23 Oct Be Sure to Maintain Muscle Mass

If you are trying to lose weight, it is important to remember that you have to pay attention to muscle mass as well.  In fact, if you aren’t careful about your dieting, you could actually lose muscle mass and can cause more overall harm to your health than good.  In addition, by losing muscle mass, you will also take a step backward in your quest to lose weight.  Although your weight may be less on the scale, your body won’t look as fit and trim as it would if you maintained your muscle mass.

Reasons to Maintain Muscle Mass

There are many reasons to maintain your muscle mass as you diet.  First of all, muscle actually burns fat.  Therefore, the more muscle you have, the more efficiently your body will be able to burn fat.  In addition, having a greater amount of muscle mass also helps to increase your metabolism, which further aids in the burning of fat.  Obviously, having more muscle mass also improves your overall physical appearance.  After all, bodies look better when they are firm and trim rather than blubbery and flabby.

Losing Muscle Mass

Unfortunately, many people actually lose muscle mass when they diet. This is because they cut back on foods that help maintain muscle mass in an order to lose extra pounds.  While the scale may seem to reveal a more desirable weight, the reality is that the weight lose is due to a loss of muscle mass, which actually weighs more than fat.  As you get older, your body tends to lose muscle mass anyway.  Therefore, it is even more important for you to take steps to maintain your muscle mass as you grow older.

Building Muscle Mass

The good news is that it is not too difficult to build and maintain muscle mass.  Eating a healthy diet rather than one that is overly restrictive will help maintain muscle mass, but you can further help your body maintain and build muscle mass by starting a weight training program.  It is important to note that following a cardio routine is not enough to build and maintain muscle mass.  Rather, an exercise routine that consists of nothing but cardio can actually cause a loss of muscle mass as well.  Therefore, you should create an exercise routine that combines a cardio workout with weight training in order to achieve the greatest level of health and the most attractive body.