Dr.SurgeonPGH said:There is also a quality change that the scan cannot see.
Filing a mild objection. Mild because I might be wrong; an objection because nobody has addressed the case that does not fit. 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.
If somebody has the primary source to hand I would rather cite it than paraphrase it.
BethLabQueen said:Two DEXA scans eleven months apart: down 24kg total, of which the scan says 6kg was lean.
DEXA scan update relevant to lean mass:
Scanned at months 0, 6, and 12. Here are the body comp numbers:
| Baseline | Month 6 | Month 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total mass | 263 lbs | 213 lbs | 210 lbs |
| Fat mass | 113 lbs | 83 lbs | 45 lbs |
| Lean mass | 151 lbs | 150 lbs | 157 lbs |
| Body fat % | 40% | 30% | 24% |
Lean mass preserved — actually GAINED 1-2 lbs thanks to progressive overload + 1.4g/kg protein. The lean mass discussion needs to include body comp data, not just scale weight.
Dr.NutriCornell said:I think this board over-worries about lean mass.
Regarding lean mass: I accidentally injected my dose intramuscularly instead of subcutaneously last week (went in at wrong angle, too deep). Called my pharmacist — they said it's not dangerous but may absorb faster, potentially causing more GI effects.
Sure enough, had worse nausea that day. Lesson learned: pinch the skin properly and use the right needle length for your body composition.
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Shop Reference StandardsA narrower follow-up, since the general answer is now clear:
Whether resistance training and protein change the ratio or only the absolute amount?
Closing the loop on my own question.
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.