Over the last few years we’ve seen more and more research on the benefits of strength training. And as an industry we are now at a point where building muscle is a priority in many people’s training programs.
Not only has building more muscle been found to improve athletic performance, maximal strength and power production; it’s also been found to improve health too. And now everyone from young children to our older generation are beginning to see the many benefits that the iron game offers.
You’ve long heard that intriguing rumor about how lifting weights and building muscle burns fat. It’s not just wishful thinking: Science supports this sweet-sounding promise. But still, it’s a bit tricky to fully understand exactly how pumping iron battles the bulge. Here’s our crack at explaining it — with the help of fitness experts, of course.
In this MyFitnessPal article I was interviewed as an expert contributor by New York writer and editor Cristina Goyanes about my thoughts on the benefit of muscle building on fat loss. And whilst it may seem as obvious as ‘it’s a calorie burner’, there’s actually a lot more to it than that.
The article looks at how building muscle can ramp up your basal metabolic rate, improve insulin sensitivity and regulate a number of fat fighting hormones. The article also includes my view on the best fat burning workouts. I’ve included an explanation and information about escalating density training as well peripheral heart action training for this very reason.
There are secrets for how the pros do it and for losing maximum fat in only a few short weeks. Building muscle ? You can even sprinkle in some interval training or finishers at the end of your workouts for an extra fat loss boost .
Definitely Dylan. If the main aim of program is to lose fat then I’m all over intervals on strength days. And if the main goal is to build muscle I prefer to program intervals on different days in order to maximize mToR signalling rather than the potential for AMPK and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Thanks for the great comment
Lee
So is it true you can build muscle and lose fat at the same time?
Hey Jeff. It is yes – a process called ‘body recomposition’. It’s more evident in beginners and untrained though.
Lyle McDonald writes some great stuff about it at: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html/