Strength/weight loss relationship

[5kgLifter]

I'm hoping this forum is a suitable one, if not please move the thread.

What are people's views on the matter of weight loss and its affect on strength...would it even necessarily affect a person's strength at all?

The reason, I decided to bring up the subject is because we see people that are lighter yet stronger which means that a heavier person can lose weight and still become as strong as the lighter person who is already stronger than they are.

Yet, at the same time, we hear that when a person loses weight they must/should automatically lose strength. We also see, through people's training log workouts that at times they have lost weight but have increased their strength.

Your views...

[BendtheBar]

I can only speak for myself...I have yet to lose strength on a cut. But I have never ran a cut below 220.

Many bodybuilders I know hold strength until they start getting low bodyfat.

I'm not sure why some guys lose strength when on a planned cut. I know you certainly can if your cut isn't precision.

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I can only speak for myself...I have yet to lose strength on a cut. But I have never ran a cut below 220.

Many bodybuilders I know hold strength until they start getting low bodyfat.

I'm not sure why some guys lose strength when on a planned cut. I know you certainly can if your cut isn't precision.

Probably should clarify a point to make the question a bit clearer...


...not so much weight loss as in a cut but more weight loss as in weight loss from a higher bodyweight to a lower one bringing a "weaker" lifter of a heavier bodyweight into the same class as a lighter but stronger lifter...but not in terms of low bodyfat levels etc.

Hope that's a bit clearer.

[BendtheBar]

Well most powerlifters I have seen that have been very heavy and have dropped down have cuts fairly similar in nature to bodybuilders, meaning that protein feedings are frequent. I can't say that I've ever seen a powerlifter trying to drop weight who doesn't eat similar to bodybuilders with at least 4 protein feedings per day. I'm sure they exist...I just don't know any.

[Rich Knapp]

Strength loss isn't true loss. You muscles just stop holding as much stores due to low cal nutrition thus making you feeling weaker. When you re-feed back after a cut to maintenance or above, you will actually come back stronger and bigger because the tissue starts storing a large abundance of fuel for heavy lifts once again.

This is also why a re-feed day has been shown to be better for the tissue than a cheat day. The tissue isn't used to storing large amounts so on a cheat day a good % splashes over out side and in-between the tissue, were in a re-feed the tissue can soak up the levels without splash over.

[LtL]

I agree with what Steve and Rich have said about the nature of your diet affecting strength levels but I also believe that whether or not you lose strength has a lot to do with what stage you are at in your strength development. If you are an advanced lifter who has already refined technique and conditioned your CNS, you may well lose strength with lower calories. If, however, you a less experienced lifter you will still make gains even though you're not eating BIG simply because you could be moving the bar more smoothly or your CNS is learning to fire more efficiently. Just my two pence

LtL

[5kgLifter]

Thanks for the input guys!