Could just be that you are awesome.
  • Plates559
    Plates559 Posts: 869 Member
    Could just be that you are awesome.

    This statement is obviously back by all the science ever (:
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Strength doesn't mean muscle mass.

    It is muscle mass that cannot be created in sufficient amounts during a calorie deficit.

    There can still be strength gains, even quite significant ones depending on the person.
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    Strength doesn't mean muscle mass.

    It is muscle mass that cannot be created in sufficient amounts during a calorie deficit.

    There can still be strength gains, even quite significant ones depending on the person.

    True and good point although eventually this would have to run out i think. basically when strength increases from all other means are exhausted, additional muscle mass would be required. the full extent of other means and and how long it would take to milk every bit of it i do not know, and such things would vary from person to person, but i think most recreational lifters don't really get there for one reason or another, leaving that bit of potential untapped and instead stalling out. still this may be me formulating broscience out of what seems logical, which is how a lot of incorrect broscience gets started.
  • Plates559
    Plates559 Posts: 869 Member
    Strength doesn't mean muscle mass.

    It is muscle mass that cannot be created in sufficient amounts during a calorie deficit.

    There can still be strength gains, even quite significant ones depending on the person.

    True and good point although eventually this would have to run out i think. basically when strength increases from all other means are exhausted, additional muscle mass would be required. the full extent of other means and and how long it would take to milk every bit of it i do not know, and such things would vary from person to person, but i think most recreational lifters don't really get there for one reason or another, leaving that bit of potential untapped and instead stalling out. still this may be me formulating broscience out of what seems logical, which is how a lot of incorrect broscience gets started.

    I could agree with this...at a beginner level someone can get stronger without gaining muscle because their central nervous system is becoming more proficient at firing up the muscle fibers to move weight. Yet when someone gets to the intermediate level its much harder for them to get stronger on CNS alone. That is why my strength gains are so odd to me...
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    Strength doesn't mean muscle mass.

    It is muscle mass that cannot be created in sufficient amounts during a calorie deficit.

    There can still be strength gains, even quite significant ones depending on the person.

    True and good point although eventually this would have to run out i think. basically when strength increases from all other means are exhausted, additional muscle mass would be required. the full extent of other means and and how long it would take to milk every bit of it i do not know, and such things would vary from person to person, but i think most recreational lifters don't really get there for one reason or another, leaving that bit of potential untapped and instead stalling out. still this may be me formulating broscience out of what seems logical, which is how a lot of incorrect broscience gets started.

    I could agree with this...at a beginner level someone can get stronger without gaining muscle because their central nervous system is becoming more proficient at firing up the muscle fibers to move weight. Yet when someone gets to the intermediate level its much harder for them to get stronger on CNS alone. That is why my strength gains are so odd to me...

    Right we know that much for sure, it is a question of what if anything else is there that we don't know about.
  • Plates559
    Plates559 Posts: 869 Member
    Strength doesn't mean muscle mass.

    It is muscle mass that cannot be created in sufficient amounts during a calorie deficit.

    There can still be strength gains, even quite significant ones depending on the person.

    True and good point although eventually this would have to run out i think. basically when strength increases from all other means are exhausted, additional muscle mass would be required. the full extent of other means and and how long it would take to milk every bit of it i do not know, and such things would vary from person to person, but i think most recreational lifters don't really get there for one reason or another, leaving that bit of potential untapped and instead stalling out. still this may be me formulating broscience out of what seems logical, which is how a lot of incorrect broscience gets started.

    I could agree with this...at a beginner level someone can get stronger without gaining muscle because their central nervous system is becoming more proficient at firing up the muscle fibers to move weight. Yet when someone gets to the intermediate level its much harder for them to get stronger on CNS alone. That is why my strength gains are so odd to me...

    Right we know that much for sure, it is a question of what if anything else is there that we don't know about.

    God tier genetics?
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    God tier genetics?

    There's always that. If so, congrats brah!
  • Z_I_L_L_A
    Z_I_L_L_A Posts: 2,399 Member
    When I bulk I've noticed strength goes up quicker. When I cut, if I cut too hard I lose strength. Theres gotta be a happy medium between the two.
  • Ambrogio1
    Ambrogio1 Posts: 518 Member
    yeah, me. Your done Zilla