Losing Lean Body Mass?

Red Cortina

Can anyone please explain to me under what circumstances will your body choose to burn LBM rather than fat?

rocky

{[when you're in a caloric deficit] and
[you do not eat enough protein] and
[you don't train the muscle hard enough to convince the body to keep it]
}

or

{
[when not in a caloric deficit] and
[have some muscle built up from previous years of training] and
[you don't train the muscle hard enough to convince the body to keep it]
}

DARCHA22

Cal deficit + low protein intake + lots of cardio + minimal weight training geared toward muscle gain(basically low weight high reps, this has arguements for and against)

Saw a documentary on discovery(think its on you tube now), female bodybuilders looking to lose muscle so they can compete in fitness category instead.

Red Cortina

Thanks for the replies.

Have been having about 1500kcals per day, wouldn't exactly call my protein intake low (~100g/day) and do 2 full body workouts per wk but have lost over a kilo of muscle in the past 2 wks.

Must not be busting my butt enough in the gym:(

Brian?

Red Cortina wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Have been having about 1500kcals per day, wouldn't exactly call my protein intake low (~100g/day) and do 2 full body workouts per wk but have lost over a kilo of muscle in the past 2 wks.

Must not be busting my butt enough in the gym:(

How do you know its muscle you lost? A kilo in 2 weeks seems like an awful lot.

Red Cortina

briankeating wrote: »

How do you know its muscle you lost? A kilo in 2 weeks seems like an awful lot.

Based on skinfold measurements. I know that there will always be some variation in the measurements but by and large I have found that the way that the results trend is pretty accurate.

If you were burning up muscle, how much would you expect to lose per week?

rubadub

Red Cortina wrote: »

but by and large I have found that the way that the results trend is pretty accurate.

And now you have just shown it is not so accurate! I have a slim guide calipers with a tensioning spring so there is no variance at all between how hard you squeeze one day and the next.

Using different forumlas can give very different results too, so I would stick with tracking mm readings or at least sticking to the same forumla. Also 1 litre of water is a kilo, very easy to go up or down a kilo due to hydration. If I did skinfold measurement before entering the pub and then just before my first piss I would have put on a good 2 kilos of "muscle".

DARCHA22

Red Cortina wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Have been having about 1500kcals per day, wouldn't exactly call my protein intake low (~100g/day) and do 2 full body workouts per wk but have lost over a kilo of muscle in the past 2 wks.

Must not be busting my butt enough in the gym:(

Id say your not eating enough. whats your stats etc.....

Your protein intake needs to be higher IMO

Red Cortina

rubadub wrote: »

And now you have just shown it is not so accurate! I have a slim guide calipers with a tensioning spring so there is no variance at all between how hard you squeeze one day and the next.

Using different forumlas can give very different results too, so I would stick with tracking mm readings or at least sticking to the same forumla. Also 1 litre of water is a kilo, very easy to go up or down a kilo due to hydration. If I did skinfold measurement before entering the pub and then just before my first piss I would have put on a good 2 kilos of "muscle".

Sorry for being a bit thick here but just want to clarify. You reckon it is impossible to lose over a kilo of muscle in 2 wks???

Red Cortina

DARCHA22 wrote: »

Id say your not eating enough. whats your stats etc.....

Your protein intake needs to be higher IMO

I am female and right now I'm just shy of 10 stone.

rubadub

Red Cortina wrote: »

You reckon it is impossible to lose over a kilo of muscle in 2 wks???

I think it is possible but unlikely in your case (2 full body workout per week). I think it is far more likely to be hydration levels or just variance in readings. If I was 100kg and a measurement was 20% body fat then to apparently lose 1kg of lean mass at the same BF I just need to drink 1.25L of water.

With the same readings on my calipers I got one reading of ~12% and one of about 18% using different formulas.

Again if I was 100kg and 20%BF then I have 80kg lean mass, get another person to take readings and if they get 21% then my lean mass is suddenly 79kg and I have supposedly lost 1kg of lean mass in seconds, without even drinking my water.

Red Cortina

rubadub wrote: »

I think it is possible but unlikely in your case (2 full body workout per week). I think it is far more likely to be hydration levels or just variance in readings. If I was 100kg and a measurement was 20% body fat then to apparently lose 1kg of lean mass at the same BF I just need to drink 1.25L of water.

With the same readings on my calipers I got one reading of ~12% and one of about 18% using different formulas.

Again if I was 100kg and 20%BF then I have 80kg lean mass, get another person to take readings and if they get 21% then my lean mass is suddenly 79kg and I have supposedly lost 1kg of lean mass in seconds, without even drinking my water.

Just goes to show that there isn't much point in placing too much faith in those readings...

rubadub

Red Cortina wrote: »

Just goes to show that there isn't much point in placing too much faith in those readings...

If the figures are going down average then you are doing things right. It is always only an estimate and is bound to fluctuate now & then, keep track overall and take photos & other measurements like inches and hip to waist ratio.

Like you should weigh yourself the same day, clothes, scales etc with the BF% it should be the same person taking it and the same forumlas etc. Even then it is going to be an estimate, but eliminating some factors which would make it an even worse estimate.