It’s easy to get weight and fat confused. People think that weight gain is inherently bad, yet adding a few pounds to the scale may be to your benefit, as long as it’s done in the right fashion.
For example, let’s say you’ve recently begun a resistance training program to build some strength and muscle. That added muscle isn’t going to peel the fat away, but it will lead to more weight on the scale.
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Having more muscle is a benefit to your health. It helps with posture, improves balance, and encourages independence.
It also speeds up your metabolism to allow for a more efficient use of the calories you eat.
Muscle and fat are not created equally when it comes to weight. That said, both can make you overweight to potentially increase the risk for some heart-related conditions.
Building muscle will add pounds to the scale. However, if you supplement your weight-training workouts with a healthy protein-rich diet, you’ll likely start to shed some fat and see lower numbers on the scale.
Eating plenty of veggies and healthy fats will also contribute to fat loss. Lowering carbohydrate consumption can even enhance how your body utilizes stored fat as an energy source.
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Muscle boosts metabolic efficiency, allowing you to absorb, process, and utilize calories much better than fat. The calories don’t sit around waiting to get used (fat storage) and are often put to work almost immediately after consumption.
There are numerous benefits to increased muscle mass and strength, especially with age. Looking into a muscle-building program and diet suited to your goals is highly recommended, and can help encourage a more independent future with fewer health risks.
Keep in mind that it’s best to ease into a weight-training program by working with a fitness professional. They can prescribe suitable exercises, teach you proper techniques, and create a plan based on your current abilities.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
