Losing muscle while cutting...

seabee · 01-01-2004, 03:57 PM

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?

**Mudge** · 01-01-2004, 04:05 PM

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.

**Prince** · 01-01-2004, 05:12 PM

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.

**Mudge** · 01-01-2004, 06:46 PM

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.

01-01-2004, 03:57 PM	#1
seabee Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 165	Losing muscle while cutting... 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?
seabee Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 165

01-01-2004, 04:05 PM	#2
Mudge Pizza the Hut Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 22,997 Photos: 1	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.
	Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

01-01-2004, 05:12 PM	#3
Prince the one & only Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 33,520 Blog Entries: 25 Photos: 313	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.
	SBMuscle.com - Discount Supplement Superstore AlltheWhey.com - Bulk Protein Powders CEM Products - Research Chemicals & Supplements MusclePharm - Complete Nutritional Arsenal BigBackGrips - If you lift weights you've got to try these grips!

01-01-2004, 06:46 PM	#4
Mudge Pizza the Hut Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 22,997 Photos: 1	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.
	Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

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