how do you know if you have lost muscle mass on a cut?

[shin254]

Just wondering how you would know. Every week I take measurements with a tape measure and my numbers have shrank in the waist but gained in the arms and quads

[fitopia]

Your lifts go down, and your body fat goes up.

[G I JoE]

lose strength

[CorruptSilence]

You do a body fat % check to ensure you are losing body fat and maintaining lean mass. As was said though, you would have strength loss in your lifts.

[shin254]

i was just wondering because body fat tests have said that i am steadily decreasing, whether the exact percent is correct is debatable, but all of my lifts have been increasing. I was just wondering because I have lost more than 2 lbs a week.

[dkemano42]

i was just wondering because body fat tests have said that i am steadily decreasing, whether the exact percent is correct is debatable, but all of my lifts have been increasing. I was just wondering because I have lost more than 2 lbs a week.

Hey,

Well it sounds like you are heading in the right direction. Just keep an eye on your BF and if your lifts are going up and not down, you are prolly ok.

DK

[fitopia]

i was just wondering because body fat tests have said that i am steadily decreasing, whether the exact percent is correct is debatable, but all of my lifts have been increasing. I was just wondering because I have lost more than 2 lbs a week.

You're fine!

[CorruptSilence]

Example:
Say you start at 250 lbs. and 32% body fat. That comes out to...
170 lbs. of lean body mass
80 lbs. of fat

OK, you've been working at it and now you are 220 lbs. and 25% body fat.
165 lbs. of lean body mass
55 lbs. of fat

Your lean body mass reduced by 5 lbs. Assuming your hydration levels were the same, you have lost some muscle. Make sense?

[trance__dreamer]

i was just wondering because body fat tests have said that i am steadily decreasing, whether the exact percent is correct is debatable, but all of my lifts have been increasing. I was just wondering because I have lost more than 2 lbs a week.

that means you're doing just fine then. =)

2+ lbs of fat loss/week doesn't necessarily mean that you're gunna lose muscle. i think that's blown out of proportion just a tad bit. (...as some other things on here are: "bro science ". ) anyway. if your lifts aren't going down, then that means that your 2+ lbs of fat loss/week is working just fine for you.

also, i think it depends on the individual. some of us lose muscle faster than others based on: genetics, how much muscle we have to begin w/, how much protein we're eating (not eating enough - 1 gram per lb of body weight for us normal folk on here - can probably make you lose muscle while losing fat. but if you keep up your protein, @ least you can maintain muscle instead of lose muscle,) how much fat we have to lose (someone who's 10% bf or whatever is probably @ a greater risk for muscle loss than someone who's 30% bf,) etc.

[gbone74]

Hey,

and if your lifts are going up and not down, you are prolly ok.

DK

This is where I get confused is your strength supposed to just keep increasing while cutting surely the reason people bulk to add calories and lift heavier than when calories are reduced is to generate muscle,surely people are stronger while bulking hence powerlifters dont look like bodybuilders otherwise they could look shredded and lift world records,the excess of calories must affect strength levels

[CorruptSilence]

This is where I get confused is your strength supposed to just keep increasing while cutting surely the reason people bulk to add calories and lift heavier than when calories are reduced is to generate muscle,surely people are stronger while bulking hence powerlifters dont look like bodybuilders otherwise they could look shredded and lift world records,the excess of calories must affect strength levels

Just from what I know, and not an expert opinion. (Disclaimer achieved. lol)

The goal is to maintain strength while cutting. Gaining strength is good and achievable on a slow cut, or for people new to lifting. (Slow cut meaning roughly a 200 calorie deficit.) Gaining strength on a cut will eventually come to a stand still. You cannot continue to gain strength for any length of time with out increasing mass and calories. You will hit a ceiling. More calories = more energy = more mass and strength.

Edit: Most people have a lot of untapped potential when they first start working out. They have a lot of room to grow as far as strength is concerned before they hit that ceiling. They are simply training their muscles to work more efficiently. Eventually, they will become efficient at their jobs, and now the only way to continue gaining strength is to encrease capacity, which means more fuel for growth.

(Like I said, it's just my understanding of things.)

[gbone74]

Just from what I know, and not an expert opinion. (Disclaimer achieved. lol)

The goal is to maintain strength while cutting. Gaining strength is good and achievable on a slow cut, or for people new to lifting. (Slow cut meaning roughly a 200 calorie deficit.) Gaining strength on a cut will eventually come to a stand still. You cannot continue to gain strength for any length of time with out increasing mass and calories. You will hit a ceiling. More calories = more energy = more mass and strength.

Edit: Most people have a lot of untapped potential when they first start working out. They have a lot of room to grow as far as strength is concerned before they hit that ceiling. They are simply training their muscles to work more efficiently. Eventually, they will become efficient at their jobs, and now the only way to continue gaining strength is to encrease capacity, which means more fuel for growth.

(Like I said, it's just my understanding of things.)

That was my point I have never lifted weights while bulking I have never bulked I started an out of shape 350lb bloke and since that first day clearly I am stronger but that means nothing the first day was a disgrace I was a beginner and what I lifted is easy to improve on,my point is if I actually bulk for 6 months and lift and eat big and increase my lifts dramatically then from that point on of being an experiernced lifter how can you possibly get stronger as soon as you reduce your food intake.or am I missing something I always thought the way you got stronger was to add muscle and weight not through losing fat

[CorruptSilence]

That was my point I have never lifted weights while bulking I have never bulked I started an out of shape 350lb bloke and since that first day clearly I am stronger but that means nothing the first day was a disgrace I was a beginner and what I lifted is easy to improve on,my point is if I actually bulk for 6 months and lift and eat big and increase my lifts dramatically then from that point on of being an experiernced lifter how can you possibly get stronger as soon as you reduce your food intake.or am I missing something I always thought the way you got stronger was to add muscle and weight not through losing fat

I see what you're saying. I agree that if you are an experienced lifter and have been on a bulk cycle that you are not going to increase strength while on a cut. Your goal should solely be to maintain what you can. After you get past the newbie phase, I would assume you couldn't add strength without adding muscle. Good question.

[fitopia]

That was my point I have never lifted weights while bulking I have never bulked I started an out of shape 350lb bloke and since that first day clearly I am stronger but that means nothing the first day was a disgrace I was a beginner and what I lifted is easy to improve on,my point is if I actually bulk for 6 months and lift and eat big and increase my lifts dramatically then from that point on of being an experiernced lifter how can you possibly get stronger as soon as you reduce your food intake.or am I missing something I always thought the way you got stronger was to add muscle and weight not through losing fat

A lot of people are not either bulking or cutting when they lift. Many do it for the same reason they do cardio - to stay in shape. So, most people know what their default / maintenance capability is, and typically don't try to go up in weights month after month. Whether the weights they are using is the heaviest they can lift is moot, imo.

The point we're making is, if a person is on a bulk or cut, and trying to maintain or increase what they believe they should be lifting, and that amount begins to decline due to loss of strength, something isn't right.