Lean Mean Machine
We are all obsessed with weighing ourselves. FACT. When people decide they want to get fit, trim down, tone up, shift pounds… a weekly weigh in becomes part of the discipline of a new regime. It’s all about WEIGHT. And in numerous conversations with clients and in our classes we are constantly having to think about why it is that people are getting fitter, clothes fitting better and they are clearly looking slimmer and trimmer but the scales have hardly budged.
The problem with weight as an exclusive measure of health, fitness or body image, is that it tells a small part of the story. If you decide you want to shift pounds ONLY by eating differently but without any increased activity, exercise or training then sure, the scales have something to tell you. If however you combine dietary changes with exercise and an ace fitness regime – which we recommend – the scales can be misleading. 1lb of fat is still the same as 1lb of muscle in terms of weight. But look at the photo – muscle is so much more dense then fat taking up much less space. If you have been busy building muscle mass and loosing fat tissues the scales might have hardly changed even though your clothes and a measuring tape say different!
The best way to track how you are doing is by photos. Brave it and take a selfie of yourself in your underwear. Then you’ve got something to compare it to when you think you are seeing results but you aren’t quite sure because the scales haven’t reflected it.
So next time you go to weigh yourself and are disappointed with the number that flashes back at you, think, would you rather have have five pounds of smooth, lean, dense muscle tissue inside of my body than five pounds of amorphous, bulky, gelatinous fat?
Muscle
From a health perspective its great having lean muscle. Functional movements in everyday life become easier. Squatting to pick something up of the floor is a breeze if you have nice strong legs & bum. One client of mine commented that on holiday she realised how easy it was schlepping the family suitcases! So here’s our muscle download…
Having more muscle mass in your body will:
- Create a leaner physique
- Reduce your risk of injury
- Increase strength, stability, power and endurance
- Improve balance and mobility
- Increase energy and vitality
- Enhance athletic performance
- Create metabolic reserve in times of traumas such as (car accidents and burns)
- Increase your metabolic efficiency
- Improve insulin sensitivity and improve blood glucose control
So get muscle building…
- Eat whole, clean foods
- Train smartly and efficiently
- Keep cortisol levels low
- Sleep and rest when needed
- Work on your flexibility/mobility
- Lift heavy things!!!
If you need any advice about building lean muscle feel free to drop us an email on info@ace-lifestyle.com. Both Anna & Charlotte are experienced Personal Trainers and can help you achieve your muscle building goals.
