Thread: Cutting and muscle memory?

Hi,

I started back at the gym four weeks ago after the third UK lockdown and had really done no strength work since early January.

I decided to combine this with a real effort to cut, so used a similar eating plan to previous cuts; I have learned a lot from here in the past about working out my deficit, eating sufficient protein, etc.

Unlike previous cuts, though, I am finding that my weight is really fluctuating. Four weeks down the line, I was today only 2lb lighter than on 12th April, but it seems to be very inconsistent and I can't understand why. Weight has always dropped steadily at around 1½lb - 2lb a week when I have cut previously. On the other hand, it does feel like I have lost fat from my stomach.

I have started to wonder whether there could be an element of lost muscle over the previous 3 months or so being regained to some extent, so that the number on the scale isn't as helpful as normal in showing up my progress with fat loss. Is that possible/likely?

Cheers in advance.

Recomping is always difficult, at that rate of loss I highly doubt you are gaining any muscle. Although in principle, muscle memory does make recomping a little easier.

Fluctuations are much more likely due to water weight.