What goes first - muscle or fat?

**kanun** · 03-24-2003, 07:41 AM

Let's say you have a good/normal ratio of muscle to fat.
If you can't find an opportunity to eat, and you end up starving for a good period of time (eg you skip breakfast), your body needs to get energy from somewhere - so what will it break down first?
Is it a simple matter of one first, then the other. Or is it a combination of both? Is this affected by stuff like general diet, metablism, genetics, etc?

Thanks

**Psilokan** · 03-24-2003, 10:09 AM

Your body has a 2500 calorie storage of glycogen (carbs). Thats about a day or two's worth. After that you'll switch to ketosis and start burning fat.
But if you're not getting protein, it has to come from somewhere. I think you'd start losing muscle very quickly as well, but not for a few days.

**Yanick** · 03-24-2003, 11:20 AM

A combination of both really. If i am forced to miss a meal, i usually make it up later on during the day, just to keep the number of kcals total the amount i need for the day.

**leg_press** · 03-24-2003, 11:50 AM

If I am on a non training day I usual eat alot more cals in each meal as at work I tend to wait around 6 hours between breaks. On Saturday the first meal I had was two chicken fillets and chips ( at half two ish GMT), then I had a break at half seven when I had chicken fillets ( cold) with four yoghurts( bio), and a pack of potato crisps ( plain no salt either)

**kanun** · 03-25-2003, 10:21 AM

Ok, thanks guys

**gopro** · 03-26-2003, 07:21 AM

When you miss a meal it really depends on what type of activity you are doing as to what fuel source your body will tap into. Generally your body will utilize sugar in the short term and fat as time goes by. All along your body will be looking for amino acids to use for many bodily functions, and if they are not supplied, your body will go for its richest source...your muscles.

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