If lifts don't drop significantly does that mean you're not losing muscle?

[SteelWeaver]

Assume a really foolish pre-comp. diet. 2 weeks out from show. Lifts don't seem to have plummeted like last time .... There's something wrong with this picture, isn't there?

 

[Ceebs]

Theoretically. Strength is just as much neurological as it as muscular, though.

Another option: you could just be getting REALLY good at dieting. Knock on wood.

 

[MS]

I believe strength is far MORE neurological than muscular. This is why some of those under 60kg power/olympic lifters can move so much weight. So maybe this time you've got the right mix of noradrenergic stimuli and better neuromuscular training. Or maybe you're better at dieting!

 

[Intenceman]

Sounds like you are doing something RIGHT. Your lifts shouldn't plummet, ever. Last summer I lost 36 lbs and got stronger on everything except heavy Squats- hard to go over 550 or so on a strict diet. Both Clarence Bass and Mike Mentzer in the late 70's wrote that they actually got STRONGER coming into a competiton while dieting on low fat, low cal diets

 

[MS]

Yes, I also get stronger (except the final ~ 2weeks). I believe it has a lot to do with the increase in noradrenergic activity commonly associated with sub-maintenance calories.

 

[SteelWeaver]

Heh heh - well if you saw my diet you might feel I have reason to think my lifts should plummet - I certainly won't be doing this this way again. I'm increasingly surprised that I am able to crawl out of bed every morning. Anyway, that's good to know about Mentzer and Bass. The only thing I've got stronger on is - yes - dips, lol. But the rest (except squats) seem to be holding steady within a few kilos of some of my best lifts. I guess dropping volume was a good move.

MS and Ceebs - are you guys pulling my leg when you say "you've got better at dieting"? Does that happen? Like, how? What? You mean you just get used to what to expect? Or actual physical adaptations to the diet? That's an interesting question.

 

[Intenceman]

Funny this topic came up. I am doing another website- bringing back on a different host, actually, and one of the themes on it is Mind and Body. The subject actually goes very deep, but for now, suffice it to say that the mind is the most important factor in YOUR progress.

 

[makedah]

So true, Spatts. I learned a couple of weeks ago to Think Strong.