Does no strength loss always equal no muscle loss?

[lessreck]

Assuming your execution and tempo always stays the same. Is it even possible to lose muscle when you’re not regressing in the gym?

 

[narta]

Of course it is. Strength is cns driven adaptations for the most part, muscle mass is much less impacted by strength.

 

[thejumpingsheep]

You very much can lose muscle and maintain strength or even be stronger. I just came off a year long 70lb weight loss. I used to be naturally buff in my 30s, got fat when my shoulders got torn, and now im back to old weight but I look nothing like my 30s. My wife likes to make fun of me for it. Yet I am stronger than I was back then, minus chest/shoulders due to torn up shoulders.

Note I have never taken roids. Not sure that matters in this discussion.

 

[Millard]

You very much can lose muscle and maintain strength or even be stronger. I just came off a year long 70lb weight loss. I used to be naturally buff in my 30s, got fat when my shoulders got torn, and now im back to old weight but I look nothing like my 30s. My wife likes to make fun of me for it. Yet I am stronger than I was back then, minus chest/shoulders due to torn up shoulders.

Note I have never taken roids. Not sure that matters in this discussion.

Congratulation! I suspect you still gained muscle in spite of your considerable weight loss. And it sounds like you are carrying around more muscle than you did in your 30s in addition to the extra strength. Awesome.

But losing weight and getting stronger isn't necessarily the same as losing muscle and getting stronger (or maintaining strength).

 

[Millard]

Assuming your execution and tempo always stays the same. Is it even possible to lose muscle when you’re not regressing in the gym?

Of course, it is possible. It depends in part on whether your training is strength-specific or hypertrophy-specific. Most athletes train primarily for strength. There are exceptions, most notably bodybuilders. Nutrition (caloric intake) is very important too.

 

[thejumpingsheep]

Congratulation! I suspect you still gained muscle in spite of your considerable weight loss. And it sounds like you are carrying around more muscle than you did in your 30s in addition to the extra strength. Awesome.

But losing weight and getting stronger isn't necessarily the same as losing muscle and getting stronger (or maintaining strength).

The point is I dont look muscular at all right now. I look like a streetball basketball player. In my 30s I was actually buff. Sort of like young Stallone in Rocky 1. In fact my wife makes fun of me right now because my quads are about the same diameter as my calves (lol).

So I think I lost muscle volume if that makes sense. But I am guessing the muscles are more dense? I really dont know. I fairly new to all this and im not that in touch with my body.

 

[Millard]

The point is I dont look muscular at all right now. I look like a streetball basketball player. In my 30s I was actually buff. Sort of like young Stallone in Rocky 1. In fact my wife makes fun of me right now because my quads are about the same diameter as my calves (lol).

So I think I lost muscle volume if that makes sense. But I am guessing the muscles are more dense? I really dont know. I fairly new to all this and im not that in touch with my body.

Sorry. I didn't read your post carefully. My mistake.

It's a good sign that your strength has returned to 30-year old levels. I'm assuming you are referring to leg strength / back strength. If your training is limited due to shoulder injuries, it will be challenging to that same size/appearance as before. Fortunately, if you can train back/legs consistently you can make a lot of progress. I'd focus on that.

What stage of weight loss are you at? I'm not sure that your body is necessarily in the best metabolic/hormonal state to make considerable gains if you are still on a restricted diet.

 

[thejumpingsheep]

Sorry. I didn't read your post carefully. My mistake.

It's a good sign that your strength has returned to 30-year old levels. I'm assuming you are referring to leg strength / back strength. If your training is limited due to shoulder injuries, it will be challenging to that same size/appearance as before. Fortunately, if you can train back/legs consistently you can make a lot of progress. I'd focus on that.

What stage of weight loss are you at? I'm not sure that your body is necessarily in the best metabolic/hormonal state to make considerable gains if you are still on a restricted diet.

In not the op btw. I was just sharing my experience from weight/muscle loss.

Im an oldish (47) nerd so not expecting a whole lot. Right now im focused on healing injuries that doctors/orthos/therapists were unable to help me with. Strength hasnt been lost because I was always active in some way. I may have been 280lb last year but I do have kids and im involved in sports.

When I started working out again late last year, my 30s strength came back real quick, maybe in a couple of months minus upper body. Even as I shed weight, I never lost any strength though a simple eye test of today vs 30s will clearly show im no where near as buff.

Further verification is from clothing. I can wear stuff now that I couldnt even dream of wearing in my 30s like fitted shirts and regular fitted jeans. That is my experience anyway. Im no body builder so Im not comparing myself to you folks but I will try to join your ranks if I can just heal these damn injuries.