22 Jan Taking Steps to Maintain Muscle Mass

When it comes to achieving a higher level of fitness and shedding excess weight, it is important that you take steps to maintain your muscle mass throughout the process.  Maintaining your muscle mass is important for a number of reasons.  Yet, many people who are trying to lose weight choose to follow fad diets that result in a loss of muscle mass.  Or, they engage in an excessive amount of exercise that may actually do more harm than good.  Therefore, when planning your diet and exercise program, be certain to create a plan that will allow your muscle mass to stay properly in place.

Why Your Muscle Mass is Important

Maintaining your muscle mass is important for a number of reasons.  If you are trying to lose weight, for example, you will need your muscle to help you burn calories because muscle burns a greater number of calories than fat.  This is partially because muscle mass helps to increase your body’s metabolism.

In addition to helping boost your metabolism and burn fat, muscle mass is also important because it helps to improve your overall stability, balance and physical performance.  It also helps you reduce your chances of becoming injured and helps you look and feel better. 

Maintaining the Proper Muscle Mass

In order to maintain your muscle mass, you should limit your cardio workouts to three times per week, as burning too many calories will force your body to look to your muscles to obtain energy that has been stored in your body.  To that end, you should also avoid performing cardio and strength training on the same day, though you should engage in strength training at least two times per week.  This way, you will be continually working your muscles and, even if you are not trying to bulk up, you will be able to maintain your muscle mass and keep your body healthy and strong.