Recently I got a new puppy and stopped going to the gym so I could do resistance band training at home with pup. I found myself not working out hardly at all and noticed muscles getting smaller and smaller. Even though I am at goal I still have more fat to lose and need to rebuild my muscles that have shrunk. I read somewhere that if you don't work the muscles the body will consume muscles before consuming the last fat. I believe I need to start lifting heavy to tear and rebuild muscle. Anyone experience this or have advice to offer?

I don't lift weights though I should and I think it would help me. I think lots of reps are better than simply going heavy, but I don't think we have the same ideal outcome, lol. Your a big dude and I'm trying not to be muscular. Swimming alone still helps me maintain muscle mass. I notice a big difference when I am not working out and I do believe I lose muscle mass since I don't eat a lot. I feel best when I'm active even just swimming or walking and getting enough protein. Good luck.

Edited October 29, 20187 yr by Swimmer

26 minutes ago, FishOn said:

Recently I got a new puppy and stopped going to the gym so I could do resistance band training at home with pup. I found myself not working out hardly at all and noticed muscles getting smaller and smaller. Even though I am at goal I still have more fat to lose and need to rebuild my muscles that have shrunk. I read somewhere that if you don't work the muscles the body will consume muscles before consuming the last fat. I believe I need to start lifting heavy to tear and rebuild muscle. Anyone experience this or have advice to offer?

@BigViffer and @BlueCrush can help you out with much of this. They lift and have great results.

I am a contradiction to weightlifters. I distance run and lift. I have burnt muscle in the past. It's not a healthy look for me. I have also built muscle and strength. For me it's keeping consistent with lifting. I also have to tweak my diet

A thread that may interest you

https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/418762-is-it-possible-to-build-muscle-after-the-sleeve-im-about-to-find-out/?page=3

3 hours ago, FishOn said:

I read somewhere that if you don't work the muscles the body will consume muscles before consuming the last fat.

The only time that your body is in a true cannibalistic catabolic state is during times of duress and starvation. The body will always go for carbohydrates, recently eaten food, then fat stores, and as a last resort - muscle tissue for the energy requirements.

While the muscles may be smaller, that does not mean that you have lost muscle tissue, they may just be lax from lack of environmental stress (the definitive term, not eh emotional state). "Pretty" muscles are just swollen from the increase water retention. That is why you always look bigger after a workout session. True long lasting muscle mass increases are not as apparent. High rep/low weight workouts are good for muscle tissue to split and tear that will heal looking larger, but they will not be inherently stronger. If you are wanting to look better -and there is nothing wrong with that- then just do a tone of reps (volume). If you want real strength, lift heavy for 3 sets of 5 reps after appropriate warm-ups.

I'll not get into routines nor training sessions as most people just don't take it as serious as I, or they already have themselves convinced they already know the best way to accomplish both at the same time on a severely limited caloric intake.

One other thing to remember, your protein requirements are based on lean body mass, not body weight. If you weigh 200 lbs, you do not need 200 grams of protein. That is counting bone and organs as well.

Times of duress...I have been very stressed out with a 1/2 dozen computer servers going down the last couple of weeks. Could that be a significant factor?

When I was pregnant with baby 2, I had to stop running and lifting. I basically could only walk. I lost so much muscle. I was starting to gain it back when I found out I had a herniated disc. Got that feeling better and I found out I am pregnant with baby 3. So, it will have to wait. Everyone's body is different though.

17 hours ago, FishOn said:

Times of duress...I have been very stressed out with a 1/2 dozen computer servers going down the last couple of weeks. Could that be a significant factor?

It could be a factor, but I wouldn't classify it as significant. Lost at sea or lost in the desert for a week would be significant enough duress to cause a catabolic state severe enough to begin eating away at muscle.