Should you keep the same training volume when dieting ?

Should you keep the same training volume when dieting ? Perhaps increase it ? Or decrease it, even ?

A new study (Roth et al., 2022) tried to answer this question, by randomly assigning 38 people to 2 separate groups: a high training volume group (up to 20 sets/week) and a low-to moderate training volume group (up to 12 sets/week).

Indivuduals had at least 1y of training experience, reported their food intake via MyFitnessPal and lost weight, suggesting that they were indeed in a calorie deficit -despite modest one- during the study. Protein intake was high (2.8g/kg of LBM), and the study was conducted for a total of 6 weeks.

Results ? Both high volume and low volume were able to preserve the same relative amount of muscle mass, suggesting that while not necessarily advantageous, low training volumes are still likely a good idea to implement, while dieting in order to match energy levels during a “cutting phase”.

Indeed further research is needed to see if these results hold up at lower body fat levels, where training volumes may play a much more important role in dictating energy levels of the individuals!

Reference:

Roth C, Carsten S, Happ K, Rettenmaier L, Schoenfeld BJ, Behringer M. Resistance Training Volume Does Not Influence Lean Mass Preservation during Energy Restriction in Trained Males. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2022 Sep 17. doi: 10.1111/sms.14237. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36114738.