I have been losing bodyfat (cutting) for 2 months now and have sucessfully gone from 221.5lbs @ 24% BF (53.16lbs of bodyfat, and 168.34lbs of lean mass) to 195lbs @ 17% BF (33.15lbs of bodyfat, and 161.85lbs of lean mass). As you can see my calculated lean mass percentage has gone from 168 to 161. Could this be due to water loss or have i actually lost muscle mass? I think the proportion of muscle loss to bodyfat is insignificant though! Just wondering whether it's water?

Cheers,

Ben

P.S.: I'm 6' 2 4/8", 17yrs old.

I have been losing bodyfat (cutting) for 2 months now and have sucessfully gone from 221.5lbs @ 24% BF (53.16lbs of bodyfat, and 168.34lbs of lean mass) to 195lbs @ 17% BF (33.15lbs of bodyfat, and 161.85lbs of lean mass). As you can see my calculated lean mass percentage has gone from 168 to 161. Could this be due to water loss or have i actually lost muscle mass? I think the proportion of muscle loss to bodyfat is insignificant though! Just wondering whether it's water?

Cheers,

Ben

P.S.: I'm 6' 2 4/8", 17yrs old.

It could be some water weight too.

What is your diet like?? What exercises are you doing??

Be sure not to radically cut carbs, because they play a role in sparing muscle tissue. Just don't eat high glycemic ones.

Anyway your weight loss is impressive!

I have been losing bodyfat (cutting) for 2 months now and have sucessfully gone from 221.5lbs @ 24% BF (53.16lbs of bodyfat, and 168.34lbs of lean mass) to 195lbs @ 17% BF (33.15lbs of bodyfat, and 161.85lbs of lean mass). As you can see my calculated lean mass percentage has gone from 168 to 161. Could this be due to water loss or have i actually lost muscle mass? I think the proportion of muscle loss to bodyfat is insignificant though! Just wondering whether it's water?

Cheers,

Ben

P.S.: I'm 6' 2 4/8", 17yrs old.
While cutting the body changes in more ways than just burning fat. As you eat less, your intestines probably shrink, since they don't need the extra capacity to handle your food any more. This would take weight off your body, but not reduce your BF.

If you want my advice, I have two things to tell you:

Firstly, don't take the lean mass loss that seriously, no matter what you've lost. You're still young, and your best time lies ahead of you. You've probably just stopped growing, and now your body is eager to add muscles. Take it easy in the gym though, listen to your body and don't over-do it. That would only cause you trouble and injuries.

Secondly, stop cutting now. Being young you should really try not to get your BF too low. From what I know, if you're under 13% BF it is almost impossible to build muscles. If you want to gain as much muscles as possible, somewhere between 13 and 20 % is the best level, since this won't be unhealthy for you, and you'll still be able to build up your body. If you want to look more defined than you do now, do this by building muscles instead of losing fat.

Secondly, stop cutting now. Being young you should really try not to get your BF too low. From what I know, if you're under 13% BF it is almost impossible to build muscles. If you want to gain as much muscles as possible, somewhere between 13 and 20 % is the best level, since this won't be unhealthy for you, and you'll still be able to build up your body.

??? :rolleyes:

Whaaat ? This is the first I have heard that?? It is not almost impossible to build muscles at under 13% bodyfat!! It however is difficult to eat for muscle gain while still maintaining a low bodyfat. It will begin to creep back up, because of the amount of food a bulking cycle requires. Also a bodyfat % under 13 is far from unhealthy for males. Females should not go below 16%, it puts them at risk hormonally.

If you want to look more defined than you do now, do this by building muscles instead of losing fat.

You do not look defined by building muscles as you stated. In order to see definition, you need to loose bodyfat, no matter what amount of muscle you have.

To the first poster: You can keep cutting as long as you're not starving yourself, it's perfectly healthy! :gl:

Thanks for the advice guys! I am gonna carry on "cutting" for the time being! My goal is below 10% BF, and i would like to stay above 170lbs if possible. I am looking to eventually bulk to about 200lbs, and then 200lbs lean body mass. That should keep me occupied for a while! I am so happy with my new lifestyle i dont even want to eat all that crap (excuse the french) i used to eat before! Good luck to everyone! I advise a job in a fast food restaurant will give you the mindset to lose bodyfat! ;)

Cheers,

Ben

Whaaat ? This is the first I have heard that?? It is not almost impossible to build muscles at under 13% bodyfat!! It however is difficult to eat for muscle gain while still maintaining a low bodyfat. It will begin to creep back up, because of the amount of food a bulking cycle requires. Also a bodyfat % under 13 is far from unhealthy for males. Females should not go below 16%, it puts them at risk hormonally.
It can be debated where to draw the line, but the lower your bodyfat, the lesser the chance of actually building muscle. This is the reason why body builders don't stay at competition level BF. If your BF% drop down, your body will believe that you've been starving, and start building up a new fat storage as soon as it can, instead of building muscles. After competitions body builders will eat up, to attain fat, in order to be able to shape their muscles.

Please explain to me where I write that under 13% BF is an unhealthy level. I can't find that part.


You do not look defined by building muscles as you stated. In order to see definition, you need to loose bodyfat, no matter what amount of muscle you have.
Oh, I see. With this reasoning, a guy who is 160 lbs with 30 lbs of fat, is exactly as defined as a guy who is 230 lbs with 30 lbs of fat. Too bad that gaining 70 lbs of fat free mass will do NOTHING to your body's apperance...