decreased protein intake/muscle loss

[Monkey]

How many days of minimal protein intake would it take to start to lose muscle?

:scratch: Does that make sense?
I'll put it in context... I've been sick for 4 days, not eating much really, a little here and there. I noticed I've lost 4 pounds. Is this water, fat, or muscle? or maybe there's no way to tell. I know the scale doesn't really matter but I don't want to be losing my :lifter:

[absolut_blonde]

I think that would be just water. I thought it took awhile (like 2 weeks or so? Maybe that's wishful thinking) to really lose significant muscle.

[char-dawg]

Protein intake isn't going to have any immediate effect on muscle maintenance. I systematically lowered my protein over an eight week period once to see what would happen (I cut it by half every two weeks, ending up at about 20g/day - and it's really hard to get lower than that) but replaced the calories with fat/carbs as I did so. Didn't lose a pound, didn't suffer any strength loss in the gym. Basically, no effect, at least for two months. (And when I upped it back to the original levels, there was no effect either.)

I'll lose weight when I'm sick, too, but it's because I don't eat much - just like you. Before looking to protein, check your total cals. And yeah, water loss probably has a lot to do with it, too.

[Monkey]

Protein intake isn't going to have any immediate effect on muscle maintenance. I systematically lowered my protein over an eight week period once to see what would happen (I cut it by half every two weeks, ending up at about 20g/day - and it's really hard to get lower than that) but replaced the calories with fat/carbs as I did so. Didn't lose a pound, didn't suffer any strength loss in the gym. Basically, no effect, at least for two months. (And when I upped it back to the original levels, there was no effect either.)

:clap: helpful, thank you!

[chicca]

my doc always told me that the body is catabolic when you're ill, particularly if you have high fevers. i assumed then muscle loss would occur.
or is he just making this stuff up as he goes? :lol:

[Cris]

Chicca,
That does happen, but not immediately unless you are critically ill.

[chicca]

good to know :)