In order to effectively burn fat and build muscle, it helps to understand a little more deeply than just the surface level how exercise and metabolism work. Though many people have a pretty good idea about this topic, there is still room for errors and misconceptions. This article will examine and set straight a few such errors with an eye to helping you burn the fat and build the muscle you want more consciously and efficiently.
Here’s a common misconception: that the only thing the body ever metabolizes is fat. This idea sets up the conclusion that if you simply starve yourself, or eat only something like salad, and do, say, a lot of aerobics, you can simply burn up the fat, leaving you leaner and more muscular. There are a number of things wrong with this idea.
The main problem here revolves around protein. The fact is that your body is just as willing to burn protein as it is fat. And when it senses it is not getting enough protein it is potentially more willing. In an attempt to get hold of essential metabolic substances, it finds the protein it already has – your muscles – and digs into that. This may even result in weight loss in a simple sense, but what’s being lost is as much muscle as it is fat, or even more.
Thus, someone following this type of regimen could end up at their weight goal, but still be somewhat flabby or at least not as strong and “built” as they would like. This clearly isn’t the desired outcome.
Connected to this is another misconception – that you should cut all fats as drastically as possible. This will reduce fat in the short term but it will also condition the body to tend to store up and be conservative in metabolizing the fat already has, because it senses it isn’t getting enough from external sources. The body needs protein to build muscles and a certain amount of fat as energy and for other uses. So don’t consider one as “good” and the other “bad.” Consider instead how much energy is being expended and how they relate to the fat, carbohydrate, and protein content of your diet.
Protein burns fat and builds muscle, especially when combined with extra exercise. The body sees it has enough protein for its metabolic needs, and if you eat a moderate amount of fat, your system will feel ok about burning the fat it has. If you do strenuous muscular exercise under these conditions, the protein you eat goes to build the muscle and the fat (along with sugars) gets metabolized for quick energy. This is why moderate diets, weighted on the high protein side, when combined with exercise tend to be effective.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when muscle gets built it requires more energy to run. Fat can considered the raw fuel, and muscles can be thought of as the machines that use it. So a shift in thinking can occur when you begin to see it this way: Focus on building muscle in the positive sense rather than burning fat in the negative sense and you’ll be on the right track. As the muscles get larger and stronger, they will naturally burn more fat for their increased energy requirements, as long as they don’t get the sense that they will run out.
Don’t fall into the oversimplification of thinking of fat as the bad guy. Think harmony in the burn fat – build muscle equation. Avoid too much fats, especially saturated varieties, but realize that both fat and protein are essential and beneficial in the right amounts and when suited to the activities, fitness or otherwise, you’re involved in.
Visit Burn Fat Build Muscle to pick up the right eating plan and fitness routines so you will be able to execute your goals. To Burn Fat and Build Muscle you just have to stick to the right eating plan and workout routine. One fact that every person must also understand is that it will take you time to Burn Fat Build Muscle.
