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In this short Friday episode, Dr. Matthea Rentea breaks down a common body composition mistake that causes unnecessary panic: apparent muscle loss that isn’t real.

She explains two very common scenarios where body composition scans can falsely suggest a significant drop in skeletal muscle:

• After an illness (like flu or viral infections)
• After time away from regular strength training, such as vacation

Dr. Rentea explains how temporary drops in muscle glycogen — not true muscle loss — can skew body composition results, and why this typically resolves within a few weeks of returning to normal routines.

Key takeaways:

• Rapid “muscle loss” on body composition scans is often not real
• Illness and vacations commonly affect glycogen, not muscle tissue
• True muscle gain and loss happen much more slowly
• The best response is consistency, not panic-driven changes

She also shares a preview of an upcoming mini-teaching focused on how to properly interpret body composition reports — something most people have never been taught to do in a practical, clinical way. Get on my email list here to not miss this. 

If your January feels a little wobbly, this episode is your reminder to refocus, return to your routines, and keep moving forward!

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

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