new to this. just curious but on my smart scale every time I lose weight it shows a loss of muscle mass. i want to understand why. also how long after a fast will strength and muscle return.
Muscle is mostly water. It is the loss of water and glycogen in the muscle that decreases its size. What you’re interested in isn’t muscle mass but contractile tissue. Look at the protein mass on your scale rather than muscle mass.
I think it’s a myth that losing weight actually drops muscle mass. Just look at victims of starvation; their muscles stay as long as the body can manage, because it knows to use the easier-to-use reserves of fat first.
Sure you might lose some strength but minimally so and I’d bet that would come back after refeed and restarting your routine.