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Losing muscle while cutting...
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Posted by: seabee
Cutting for 12-16 weeks (lose 20 by May). Every time I do this, I drop 10 -20 lbs in lifts. Does this mean I lose muscle? It is very hard to look at your self and determine muscle loss, because everything kinda gets sucked in to a more defined, less mass appearance.
I lift 3-5 days a week (no changes). I'm just adding 20 min/5 x wk stair machine and reducing calories a bit.
What's your experience with muscle loss during cutting? 
Posted by: Mudge
The faster you cut calories the more risk of muscle loss, as well as simply having an unbalanced diet, or cutting too much in the carb or protein department.
Its nice to only work out two diets, 3,000 calories and 2,000 for cutting - but it should be gradual not instant.
Water retention seems to be linked to strength by alot of people, so even losing water and not bodyfat could be partially responsible.
Cardio 5x a week when I did it (a whole hour a day though, moderate heart rate of 65%) took about 1/4" off my arms at the end of that 5 days.
Posted by: Prince
In a 'cut state' it's normal to be a little weaker, it's also normal to lose a little bit of LBM when you get ripped, especially if you're natural.
Posted by: Mudge
Which was part of the reason Ronnie Coleman was so loud about being aboe to do his 800 pound deadlift for 2 reps only 5 weeks out from competition. Those guys diet over a period of about 4 months.
Most guys who are strong are always going to be biggish, not really ripped. Even on the drugs, most of the drugs that they help get them there are going to cause pain when lifting heavy due to mainly a drying effect inside the body.
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Losing muscle while cutting...
