Technically when you make dietary changes or push yourself to workout harder to lose weight, your body first loses excessive fat, whereas your muscle mass remains intact. But in some cases, while you are trying to lose weight, your body may start losing muscle mass instead of body fat. The condition is medically known as muscle atrophy, and it can be pretty unhealthy for your overall fitness.
Your body may start losing muscle mass when your diet does not include enough protein, or you may not give your body enough time to unwind. Moreover, the condition is more common among individuals over the age of 60, especially those who haven’t incorporated physical activity in their daily schedules for quite some time. But you don’t lose muscle mass all of a sudden; your body shows a few signs of muscle loss that you need to be aware of so you can take necessary measures to improve the condition and your overall well-being.
Here are four signs that indicate that you may be losing muscle mass instead of body fat.
Working Out Feels Excessively Strenuous
Your workout may be challenging, but if you suddenly feel your workout is excessively strenuous to a point where you are unable to do it all together, it could be a possible sign that you may be losing muscle mass. When you are losing muscle mass, your body also loses muscle strength, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks, including workouts. You may be unable to do the same number of repetitions or are unable to lift the same weight. Moreover, it is also likely that your body may feel so weak that you may prefer to skip the workout altogether.
Your Energy Levels Are Down All Day
Apart from missing out on workout sessions, it is likely that when your body loses muscle mass, you may feel sluggish and tired all day. In some cases where the loss of muscle mass is excessive, you may find it difficult to perform everyday tasks such as climbing up the stairs or even walking down the aisles.
The Fat Percentage In Your Body Is Not Changing
When you are trying to lose weight by making dietary changes, you may find that the number on the scale may be changing, but the fat percentage in your body isn’t changing. When you notice a change in your waist circumference, you can assess this, but the fat around your waistline (that you can check by pinching) remains the same.
