Don't want to lose muscle

GOmaggieGO
GOmaggieGO Posts: 38
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Could someone explain to me how and why if you lose weight to fast you lose muscle? Can't you rebuild that loss rather quickly if your continuing to workout?

Replies

  • GOmaggieGO
    GOmaggieGO Posts: 38
    Could someone explain to me how and why if you lose weight to fast you lose muscle? Can't you rebuild that loss rather quickly if your continuing to workout?
  • justdoingit
    justdoingit Posts: 185 Member
    I don't really know why but I will tell you that I just got a body fat caliper from GNC ($20) because I want to know extactly how many lbs of fat vs. everything else I have and the results were surprising. I will be using this tool once per month to determine how much fat I've lost or if I have lost any muscle mass. It is a great tool. I found out that the BMI I thought I was was way off. Now, I have a better gauge! :smile:
  • Yewkon
    Yewkon Posts: 34
    It's my understanding that eating too little will switch your body into 'fat storing mode', plus your body will digest your own muscles for energy.

    Without proper nutrition you wont ever be able to 'build' muscle, while working out, therefore you will lose muscle. Since muscles burn more calories than fat, the loss of muscle will slow your metabolism down.

    When your body does get some calories, it's going to turn those into fat, since your body is in 'fat storing/ starvation mode'.

    Eventually, it's all going to catch back up to you. You'll have a slower metabolism than your did before you starved yourself, and you'll just gain all the weight back plus some.


    If you're on this site, you're already making the 1st big step. Be patient, and try to go by how your clothes fit and how much better you feel, by eating correctly, watching what and how much you eat, and exercising regularly.

    What you really want to lose is fat, not just weight.

    Good luck!
  • karlira
    karlira Posts: 100
    Hi!
    I don't know the exact science behind muscle loss, but I've read that you need to do some strength training besides cardio, because cardio besides burning fat, is also a catabolic process that detroys muscle. So, it's important to eat enough protein, especially after cardio.

    Weight is not really an indicator of body composition, maybe you lose weight but it may be from water or from muscle... The objective is to lose fat and build muscle....

    If you don't exercise at all and have a low calorie diet, chances are, you've already lost some muscle, because the body has to get the nutrients from what's available.

    So:

    1. Strength training is important
    2. Get your proteins
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