They discuss the concept of active rest and its role in maintaining muscle. They explore the concepts of Minimum Effective Volume and Maximum Recoverable Volume in training. They emphasize the importance of tracking strength progress and deloading repetition strength. They talk about the observation and indicators of muscle loss, limitations of body fat tests, and the negative effects of stress on muscle loss. They also discuss the challenges and inaccuracies of using dex measurements, including jokes about not achieving a certain body fat percentage.
Training at one-third to one-half of your typical volume can be enough to maintain muscle mass.
Monitoring strength levels is a good indicator of muscle maintenance.
DEXA scans may not accurately reflect muscle loss, so focus on other signs like strength levels.
Deep dives
Training less can still maintain muscle
Contrary to popular belief, you can train a lot less and still maintain your muscle mass. Research suggests that training at one-third to one-half of your typical volume can be enough to maintain your gains. So, during the holidays or any other time when you can't train as much, don't worry about losing muscle. As long as you're training within this reduced range, you'll be fine.
Monitoring strength as an indicator
One way to monitor if you're maintaining muscle is to observe your strength levels. If your strength remains relatively stable or only slightly decreases, it's a good sign that you're not losing muscle. On the other hand, if you experience a significant drop in strength, it may indicate muscle loss. So, pay attention to your strength performance and use it as a gauge for muscle maintenance.
DEXA scans and body composition
DEXA scans, which measure body composition, can be misleading and fraught with error. Intra-individual variability in DEXA results can range from 1% to 3% or even higher. So, small changes in muscle mass reported by DEXA may not necessarily indicate actual muscle loss. Instead, look for other signs, such as strength levels, to determine if you're truly losing muscle.
Start with reduced volume and adjust
If you're unsure about how much volume to train with in order to maintain your muscle mass, start by significantly reducing your typical volume. Aim for around half to one-third of your usual volume and see how your body responds. Monitor your strength and overall performance and make adjustments accordingly. Over time, you'll develop a better understanding of your maintenance volume and be able to fine-tune your training accordingly.
Don't stress about muscle loss
Stressing about losing muscle can actually contribute to muscle loss due to increased cortisol levels. Trust the process and focus on training within a reduced volume range that allows you to maintain your strength and performance. Remember that minor fluctuations in body composition are normal, and as long as your strength remains stable, you're likely not losing significant muscle mass.
RP Diet Coach app RP Hypertrophy App 0:22 Mike isn’t sleeping well 2:02 Mike is coming to Australia 3:27 Minimum training to maintain muscle 9:55 Days per week of training vs gains 13:05 How much can you reduce sets by 15:42 Looking deflated vs losing muscle 19:43 Cutting training in half or more 22:06 Beginners can actually gain on very low volume 24:10 MEV, MV, MRV defined 28:35 Systemic MRV defined 31:50 How do you figure out volume landmarks for YOU 36:25 Neural adaptations 39:05 Actually losing muscle 43:40 Stress contributing to muscle loss
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