Is it easier to "regain" lost muscle than if you never had it to begin with?

[Earl-Hickey]

I used to be like 210lbs, most of it muscle, but i really let myself go for like 3 years, stayed near that weight, but lost loads of muscle and gained a belly and man boobs, with these skinny ass arms.

Anyway i worked out and cut down to 180lbs, and my personal trainer said "expect to only gain 5lbs muscle per year"

well, in 2 months i have gained 16 lbs back, from 180 to 196, it just came right back it seems, my trainer even asked me if i was using any questionable methods. It pissed me off because i bought 4 tee shirts, in size M and i cant wear them now because my arms and shoulders make it look like a gay tight ass top.

My question is, does muscle become "dormant" if you dont use it, and then come back quickly if you start lifting again?

[g0tcha]

my take on that is maybe its muscle memory

if someone has been training for a long time and gained a great physique then their muscles have the muscle memory from lifting weights and when one has a long layoff and then gets back into it, their muscles, aside from recovering, adjust more quickly then that of a person who is of the same build but has never lifted before.

so that means you'll be able to start off with more weight and progress faster then the other person

at least that's my logical take on it heh

[Clegg]

Yes. This is how I remember it being explained to me before:

There is something around your muscle called fascia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia

When you lift weights, the fascia around your muscles gets stretched. Because it's pretty tough, this doesn't happen quickly. However, when you lose muscle, it remains somewhat stretched, so now that you've started lifting again your muscles grow fast because the fascia is already stretched enough to allow fast growth.

[g0tcha]

Yes. This is how I remember it being explained to me before:

There is something around your muscle called fascia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia

When you lift weights, the fascia around your muscles gets stretched. Because it's pretty tough, this doesn't happen quickly. However, when you lose muscle, it remains somewhat stretched, so now that you've started lifting again your muscles grow fast because the fascia is already stretched enough to allow fast growth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_J9wTCUfok#t=01m37s

mentions what this post is talking about briefly
btw this guy is a beast

[Clegg]

Informative vid, good stuff.

Been meaning to start lifting again, probably gonna spend the next 4 weeks trying to lose fat and then start increasing in muscle for the Summer.

[Clegg]

Just signed into a bodybuilding forum I used to visit

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