How fast can the body build muscle?

[DarkWhispers]

Alright, well im not gonna argue about it.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize there was an argument happening here.

I admittedely didn't read the entire thread so if this is an argument I certainly don't want to partake in it.

Sorry for jumping in.

I will just assume, im not building any extra muscle.And maybe i am losing some muscle, but the fact remains, im loosing fat.And all the muscle i had under the fat is starting to show through.

You very well could be adding some muscle. Losing fat and building a bit of muscle is a very real possibility the further away you are from your genetic potential. This means the more fat you're carrying or the newer you are to weight training the more likely it will be that you can realize concurrent body composition changes.

But does muscle have only one density?What i mean is two people could both have same size arms, but ones muscles are harder then the others.That would mean muscle can have different densitys,and therefore weight more or less.

Muscle is comprised of a few 'ingredients.'

For instance, you can have two types of hypertrophy theoretically. Hypertrophy is simply a fancy way of saying muscle growth. You can have sarcoplasmic hypertrophy and you can have myofibrillar hypertrophy.

The former is simply an increase in the intramuscular fluids like glycogen, water, and sarcoplasm.

The latter is actual growth of the contractile proteins; namely actin and myosin.

More myofibrillar hypertrophy will lead to a denser muscle than sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.

 

[Derrick]

How are you measuring your body fat percentage? Even hydrostatic (underwater) measurements have some margin of error. Just because you gained 2 lbs and some body fat measurement indicates your body fat percentage dropped does not mean the body fat measurement was right. I will go out on a limb here and assume you are using some form of bioelectrical impedance like a scale or hand held device. Those flat out suck for accuracy. The ones I use (at home and at the gym) can fluctuate 8 percent per week!

 

[fatshowdown]

One thing...

I think it's the other way around. It's one of those "that sucks" kind of things. I'm pretty sure that when you aren't getting enough to eat, your body will burn through a small amount of fat but mainly burn muscle instead.

Our bodies store fat as energy in case we start to starve...sooo...eating muscle first definitely seems counter-productive of our bodies. Our bodies are extremely advanced lifeforms, and even though I'm not a professional, the first thing the body wants when in starvation mode is more energy, and that is why fat is stored, for quick access to energy. This would allow our bodies to save our precious muscle so we could maintain our strength to continue the hunt for food. The LAST thing the body wants to do is break down muscle.

mahkeymike, I'm not quite sure why you gained a couple pounds, but there could be more than 1 reason. You COULD be putting on muscle in areas you are exercising, but with a calorie deficit and little protein, unlikely. Again like I said I am not a professional, and reasons why you gained weight could range from your body rapidly plateauing to how much fecal matter is in your bowels at the time you weigh yourself. Go figure right? hah, personally I like to make sure I'm "empty" before I weigh myself, even if it doesn't make a huge difference.

 

[mahkeymike]

@ DarkWhispers

It wasnt an arguement, i just meant i dont know enough to disagree.BTW: you lost me at "hypertrophy"


@Derreck

I use a Tanita body composition monitor.It uses like 5 measurements to get accurate results.It seems pretty accurate day to day.I get same results if i step on and off it.doesnt sound way off like the one you mentioned.

@fatshowdown

I only went up like 2 lbs for a day or so.Im actually 180 today.(lets just say that expression "woa, i felt like a dropped 5lbs" isnt a joke..lol)

 

[LoveFool1]

Our bodies store fat as energy in case we start to starve...sooo...eating muscle first definitely seems counter-productive of our bodies. Our bodies are extremely advanced lifeforms, and even though I'm not a professional, the first thing the body wants when in starvation mode is more energy, and that is why fat is stored, for quick access to energy. This would allow our bodies to save our precious muscle so we could maintain our strength to continue the hunt for food. The LAST thing the body wants to do is break down muscle.

It does go for muscle first. Our bodies are advanced but we still haven't gotten out of this system yet.

To put it clearly, our bodies are good at gaining and staying fat.

Read this:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/weight-loss-through-exercise/10566-misconceptions.html#post282037

 

[fatshowdown]

Incorrect

Lovefool,

That article backs up everything I just said. The body uses fat to maintain itself through starvation, not to provide nutrients for more muscle growth. Did you read the whole thing? Muscle is not the body's quick access to energy, thats why it is quicker to store fat, and also quicker to use fat.

For instance, there are 2 nuts in front of you, you are freakin HUNGRY, 1 nut is already cracked and laid out ready for eating, the other nut still needs to be cracked, which nut would you eat?

 

[Derrick]

@Derrick

I use a Tanita body composition monitor.It uses like 5 measurements to get accurate results.It seems pretty accurate day to day.I get same results if i step on and off it.doesnt sound way off like the one you mentioned.

I also have a Tanita scale but it sounds like a different model than yours. Nonetheless, try using it several times in one day. Try once in the morning when you wake up, once after lunch, once after dinner and once before bed. I would be suprised if you get the same results each time. More than likely the results will vary by at least 2 or 3 percent. That has been my experience with those kinds of body fat monitors. I know many other people who have had similar experiences. I really don't know of anyone who has said they have had consistent results. Always a first for everything though.

 

[mahkeymike]

I also have a Tanita scale but it sounds like a different model than yours. Nonetheless, try using it several times in one day. Try once in the morning when you wake up, once after lunch, once after dinner and once before bed. I would be suprised if you get the same results each time. More than likely the results will vary by at least 2 or 3 percent. That has been my experience with those kinds of body fat monitors. I know many other people who have had similar experiences. I really don't know of anyone who has said they have had consistent results. Always a first for everything though.

It varies at most 0.2%-0.4% day to day, but never 1%.It takes a good week to see 1% , but thats just my body dropping fat

Now the water % measurement can change drastically day to day, but thats the nature of the human body.Ive already dropped 5lbs in an hour of intense cardio with a sweat suit on.So far im at 181 and holding since yesterday.last week i was 186.and a month ago 200.

 

[LoveFool1]

Lovefool,

That article backs up everything I just said. The body uses fat to maintain itself through starvation, not to provide nutrients for more muscle growth. Did you read the whole thing? Muscle is not the body's quick access to energy, thats why it is quicker to store fat, and also quicker to use fat.

Nowhere in your original post did you say that "the body uses fat to maintain itself through starvation, not to provide nutrients for more muscle growth." Maybe that's what you meant, but that's not what you said. And yes, I read it.

You're saying that the body is quicker to store fat. Okay I agree. Everyone on this site who is trying to lose weight could agree. And you said it's also quicker to use that fat, but that's not what that article said so how did that back up everything you just said?

None of this is even giving this guy the exact answer to the one question he asked anyways. Ask Steve.

 

[fatshowdown]

I do!

Nowhere in your original post did you say that "the body uses fat to maintain itself through starvation, not to provide nutrients for more muscle growth." Maybe that's what you meant, but that's not what you said. And yes, I read it.

You're saying that the body is quicker to store fat. Okay I agree. Everyone on this site who is trying to lose weight could agree. And you said it's also quicker to use that fat, but that's not what that article said so how did that back up everything you just said?

None of this is even giving this guy the exact answer to the one question he asked anyways. Ask Steve.

Lovefool,

I would suggest you read my post again. I do indeed say that the body uses fat during starvation to maintain itself and save muscle to continue the hunt for food. You may have misunderstood it as me saying "use fat to build muscle". And the article DOES say that the body stores fat for quick access to energy, which means that it is in fact quicker to use the fat. Thats the whole point of fat, quick to store and quick to use! However if you don't have a lot of fat to begin with, and the body goes into starvation, then yes muscle mass would start to decrease...quite rapidly I think, probably because it doesn't have nearly as much stored energy?


P.S. Don't think of yourself as sounding bitchy just because your debating something, debates are debates mainly because after its done no one hates each other (I hope you don't hate me), I'm not going to hold anything against you and give you bad rep for every post you make or anything (just most of them...jk). Bottom line, I don't think you are a bitch.

 

[Steve]

On this forum, unfortunately, debating is like walking an extremely thin tight rope with no safety net. It's to the extent where people feel they need to walk on egg shells even if it's only a discussion where differing viewpoints are expressed.

 

[LoveFool1]

You're back! I almost felt like a traitor for posting your link on this forum after your post that you were banned.

 

[mahkeymike]

Well now that your here steve, care to shed some light about building muscle?
Ive lost 20lbs in 4 weeks.My fat% went from 30% to 23.5%.I know ive lost fat because i went from a 36 waist to a tight 32 waist.I was 200, now 180.Is it possible for muscle to increase its density, and weight more from exercise within a short amount of time?

 

[Steve]

You're back! I almost felt like a traitor for posting your link on this forum after your post that you were banned.

I was only banned for one day. How it all went down and some of the lies people were saying left a sour taste in my mouth so I really didn't feel like coming back. I was posting randomly using the user id DarkWhispers.

But I do love it here and knew I'd come back fully soon enough.

 

[Steve]

Well now that your here steve, care to shed some light about building muscle?
Ive lost 20lbs in 4 weeks.My fat% went from 30% to 23.5%.I know ive lost fat because i went from a 36 waist to a tight 32 waist.I was 200, now 180.Is it possible for muscle to increase its density, and weight more from exercise within a short amount of time?

I already gave you my thoughts under the usesrname DarkWhispers. Yes, you can increase muscle mass in that short period of time. Not drastically... but when you're shedding fat and building muscle concurrently, the results can be quite profound in terms of appearance.