Dr.ObesityMed said:There is also a quality change that the scan cannot see.
Pushing back on Dr.ObesityMed here. I think this board over-worries about lean mass. Some lean loss is obligatory — you need less muscle to move a smaller body, and preserving mass you no longer need is not a health outcome. The question is whether strength and function held, and mine did.
Correct me if the detail matters more than I have assumed.
emily_PDX said:Two DEXA scans eleven months apart: down 24kg total, of which the scan says 6kg was lean.
Bone density monitoring on lean mass: DEXA bone density at baseline and month 12.
Lumbar spine T-score: -0.12 → -0.9 (stable to slightly improved)
Femoral neck T-score: -0.10 → -0.10 (stable)
No significant bone loss despite 69 lbs of weight loss. Key factors: adequate calcium (1200mg/day), vitamin D (5000 IU/day), resistance training 3x/week, and adequate protein. Weight-bearing exercise is critical for maintaining bone density during rapid weight loss.
PeptideChemSF said:I think this board over-worries about lean mass.
Body composition tracking via bioimpedance on lean mass (InBody scan every 3 months):
| Metric | Baseline | Month 3 | Month 6 | Month 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeletal Muscle (lbs) | 70 | 66 | 67 | 70 |
| Body Fat (lbs) | 107 | 74 | 52 | 40 |
| Body Fat % | 38% | 33% | 25% | 20% |
| Visceral Fat (cm²) | 157 | 122 | 92 | 57 |
Note: skeletal muscle mass dipped initially then recovered with consistent resistance training + high protein. The visceral fat reduction is where the metabolic magic happens.
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Shop Reference StandardsOne thing that is still open after DeniseRN_TPA’s answer:
Whether resistance training and protein change the ratio or only the absolute amount?
Reporting back.
Follow-up: I dropped the cardio to two easy sessions and put the effort into three real lifting sessions. The scale slowed and the scan improved.