But I had a lot of muscle mass to begin with, due to years of bodybuilding. And I still have significant muscle after the diet, despite of not touching a weight during all this time (I know I should have). People still ask me about my lifting routine even though I didn't lift in like 2+ years.

Knowing myself, it'll come back within a couple of months of lifting weights and getting proper protein, once I get back to it. And I plan on doing exactly that. Being fat kind of made me lose motivation to go to the gym. It's a vicious cycle I imagine many fat people struggle with. So I prioritized losing fat first and foremost.

It has the same effect as starving yourself. Go look up pictures of "ozempic face"