What happens if I stop lifting weights?

Helder

This really depends on how much time you are taking away from lifting weights, for example if you go on holiday for a week nothing will happen, but if you stop for a month or more than potentially there will be some drawbacks.

Person A

What happens if it is for a long period?

Helder

You will lose strength due to losses in muscle fibre size as well as motor unit recruitment, the longer you stay off the the further the decrease in both, however they both do stabilise at some stage.

Person A

Why does this happen?

Helder

When we lift weights regularly, we provide a mechanical loading stimulus to the muscle fibres of the high threshold motor units every week. When we stop lifting weights, these muscle fibers stop receiving the regular stimulus and they begin to atrophy.

All muscle fibers atrophy when they stop being exposed regularly to a sufficient high level of mechanical loading.

Person A

Why does the muscle loss stabilise?

Helder

Well, because a number of muscle fibers won’t be affected which will depend on the type of recreational activities you carry out. A person who is still quite active, even if it is not weight training will experience less overall muscle atrophy than someone who is very sedentary, and if you are injured or bed ridden this will become even worse.