LADIES: Want to loose fat? BUILD MUSCLE!

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would it be? Some say their hair, nose, etc., but a good number of you will probably say something that relates to your body appearance. If you have been fighting the battle of the bulge, trying to get rid of rolls, of just trying to tighten up your legs or arms there is a simple solution.

Some have tried pills, others vigorous and never ending cardio. While you may initially see results, in the long run, as soon as or shortly after stoping your routines, there is a high likelihood that you where plateau or even go back to where you started.

So what is the solution? Instead of focusing on how much weight you loose, focus on building muscle. “But I don’t want to look big and bulky like a man.” I have heard that from 3 out of 4 of my female clients. That is a myth! Fact is, with proper technique and use of appropriate weights, you can build muscle and have that slim, toned, lady like figure. Whether you want to loose 10 pounds or 100, the fitness process is the same….BUILD MUSCLE.

Cardio VS. Muscle Resistance
Cardio is a great way to burn calories, strengthen your heart, lungs and other vital body systems. However, as far as burning calories, your body stops burning additional calories shortly after your workout. Muscle resistance (weight training) is great for building muscle mass, increasing muscular endurance, and burning calories. ADDED BONUS: Building muscle increases your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Why is that important? Your BMR is how many calories your body burns at rest. YES AT REST. That means you can go to sleep and burn more calories than usual by building muscle.

Another way to look at weight loss is, instead of saying you want to loose 50 pounds, you can say I want to add 5 pounds of muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat but it is more compact and nicer looking than fat. Remember, muscle burns fat, the more muscle mass you have the more fat you burn.

I am not saying that cardio should be removed from your workout, but balance is key. If you run on the treadmill 5 days a week, try running 3 days a week and resistance training (weight lifiting) 2 days a week. So, the next time you see weights, do run away, try it out and you will love the results.*


*Also remember too diet plays a major role in fitness too but that’s another article.