I had a quick question regarding building muscle and loosing fat. I realize that if you don’t take in enough calories that your muscles shrink. What is happening, because you are not loosing muscle mass, they are just shrinking right? And if that is true, then what is your body pulling out of them…water, or what?
It depends on the diet and how severe you cut your intake you could very well be losing LBM.
Judge it on your strength, keeping it that is.
As for muscle size you are storing less glycogen do to it being used as fuel for bodily function. so you are storing less water with that glycogen in the muscle tissue so the muscles appear smaller.
Thats the simple version,
Hope it helps,
Phill
Protein for one. I’m not sure what you mean by ‘not losing muscle mass, they are just ‘shrinking’’ Smaller size means less muscle… The body always uses carbs, fat and/or protein for energy, just varying percentages of each. Yes, your body will use the muscle mass you have worked so hard for if you don’t give it enough of the proper fuel.
I won’t pass judgement on the reason for the question on a site such as this, you had better get more ‘edicated’ before you say or ask anything else. Good luck with the other responces you might get…
thanks for the reply. As for questioning my question…I was just curious as to what is happening physilogically. I knew that the muscle isn’t lost, just wondering what was making them shrink when you screw up your diet.
Muscle is easily broken down by our body (it’s our amino acid storage).
Proteolytic enzymes increase in activity, and basically chew up the muscle protein. Water comes with this catabolic process.
Is this what you were looking for?
[quote]jahsco wrote:
thanks for the reply. As for questioning my question…I was just curious as to what is happening physilogically. I knew that the muscle isn’t lost, just wondering what was making them shrink when you screw up your diet. [/quote]
Muscle can definitely be lost!
[quote]ChrisKing wrote:
Muscle can definitely be lost![/quote]
I think he was under the impression that muscles are like balloons. They don’t just “deflate” if you quit training or don’t eat enough. You actually lose muscle proteins as muscles are used for energy…because you aren’t eating enough to maintain them. The only way to keep that from happening is by drastically increasing protein intake when dieting and lifting heavy enough to maintain the muscle you have.
that is exactly what i was looking for. Thanks for the replies