What the hell happened!!!???

[Sanj]

Hi everyone ... Maybe someone here can help me

Heres my story ... 8-9 month's ago I used to weigh 230 pounds (im about 5'11).
Now I weight 180 pounds. Thats 50 pounds gone. Well, heres my problem ...

Around the time I weighed 230 ... I used to lift weights. But ever since I went on a "Calorie Deficit" diet (burn more, than take in) ... I completely stoped lifting weights. Before I stopped lifting, I could bench press 220 pounds.

Well, I decided to lift for the first time in 7-8 month's today ... and I was teffified at what had happened. I could not even bench press 100 pounds.

I asked some friends and they said that when you go on a "Calorie Deficit" diet ... you begin losing muscle mass, since your body cannot get energy from anywhere else ...

Is this what has happened??? .... what do I do???
If I start weight training now ... I will get the fat back (since you have to eat alot)
Is there a way I can keep burning fat, while still regaining my streighth (muscles)

someone please, put an end to my frustration ... Thanks in advance.

 

[red99svt]

Yep when you start starving your self pretty much, your body attacks your muscles first before your stored fat. So what you prolly did was lost 50 pounds of muscle and still stayed the same with your body fat. That sucks dude now you have to start all over again. Just a question but why did you stop lifting??

 

[JasnoE]

Look at the stickies in the diet forum

 

[Triple Threat]

Since you stopped lifting weights, your body didn't "need" the muscle any longer and since you were in calorie deficit, your body used the calories from muscle to survive. Of the 50 lbs you lost, most (i wouldn't say all) was muscle. That's the bad news.

The good news is that it's not permanent. You can gain back the muscle. Get back in the gym and start eating right. And like JasnoE said, read the stickies.

 

[Sanj]

actually I forgot to mention ... During that time frame I quit lifting weights ... I still continued to do bicep curls. I have a weight training class in college (taking it to get some easy creds, insted of taking a health class), so I would just do biceps, and nothing else ... as a result my biceps are now bulging.

Now remember, this is while I was on the "Calorie Deficit" diet (burn more than take in)

So I dont understand how you have to eat like a pig, to gain muscle. I am pretty sure the 50 pounds I lost was fat, and not muscle mass, as svt stated. After losing all that fat, my muscles are actually much more visible ... strangely tho, I still have the muscles, just no streghth.

and oh my goodness ... my six pack ... crawled out from that thick layer of fat that sorrounded it (aka belly) ... girlfriend loves it.

What Ive decided to do is keep everything the same (the diet) ... and add 50 mins. of work-out ... mainly chest and shoulders, since theyre the main areas I lost the streighth. Please understand ... I have been a fat ass all of my life. The "Calorie Deficit" thing, has been the only thing thats worked. I can not ditch this method.

well, here my question ... I consume 600 calories a day, and burn off 800 calories every day. Is this suitable to add mild weight lifting into the formula?

 

[Sanj]

Oh and since Im getting into some weight lifting again, Ill be sure to add lots of protein to build muscle quicker (protein shakes)

 

[MCx2]

well, here my question ... I consume 600 calories a day, and burn off 800 calories every day. Is this suitable to add mild weight lifting into the formula?

Dude, 600 calories a day isn't enough to sustain breathing let alone a workout. You really need to read the stickies before yo do some serious damage to yourself. My 14lb dog takes in more calories a day than that.

 

[Arnold]

Sanj welcome to IM!

 

[Triple Threat]

Dude, 600 calories a day isn't enough to sustain breathing let alone a workout. You really need to read the stickies before yo do some serious damage to yourself. My 14lb dog takes in more calories a day than that.

600 calories? That's a meal, not a day's worth of calories.