So if you stop lifting all the workout you did is for nothing?

[CrestfallenGuy]

After stopping lifting you lose the strength and muscles you gained right?

[JoeDelts]

That's the way she goes.

[etet1919]

After stopping lifting you lose the strength and muscles you gained right?

No, not necessarily. You will lose a certain amount of strength and stamina depending on how long your layoff has been. But if your strength and fitness level were strong before, or if you have retained a decent amount of LBM (through eating well, other physical activity, genetics), then you will still have enough to draw upon as you're getting back into it. People who have a lot of experience retain skill and muscle memory.

[Cass40]

Muscle memory. If you start again, it takes shorter time to get where you were before.

[MrCarrot]

As others have said, muscle memory.

Also, and it perhaps goes without saying, if you've done it before you have past experience. You can walk into a gym and know what you're doing right away, whereas someone who's never done it before might have a lot more to learn and a lot more mistakes to make in the process.

[jademonkey]

Back in community college I did weight training for two semesters, went from 165 to 175 pounds (5'-10").
Then I started adult gymnastics classes, did that for a few years, started coaching kids gymnastics, and did a lot of gymnastics workouts on my own. Went back down to 165, very low fat.
I discovered I had good aerobic endurance also, so I did a couple 13 mile obstacle races (Spartan Race).

Then 5 years ago I discovered bicycle racing and was crazy hooked. Did 60 races each year for the first 3 years. Upper body mass doesn't do much for a bike racer, and I tried to lose it. I didn't do an upper body workout in years. I lost noticeable muscle, but it took a LONG time and still had WAY more muscle than my competitors.

4 months ago I started working out again and am already stronger than before.

[CommitmentRulz]

OP, if you eat today, you mean you HAVE to eat again the next day or you'll get real hungry and weak? What's the point of eating today?????

[blurrr]

Muscle memory. If you start again, it takes shorter time to get where you were before.

this^

real, proven by alot of recent research. Neuron density increases within muscle fibres as you lift for longer periods of time. The density remains forever, while atrophy in actual muscle size occurs. So when you return to lifting, the increased saturation of muscle neurons facilitates growth

[ElrondHubbard]

All this is predicated on the assumption that you WILL eventually start lifting again. If you don't, eventually all the advantages you gained will go away. You'll still get fat, lazy, out of shape, in poor cardio-vascular health, mentally dull, and your all-cause risk of premature mortality will increase.

But you'll still have your memories of what once was, until dementia takes them away.


OR, you could just not stop lifting.

[dev10251]

Muscle memory. If you start again, it takes shorter time to get where you were before.

Muscle memory for sure. And as others have said, the next time you decide to walk into the gym again, you'll have more experience and get right back on track pretty quickly. Factors such as proper form and discipline will play a role.

[PuppyLife]

But you'll still have your memories of what once was, until dementia takes them away.

This is the worst feeling ever. Remembering how lean I got and the hard work I put in to get to that point 3-4 years down the road all gone, but the memory and pictures still remain. Working back to where I once was.

[baldgains]

After stopping lifting you lose the strength and muscles you gained right?

Well a buddy i knew stopped training. He lost all his muscles and he went fat. Then he started gymming again. He became as weak as the first time we trained, but there was one difference. He didnt shake when he lifted the weights. He did full motion and procceeded much more faster than he did the first time he trained.

So I guess that some strenght is still there, propably the bone density as it grows bigger when you lift.

[LittleRock10]

Muscle memory. If you start again, it takes shorter time to get where you were before.

I agree with this. Bee there. I lost track of my workouts cause of work and other priorities. And recently I just got back on my feet. At least lesser efforts to get back on shape.

[samfit7]

The longest break I took was 2 months long. Believe me, the soreness was painful like the day I started lifting. But It took me 3 weeks to get back the strength and stamina. And all these 2 months, I ate only junk, and I didn't lose any significant amount of muscles.

[Navynukeman]

How does dad strength work then?

My dad hasn't lifted in like 20+ years and he has always been stronger than me. Maybe not in like squats but if I arm wrestled him he'd kill me

[redigneous]

Nice insights. Now I know why I feel the same soreness I felt the first day I started working out when I just missed out a week of working out because I traveled out of the country.

[melDorado]

How does dad strength work then?

My dad hasn't lifted in like 20+ years and he has always been stronger than me. Maybe not in like squats but if I arm wrestled him he'd kill me

Old man and woman strength is a thing from manual labour and carrying heavy children around. Also old people have insane grip strength and big forearms
I guess you use grip strength every day in day to day life?

[sooby]

How does dad strength work then?

My dad hasn't lifted in like 20+ years and he has always been stronger than me. Maybe not in like squats but if I arm wrestled him he'd kill me

My dad never lifted a weight in his life and he really big forearms, I'm overall stronger than him but I think in an arm wrestle it'd be close. Most people don't train grip strength in the gym. Where as if you were in manual labour all of your life you are basically doing alot stuff that may mimic farmer walks, prowler work, deadlifting, etc. You're basically training all of this with 5x frequency at the very least, all day.

I think things like squat, bench, deadlift, you are quick to lose strength as they are highly technical movements and require full body recruitment. Things like bicep curls, dumbbell pressing, etc don't seem to go away that quickly. It also depends on your diet. My grandfather used to be pretty big for his size in his 30s but now he is in his 80s, fit for his age but is really skinny and pretty much lost all of his gains to the point you couldn't even tell he lifted. But he's also diabetic so there's that. If you're still mildly active in terms of physical activity and eat enough to maintain muscle mass you won't lose it that quickly.

[adigiro1]

I took off all of last year, and have gotten after it this year and look better than I did before I stopped. Lost some strength, but it'll be back in a few months

[Alphurious2039]

OP, if you eat today, you mean you HAVE to eat again the next day or you'll get real hungry and weak? What's the point of eating today?????

Hehe, funny guy.

[testtube1]

ask richard sandrak what happens

[getbig_ttt]

If you go broke, was all the money you made useless?

Live the moment OP. Get jacked, be at your prime as long as you can.

[Cavalerium]

Not exactly. You just going to be the same as you were.

[calfenvy]

The muscle mass doesn't go away too quickly, but the numbers go way down. You get the newbie gains back when you pick it up again but you will be far from the same weights/reps when you get back into it.

[LeanDude84]

You won't lose everything but you will lose quite a lot. Not sure why you would stop lifting though? If it is the lack of time, you can workout 2x per week.

[bemegc]

Beyond muscle memory, yes.
The only reason you have muscle and strength is because the body has adapted to that need (=lifting weights). If you stop lifting the body will adapt to that as well by losing the unneeded muscle mass.

[etet1919]

There are much more important things going on at this moment than building biceps. It can be hard to focus on body parts when innocent people are getting slaughtered.

Before we know it we will all be back in the gym again, getting back into our regular regimens.

It will happen! Patience people!

[tjackson8889]

that's why i stopped bulking up. its too hard to maintain. I just try to keep healthy, in shape and trim. lifting is a major part for me. Bottom line is just make sustainable workout habits.

[Garage Rat]

Well yes at your current level levels of strength and size but it would depend on how long you stopped and activity level.
The body adapts to stresses put towards it if you stop training it doesn't need to be able to do that work any longer and adapts to your current situation of stress upon it.
The same with eating if you keep eating the same calorie diet and don't expend the energy it can store the excess as body fat.
Basically use it or lose it.

Many of the above comments are very true in that if you had a long lay off and come back the body can adapt quicker because you were already there at one time)muscle memory).
So it isn't all for nothing.
It's something that has to be maintained consistently.

[Budaan]

I stopped lifting for a year, strength = gone, muscle and size? Not really. If i get back into lifting i might even improve swiftly compared to the last time i touched a weight. I most certainly did not lose any weight.