Muscle Loss During Cut.

[Bedwards]

Hello, I've recently started my cut (after about an eight month bulking phase), and I've noticed significant muscle loss. Therefore, I've decided to up my calories a little bit. However, what I am wondering is if "muscle memory" will kick in when I begin my next bulk, or is the lost muscle gone for good?

P.S. I am lifting on this cut (each muscle group once a week).

[juice1348]

Its not easy to find the right program for YOUR body. In order to keep muscle and shed the fat. I found that keeping calories clean and around 2500 works best for me to cut. 40-60 min of cardio a day and changing my weight training a bit as well. I do each muscle group 2x a week instead of one and do 5-7 sets each time and still GO HEAVY...none of that high rep bull s*&t.
Just keep the calories high enough and the protien high! You will be fine, it will be back!

[Bedwards]

Thanks guys. =)

[|ceman]

Hello, I've recently started my cut (after about an eight month bulking phase), and I've noticed significant muscle loss. Therefore, I've decided to up my calories a little bit. However, what I am wondering is if "muscle memory" will kick in when I begin my next bulk, or is the lost muscle gone for good?

P.S. I am lifting on this cut (each muscle group once a week).

Muscle size loss or strength loss. Muscle size loss is probably more from muscle glycogen being depleted (and water associated with glycogen storage) when your calories are cut. This is probably the easiest to recover - just carb up and you will see your muscles "fill up".

Strength loss can be from actual muscle fiber loss, but as mentioned above, even this aspect can be recovered from with upping your calories and keeping your training intensity up.

If you haven't already started - journal your progress and keep track of diet, exercises done, and other notes like supplements taken and body stats (weight, measurements, look). This way you can see what works and what doesn't and make appropriate changes. If you take it slowly (1% of your bodyweight loss per week) then you should be able to keep most of your strength up while losing fat.