Recently, I noticed myself huffing more than I’d like after a few flights of stairs. Also, my waist is getting rather unaesthetic. I’ve been doing 5/3/1. I’m going to spend the next 6 weeks eating extra clean, reducing my calories to RDA and running 3x/week.
I just started a week ago and my strength has plummeted, I’m talking about a 10-15% drop in 1RM for all 3 major lifts.
I’m not starvation or low carb dieting. My energy is normal. WTF? I’m hoping this is related to reduced glycogen stores and not actual myoglobin demise. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks,
One of my favorite quotes regarding dieting has been said by Justin Harris and it essentially that if you don’t lose muscle, you shouldn’t lose strength. I believe this is true to a high degree. I think that a 10-15 % drop in weights may be very mental and how you may have been feeling on that given day. Don’t let dieting get to you that way; if you go into it, and think that you will lose strength because you are losing weight (fat), then you’ll probably get weaker. However, if you go into it and stay strong, I believe that you shouldn’t see a huge drop off in strength if any.
Thats a pretty big drop for just 1 week of dieting. It might just be your body reacting to the lower caloric intake. I know when I diet down a bit Ill lose a little strength, but Im talking after 3-4 months, and dropping 20-25 pounds of body weight. Like ebomb said, it could just be mental at this point. However, you may give your body a little more time to adjust, and see if your strength goes back up. Just keep pushing yourself hard, and keep your peri-workout nutrition sound.