The main value of exercise is not to burn calories, but to maintain muscle mass (protect the muscle from being burned) and to build muscle mass.
Muscle is a metabolically active tissue. The more muscle you have, the higher your capacity for burning off fat and the faster your weight loss.
This because fat is the major source of fuel burned by muscle during sustained aerobic exercise. Also, the more muscle you have, the greater your protection against weight gain.
Special Note for the Ladies... Ladies, I know what your thinking...”I don’t want to bulk up and gain muscle.” This is the biggest misconception there is regarding weight-bearing exercise!
You will not bulk up from weight training, it’s just not genetically going to happen, unless you eat an incredible amount of food, take supplements that support muscle gain, and lift extremely heavy weights.
Most women will gain a toned and beautifully sculpted body from weight training. Just ask Madonna, Demi Moore, Halle Berry and most of Hollywood.
Those results don’t lie! Plus I’m living proof.
Another reason to exercise is to expand your energy needs so you pull more fat from your fat stores. Here’s how it works:
• Eat a low-fat (I said LOW not Non-Fat) diet and add less fat to the fat stores
• Eat a diet high in fiber. High fiber carbs fill you up so you eat less. Also, think...take it in, get it out!
• Exercising increases your energy needs and increases the amount of fat you withdraw from your fat stores.
So, now you understand that you NEED to exercise...but...what do you do to get the most results for your efforts?
Let’s start with Cardio...
