Lean mass is just non-fat mass. That includes much more than just muscle.
I can't find any evidence that GLP-1 are catabolic to muscle mass. There is no evidence I can find that GLP-1s do anything above what calorie restriction does.
There is a linear relationship between calorie restriction and fat loss down to under 10% body fat. There is so much wrong information on calorie restriction from studies done on people who were literally starving with already very low body fat %. Then apply that to people with 25% body fat is just wrong.
Westerners trying to lose weight don't have this problem. I think part of the obesity epidemic is this insane idea that calorie restriction is bad. Everyone kind of understands the thermodynamics of calories in / calories out. Everyone even kind of understands the benefits of fasting. At the same time though there is this nonsense that if you restrict calories too much you start burning all this muscle mass. It is patently absurd.
Add up the calories of what a 250lb bodybuilder is eating for contest prep to lose fat and you will see they are "starving" too.
In the end, it really is just metabolic math. As a former wrestler who did some insane weight-losing in my youth, the muscle mass loss is due to extreme calorie restriction. Besides, just sitting around starving is not a good way to become healthier in the long run, and that's where the muscle loss will be worst. To be a true journey towards better health, dieting should be accompied by at least a lot of walking and some light weight training, in the minimum.
And don't forget your supplements, kids (addressing general readership), because our foods are less nutrient dense in 2025, so find out if some supplements help energy levels on the downslope. Me and my teenagers have taken a sip / mini-gulp of a product called 'Orgain' daily for a month or so, and I have found my energy better, while having less cravings. An entire little 11oz single-size drink is way too much for me (too many vitamins, makes me sleepy), having 'just a little bit' is not at all scientific, but we seem to be thriving on that little bit of supplementation.
And, as always, avoid those processed sugars, kids! Whole sugar cane is very, very good for us, but only in moderate doses. Processed sugar is the crack cocaine of sugar cane, as opposed to just chewing a leaf of the coca plant.
I only wrestled for 2 weeks in 8th grade but have ASICS MATCONTROL 3 on right now. My gym shoes :)
High school wrestling though might push things too far.Many of those guys under heavyweight do not have the bodyfat % to be restricting so much so are actually losing muscle mass.
I know Jordan Burroughs diet that I have seen seemed like maximum micro nutrients for the calorie because how else can you eat to be a 4 time world champion at 74kg?
I am probably half an inch taller than Burroughs and 163lbs is impossible. It is too far. Way too far.
I would have said just eat protein and work out when I was in my teens, 20s and early 30s too.
I am 48 and not on testosterone, yet. I actually can't recover at this point from workouts that burn enough calories vs working out less but more calorie restriction in terms of fat loss. Even 60 minute walks cause me to be more hungry to be able to recover from than what I can restrict without walking.
I am at the final death throws of natural and not being on TRT basically. I have been pushing TRT out since my late 30s but have gone way too far.
I think the TRT threshold probably be when you can't outrun calorie restriction by working out. For me, that has probably been since 43 or 44. By 46 for sure.
Personally, I don't need GLP-1s. So many people though do.
Keep in mind I am not using GLP-1s myself because I am unsure of the long term risks.
What worries me is if what if in 20 years of use, something with insulin gets blown out?
There is a chance it could be a drug for life like testosterone. We know though how devastating obesity is on health so it is really going to be up to the individual to take the risk. Not really my business at that level.
I can't find any evidence that GLP-1 are catabolic to muscle mass. There is no evidence I can find that GLP-1s do anything above what calorie restriction does.
There is a linear relationship between calorie restriction and fat loss down to under 10% body fat. There is so much wrong information on calorie restriction from studies done on people who were literally starving with already very low body fat %. Then apply that to people with 25% body fat is just wrong.
Westerners trying to lose weight don't have this problem. I think part of the obesity epidemic is this insane idea that calorie restriction is bad. Everyone kind of understands the thermodynamics of calories in / calories out. Everyone even kind of understands the benefits of fasting. At the same time though there is this nonsense that if you restrict calories too much you start burning all this muscle mass. It is patently absurd.
Add up the calories of what a 250lb bodybuilder is eating for contest prep to lose fat and you will see they are "starving" too.