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mass loss, kinda confused

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Pantlegz

Diamond Member
So I'm not losing weight, and I'm not getting fatter but I'm losing mass 🙁 I'm actually kind of getting worried about it. Where could it be going? And why when eating 3000-3500 calories a day at ~220lbs and not being in the gym could I be not gaining weight?

I haven't been in the gym since late December and I was expecting a little mass loss but in the last month I've lost 3" off my neck, which was pretty lean, and 2" off my arms which I think it a ton in such a short time frame. Also, with not gaining fat(I'm actually getting skinnier) or weight but losing muscle mass where would the weight be going? I'm kind of confused about that as well.

Either way, I'm for sure going to have money to get back in the gym at the end of the month. This is just bothering me and kind of got me concerned, any ideas?
 
Sounds like your inactivity has gotten the best of your body composition. You've likely lost muscle mass and replaced some of it with fat, but not all of it. Muscle is much denser than fat so you may look skinnier, while having a greater proportion of fat on you. This frequently happens when someone stops lifting. I had the same sort of problem when I stopped lifting and did only Krav Maga for a month.
 
I'm going to agree with SC on this one; it's likely that you've gained fat to replace the muscle, but as muscle is denser, you've still lost size. Also, if you're drinking less water now than while you were working out, that could be another source of the decrease in size.
 
But with muscle being denser, if I weighed the same wouldn't I be getting bigger? Since fat weights less based on the area that it covers. I always thought you could gain weight when lifting but get smaller, becase muscle is more dense than fat. Also losing that much mass, in that short of time, is that normal? I didn't measure my wasit, but I know it's at least 2 inches smaller than when I was lifting, but again same weight.
 
Pantlegz1 said:
But with muscle being denser, if I weighed the same wouldn't I be getting bigger? Since fat weights less based on the area that it covers. I always thought you could gain weight when lifting but get smaller, becase muscle is more dense than fat. Also losing that much mass, in that short of time, is that normal? I didn't measure my wasit, but I know it's at least 2 inches smaller than when I was lifting, but again same weight.
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You may have indeed increased in size. However, small changes due to increased body fat aren't really noticeable while you're in a certain range. Also, you may be retaining more water, especially if you've been eating more carbs than normal. I lost about 6 pounds in 2-3 weeks from not lifting. It can happen.
 
You think you've dropped 3inches off your NECK and 2inches off your ARMS?

Even if your arm were 20inches a 2inch ddrop would be a HUGE DROP. I don't think you could lose 2inches off your arms unless were a fat mofo with HUGELY fat arms...I'm sure you haven't lost 2inches man...unless you had your arm bitten by a shark.

Koing
 
thats what I was thinking koing, my arms we're just a hair under 18" and they're just over 16 atm. My neck was also 18" and it's down to 15" I measured with 2 different tapes both had the same measurements, I also check them with another tape and yard stick just because I was shocked. it's something like 17% reduction in neck and 12% in my arms. I wasn't super fat, I've got some pics in my workout journal, I was far from skinny or buff but nowhere near fat.
 
You have been sedentary for 2 months and are surprised that your body is getting rid of your muscle mass?

Pantlegz1 said:
And why when eating 3000-3500 calories a day at ~220lbs and not being in the gym could I be not gaining weight?
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Are you tracking this carefully (on fitday or thedailyplate) or just estimating?

Pantlegz1 said:
I haven't been in the gym since late December and I was expecting a little mass loss but in the last month I've lost 3" off my neck, which was pretty lean, and 2" off my arms which I think it a ton in such a short time frame. Also, with not gaining fat(I'm actually getting skinnier) or weight but losing muscle mass where would the weight be going? I'm kind of confused about that as well.
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Has your diet changed, especially with regards to salt and water intake? Were you taking creatine at any point?

Pantlegz1 said:
This is just bothering me and kind of got me concerned, any ideas?
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Start lifting again and you'll be fine.
 
I've been tracking it on paper, if I don't know a value for sure I estimate but thats pretty rare. My diet has been pretty much the same, it's not quite as clean as it was there for a while but I'm not pigging out on fast food or anything. no creatine, thats actually something I'm going to start now that I'm working and will be able to afford it. I know getting back in the gym will reverse this, but I didn't think 2 months away from lifting would have such a huge impact. I haven't been completely sedentary, I still run from time to time and do some bw stuff but not as much as I should be I know.

I really can't wait to get back in the gym, kinda depressed to think about the strength loss if it's anything like the mass loss... Oh well, it'll all come back
 
Are you taking a statin drug? (anti-cholesterol medication: lipitor, tricor, zocor aka simvastatin)

Those meds eat muscle like fatties eat pound cake. Especially at high doses.
 
Pantlegz1 said:
thats what I was thinking koing, my arms we're just a hair under 18" and they're just over 16 atm. My neck was also 18" and it's down to 15" I measured with 2 different tapes both had the same measurements, I also check them with another tape and yard stick just because I was shocked. it's something like 17% reduction in neck and 12% in my arms. I wasn't super fat, I've got some pics in my workout journal, I was far from skinny or buff but nowhere near fat.
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18" is pretty f0cking big man! Seriously dude, measure out 18" and then 16" and now think were your arms actually 18" cold pre training before? Creatine really fills you out with water man.

Seriously man I wouldn't have thought without some SERIOUS weight loss you could drop 2inches off your arms without a shark bite!

Hit the gym and you'll return back to normal within 6-8 weeks! The strength will be back within 4 weeks.

Koing
 
If your strength and weight have gone down alot than I'd worry if not I would not worry at all.

2 months is a long time though.
 
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