Is muscle memory a myth?

Let’s say the unthinkable happened, and you’re forced to take time off from training. Does the layoff put you back to square one? 

Fortunately, no. You can rebuild lost muscle a lot faster than you can build new muscle from scratch.

Here’s a great example: Japanese researchers had a group of young males work out on this schedule:

• 6 weeks on (training)

• 3 weeks off (no training)

• 6 weeks on (training)

• 3 weeks off (no training)

• 6 weeks on (training) 

Even though they did seem to lose a little muscle during the three weeks off periods, when they returned to the gym, they regained their lost muscle almost five times faster than they initially gained it. 

Muscle memory is definitely real. And it can last for months or even years.

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