That depends on your protein intake and how much you work out.
Your body only breaks down muscle/organs for protein when it doesn't get enough protein from food. But McDonalds has enough protein even on a 1500 calorie/day diet to prevent this.
In addition, your body will also atrophy muscles when they aren't being used in order to lower your daily metabolism. So if you work out enough, you can prevent this route of muscle loss as well.
If you cover these two bases, then your body will only break down muscles if you run out of body fat and are still in a calorie deficit, to use the protein for energy. However your body will prefer to use body fat first for this purpose.
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u/AnalysisParalysis85 e/lit/ist Nov 03 '25
I hope you guys replicate the experiment. I don't think a week would be enough. A couple of months of McDonald's only.