Is muscle memory the same thing as strength memory.

[Bills10]

I've been talking with some personal trainers at my gym and they don't really have an answer. I'm trying to figure out what the difference is and how cutting and bulking reflects it. For example if a person weighs 180lbs at 20% body fat and squats 300 lbs. If that person diets and loses 30 pounds and ends up 10% body fat at 150lbs and can only squat 225 pounds.

Once that person starts eating maintenance again will that person get to a 300lb squat faster than before(strength memory)? How does muscle come into play with strength gains? Just for the sake of numbers lets assume that person lost 5 lbs of muscle during the cut will they get that five pounds back faster than it took to get originally? Since that person has a new weight of 150 lbs lets say they build back that five lbs of muscle while squatting 2-3 times a week so now they're 155lbs...could they then squat 300lbs since they recovered that lost muscle? Or does that person have to go back up to 180lbs in order to squat 300 again? Just a little confused.

[JoeCannonMSCSCS]

what we call muscle memory is probably better terms procedural memory - we remember how to do something, whether its riding a bike or doing a DB bench press. because the muscle has no "brain" what we call muscle memory is really a brain-muscle "memory." As for strength memory, Ive never heard of that term so I'm not sure if its valid term.

[Bills10]

what we call muscle memory is probably better terms procedural memory - we remember how to do something, whether its riding a bike or doing a DB bench press. because the muscle has no "brain" what we call muscle memory is really a brain-muscle "memory." As for strength memory, Ive never heard of that term so I'm not sure if its valid term.

Ok so assuming their is no strength memory. What about my example, how does that work?

[Bills10]

Bump? Is that what relative strength is all about? Bulking gaining strength with muscle and fat then cutting and trying to minimize muscle loss? If someone loses some strength during their cut...can they get back to their previous strength levels at a lighter body weight now? Or do you have to go back up to your previous body fat and weight to regain lost strength?

[sports19]

Bump I'm Curious As Well

[KyleAaron]

You're overthinking it. Go into the gym, do a squat, a push, a pull and a hip hinge. In every workout, do more than you did before - more weight, or more reps, or more sets. Eat large amounts of good food. Adjust food intake as you go, eating less to get smaller, and eating more to get bigger.

Don't major in the minors.

[sports19]

You're overthinking it. Go into the gym, do a squat, a push, a pull and a hip hinge. In every workout, do more than you did before - more weight, or more reps, or more sets. Eat large amounts of good food. Adjust food intake as you go, eating less to get smaller, and eating more to get bigger.

Don't major in the minors.

How does That Answer OP Question About Relative Strength And Dieting And Regaining Strength?

[Bills10]

You're overthinking it. Go into the gym, do a squat, a push, a pull and a hip hinge. In every workout, do more than you did before - more weight, or more reps, or more sets. Eat large amounts of good food. Adjust food intake as you go, eating less to get smaller, and eating more to get bigger.

Don't major in the minors.

thanks I Know. Not my Question

[WoofieNugget]

Bump? Is that what relative strength is all about? Bulking gaining strength with muscle and fat then cutting and trying to minimize muscle loss? If someone loses some strength during their cut...can they get back to their previous strength levels at a lighter body weight now? Or do you have to go back up to your previous body fat and weight to regain lost strength?

If you're thinking purely from a bodybuilding perspective, then it really doesn't matter how much you can lift. If you think that a guy who can lift 300 pounds will automatically look better, bigger or more ripped than a guy who can squat 225 then you're wrong. If you're a powerlifter then it is a different story of course, but those guys don't care about bulking and cutting unless they are cutting for a meet.

So which do you want? To look like a bodybuilder, or to be able to lift heavy amounts of weight - or do you want both?

But also - any educated trainer will tell you - it really doesn't matter. Ask a stupid question...

[Bills10]

If you're thinking purely from a bodybuilding perspective, then it really doesn't matter how much you can lift. If you think that a guy who can lift 300 pounds will automatically look better, bigger or more ripped than a guy who can squat 225 then you're wrong. If you're a powerlifter then it is a different story of course, but those guys don't care about bulking and cutting unless they are cutting for a meet.

So which do you want? To look like a bodybuilder, or to be able to lift heavy amounts of weight - or do you want both?

But also - any educated trainer will tell you - it really doesn't matter. Ask a stupid question...

I'm mainly talking about increasing relative strength. I suppose I'm more interested in athletic ability if I had to pick. I'm just curious if once someone loses fat and strength on a cut, after the cut is finished can they regain their lost strength at a lower bodyweight? Or do they have to regain the bodyweight they once had including fat to achieve the same strength?

[simonwitney]

Strength is generally regarded as the ability of the CNS to recruit as many motor units as possible to lift the heaviest weight possible. (Athletic prowess unless u r a Bodybuilder)

Strength memory is the activation of the CNS so to speak. Body weight has little to do with this, it just means that if somebody weighed more than another individual, the CNS would have to calculate how many motor units to incorporate given the total weight being pushed or pulled.

Muscle memory just means that a muscle is able to efficiently perform an action that has been repeated x amount of times and the affects of this action will be heightened (muscle pump, burn etc.)

[beowulf10]

OP,

Muscle memory has two different definitions. One definition is that an athlete performs a task so often that he becomes an expert at it, and can perform the task without conscious thought.

The second definition, the definition you are thinking about, is the ability of a muscle to regain the former strength it once had, and to do so quicker than when muscle originally acquired that strength.

Strength and muscle mass are synonymous (and the ratio of strength to mass will vary depending on type of muscle and other factors such as whether the growth in mass was myofibrillar or sarcoplasmic). There is no difference between strength and muscle mass. They are connected. The bigger your muscle the more strength you will have.

Now as for "muscle memory":

It's very complicated, and I barely understand it, but when you lift weights the number of muscle nuclei increases. These new nuclei help the muscle grow. When you stop lifting weights you lose muscle mass but the muscle nuclei never go away. When you go back to training these nuclei help you regain lost muscle mass at a much faster rate than when you worked out originally.

Read this:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=129359637

Once that person starts eating maintenance again will that person get to a 300lb squat faster than before(strength memory)?

Yes.

How does muscle come into play with strength gains? Just for the sake of numbers lets assume that person lost 5 lbs of muscle during the cut will they get that five pounds back faster than it took to get originally?

Strength is muscle. Muscle is strength. Yes, they will get muscle back faster than originally.

Since that person has a new weight of 150 lbs lets say they build back that five lbs of muscle while squatting 2-3 times a week so now they're 155lbs...could they then squat 300lbs since they recovered that lost muscle? Or does that person have to go back up to 180lbs in order to squat 300 again? Just a little confused.

They need to regain the muscle mass they lost to continue squatting at 300 again. Whatever that mass is, and it could be slightly different depending on ratio of myofibrillar to sarcoplasmic growth.

loses fat and strength on a cut, after the cut is finished can they regain their lost strength at a lower bodyweight? Or do they have to regain the bodyweight they once had including fat to achieve the same

Yes, you can regain strength at a lower bodyweight. The only thing you need is to regain lost muscle mass. So that's why natty bodybuilders like to slow bulk at a 200 calorie surplus. At 200 calorie surplus you can gain muscle while keeping fat gain as low as low as possible.

[Ronin4help]

Bump? Is that what relative strength is all about? Bulking gaining strength with muscle and fat then cutting and trying to minimize muscle loss? If someone loses some strength during their cut...can they get back to their previous strength levels at a lighter body weight now? Or do you have to go back up to your previous body fat and weight to regain lost strength?

It is possible but it has nothing to do with 'memory'. It has everything to do with will, determination and the training program. Similarly, if you tear a muscle, break a leg or suffer a catastrophic injury and must sit out for several weeks. There are many professional athletes who have 'regained' their previous capabilities through hard work, determination and the proper training (rehabilitation) program. I realize this is not exactly the same thing that you are referring to but the concept is the same. Remember though, some of the acquired strength has to do with physics...P=W/t and M= F/a. If you are smaller, you may essentially be weaker. Notice how all of the guys in the strong man contests on TV are all huge guys but not necessarily ripped. Mass is crucial.