Muscle Vs. Fat: What You Need To Know When It Comes To Weight Loss
Many people are still going strong on their New Year’s Resolution for better health. Congratulations for sticking with it! I know there are a number of my clients currently taking part in our Nutrishop 6-Week Transformation Challenge, and I hope to share some good stories from that in the near future.
Unfortunately, there are probably a lot of people out there who have already fallen off their 2020 wellness programs. Beyond just lacking full commitment to long-term changes, I’ve found that some people get frustrated when they don’t see certain results right away. Of course, a true body transformation takes time. Still, it’s nice to see and know that you are on the right track. You’ve been eating healthier and working your butt off in the gym, but you hop on the scale in the morning and the weight just isn’t going down like you thought it would. You look in the mirror and don’t see a huge difference from day to day.
More Muscle, Less Fat
I was very inspired recently by this article I read on medium.com about a woman who was going through this exact situation and questioning if all the hard work was worth it. The only thing is, her body was actually transforming dramatically without her realizing. She wasn’t shedding many pounds, but she was burning a lot of fat. Her story perfectly illustrates the importance of understanding the difference between muscle mass and body fat.
I’ve seen it happen so many times. Someone starts a new diet and fitness program. They lose some weight in the first few weeks and it’s exciting. Then, the weight loss slows down as you start trading fat for muscle. This is when it gets tough to keep going. If you stick with it, however, you should see significant long-term changes in your physique.
It’s All About Muscle Mass
It’s true that dense muscle weighs more than fat, so that can explain why the weight doesn’t go down or may even go up a little at times. However, the more muscle density you have, the more calories you will burn. The more calories you burn, the more fat cells you expel from your body. Eventually, you will start to see more weight dropped as your body transforms with a healthier muscle base.
Diet alone will help with weight loss. It will not help build muscle mass, though. In fact, if you starve yourself on a crash diet, you will lose both fat and muscle. This makes it impossible to ever lose those “last few pounds.” People who exercise more and don’t change their diet at all are more likely to see better long-term results than someone who only goes on a diet. Still, that’s usually not enough either. The best results are always found when you combine smart eating habits and meal planning with a personalized fitness program designed to help you achieve your specific health goals.
Know What’s In Your Body with InBody
Understanding both your current muscle mass and body fat index is crucial to making a true fitness transformation. That’s why Shift By Mike clients start with a personal InBody body composition scan. This is a scientific process where we measure key indicators including body fat, muscle mass, caloric needs, hydration and other important physical stats. Then, we can identify areas of concern and develop a customized wellness program to achieve the best possible results through meal planning, exercise and supplements. As your personal trainer, I will be able to provide guidance and support along the way, while providing periodic InBody analysis to track progress and measure tangible results of the work you are putting into your body transformation.
To learn more about me and the Shift By Mike holistic health and wellness system, and to schedule your first InBody consultation, contact me today.