Gaining muscle is good! Gaining fat is not!
Did you know that, from about age 30, we start to lose muscle if we don’t work out on a regular basis? In this instance, the saying, “use it or lose it” is so true.
When we lose muscle it becomes harder to do just about anything. Hence the feeling of energy loss. It takes more energy to do even the simplest tasks because we don’t have the muscle we once had. When we lose muscle, our joints now take on more load than they should just to hold us up. When we lose muscle our metabolism also slows down dramatically.
A slowdown in our metabolism means that we need fewer calories to keep going. How many of us eat less because we are over 30 or because we’ve stopped working out regularly? It’s not reality, is it? So, as a result of our slower metabolism, we start to store more body fat because we’re still eating too much! Think about this – one pound of fat uses up 3 calories, but one pound of muscle eats up 35 calories at rest! So the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn. Even while you are sleeping – you are burning more calories than ever before!
What really hurts, is the body is a machine, literally, that works best when moving. Ideally, it should be several times a day, but at least 2 to 3 times a week. And, when we don’t work the body, it’s not just the muscles that are affected. Your inner functions (your digestion and brain) are off balance as well. What tends to happen, because we don’t move, is that we miss the feeling of euphoria that comes with building muscle and working the heart. So, we turn to food for that good feeling. What feeds that feeling? Sugar and fat! Yup, I’m talking about white sugar and too much fat. Yes, it’s true, we all need fat – but not that much! And, NO ONE needs white sugar! It causes our bodies to store more fat!
The best way to lose fat and gain muscle is an effective exercise program combined with a healthy nutrition plan. But, don’t think of it as a temporary (“just until I lose a few pounds”) diet and fitness plan. To be truly effective, it must be a lifestyle choice.
So, now, what choice will you make – muscle or fat?