Muscle vs. Fat: Clearing Up the Misconception
Common sense tells us a pound of muscle and a pound of fat have to weigh the same, however, they do differ in density. Looking at five pounds of muscle and five pounds of fat side by side, the fat takes up more volume, or space, than the muscle.
Muscle vs. Fat: The Truth
The first step in a successful health and wellness program is to banish the idea that muscle weighs more and is therefore bad.
Muscle vs. Fat: The Benefits of Muscle
In fact, not only should we stop thinking of muscle as the enemy, we should embrace muscles as our friends!
Muscle boosts metabolism, so a pound of muscle will burn more calories at rest than a pound of fat. What does this mean? Even when you’re not exercising — you could be sitting on the couch watching TV — you will be burning more calories just by having more muscle.
Muscle has other benefits, too.
- It’s critical in improving bone density.
- Helps prevent the loss of muscle mass that occurs with aging, allowing people to stay active as they get older.
Muscle vs. Fat: Ways to Gain Muscle
There is no doubt cardio workouts such as jogging, cycling, and walking are important for calorie burning and good overall health. But strength training is vital, too. “Of course, we always think of lifting weights to increase muscle, and many fear they will become ‘bulky,’”
There are plenty of options to build muscle, ranging from free weights to resistance bands and even plain old soup cans. Talk to a Personal Trainer about your goals, barriers and fears. They are the experts and can design a program specifically based on your needs and goals. You are worth the investment!
Ultimately, building muscle mass is a good thing. Find some enjoyable exercises and get lifting.