Lost muscle easier to gain back?

[Genetics??]

alright, i was talking to a friend of mine and we got into the argument that if you did a cyle lets say about a year ago and pretty much lost it all because of not working... its not easy to gain back, because your test levels arent as hgih as they used to be...

my friend thinks that lost muscle is easier to gain back because it was once there and working out would get it right back?

someone help me out..
and im wrong, well i learned something new

 

[Mavafanculo]

all other things being equal, regaining lost muscle is easier than building muscle size for the first tme. the phenomenon is called "muscle memory"

google "colorado experiment" and casey viator

of course if you juiced the first time, but not the 2nd that may affect the equation lol

 

[GUARDIAN]

yes. i got hurt and had shoulder surgery and to get back into shape wasn't nearly as hard as it was getting there the first time.

 

[SLAYER69!]

agreed. I took a whole 2 years off (2003-2004), and I mean off of everything, juice and the gym. I looked like shit but it all came back much quicker than I expected

 

[paulwigan]

its about 4-5 times easier than gaining it for me.
i have stopped several times and when i started back it came very easy. but gaining it in the first place took brutal dedication.

 

[jvilma51]

getting it to come back is definately easier...usually during the course of my baseball season i usually lose a few pounds of muscle just do to the lack of lifting.....i still remain strong but usually lean out a few pounds through out the season....

but during the offseason lifting it comes back very very quick

 

[sugashane]

It also depends on HOW LONG you had that muscle mass. If you gain 30 lbs in 10 weeks, then lose it all for some reason, you will not be able to train natty to gain that back. Your body must learn to accept the mass. Viator had held that muscle mass for a long time before he lost it, and his body had learned to suport that muscle over months and years.
Good call though Mava. The Colorado experiment was a hell of an example though, I forgot about it.

 

[Rage-Of-Sparta]

Look up: MUSCLE MEMORY

 

[pappad]

I am a walking billboard for muscle memory. I was out for 6 years and when I just went into the gym I started regaining muscle!

 

[drsketch]

muscle memory is a nice gift...

 

[Donnie Darko]

I've often believed that muscle memory is more about the fascia. Over time as you gain muscle and the fascia expands, when you lose the muscle, you can gain it back more easily because either an expanded or more elasticized fascia allows this. At least that is my theory. I also tend to believe that bad shin splints (like the anterior tibialis for me personally) are often caused by the myofascial compartments holding alot of pressure in causing the pain because the muscle becomes more pumped than the fascia will allow.

 

[Genetics??]

this is definetly a very helpful board..

cheers,
Genetics??

 

[sensational]

I've often believed that muscle memory is more about the fascia. Over time as you gain muscle and the fascia expands, when you lose the muscle, you can gain it back more easily because either an expanded or more elasticized fascia allows this. At least that is my theory. I also tend to believe that bad shin splints (like the anterior tibialis for me personally) are often caused by the myofascial compartments holding alot of pressure in causing the pain because the muscle becomes more pumped than the fascia will allow.

This is a very interesting theory. The phenomenon of "muscle memory" is well documented, but I don't think the physiology behind it has ever been fully explained.

I think the fascia theory has promise!

What about when you lose fat and the last fat to go is the fat that has been there the longest? Is it the same principle but reversed?

 

[Genetics??]

This is a very interesting theory. The phenomenon of "muscle memory" is well documented, but I don't think the physiology behind it has ever been fully explained.

I think the fascia theory has promise!

What about when you lose fat and the last fat to go is the fat that has been there the longest? Is it the same principle but reversed?

good question bro..

thanks for all the replys..guys..

 

[Donnie Darko]

The body typically doesn't like to get rid off too much fat because fat is survival food for the body. Men and women do have their own problem areas, but most of those last spots to go boils down to heredity.

 

[ThePOLO]

Muscle has the memory of an elephants brain, it never forgets..... just depends on how much fat you have built up as to whether you will notice quickly. Your muscle will remember and your strength will return if you work at! Train hard! Be a rock.