Muscle Makes You Healthy, Not A Lower Scale Number
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For a long time, building & maintaining muscle has always been seen as this vanity quest. Something you only did if you were trying to look good, or be a ‘bodybuilder’. Which is why I hate the fact that the face of strength training & weight lifting has been roided up fitness competitors.
Because the health & longevity benefits of having lean muscle & strength training consistently are RIDICULOUS.
And focusing on building muscle & the benefits that come as a result, will make you healthier than any weight loss pill, shot, cleanse or diet.
Here’s how:
Lean Muscle Fights Against Diabetes:
Muscle is a BIG blood sugar regulator. When you work out, muscles get busy absorb glucose from your bloodstream to fuel your movements, which helps bring down blood sugar levels.
Plus, strength training consistently makes your muscles more sensitive to insulin, making them better at using glucose. Muscle also stashes away extra glucose as glycogen, sort of like a backup fuel tank, which helps keep your blood sugar stable after a meal.
Even when you're chilling, your muscles keep burning calories, gradually bringing down blood sugar levels over time. And during exercise, they release hormones that help tweak how your body handles sugar (carbs), adding another layer to blood sugar control.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and it dramatically alters the quality of your life.
Getting stronger & building muscle can help you circumvent it.
2. Lean Muscle Fights Agaisnt Cognitive Disorders:
Strength training (and the subsequent muscle it builds) triggers the release of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a crucial protein promoting neuronal growth and cognitive function.
It also helps mitigate chronic inflammation throughout the body, including the brain, which lowers the risk of cognitive disorders linked to inflammation.
And probably most impactful for day to day mental health, lean muscle improves cardiovascular health, facilitating optimal blood flow to the brain, while also regulating hormone levels, including stress hormones, to maintain a neuroprotective environment.
As odd as it may sound, a smarter, healthier brain is built in the weight room.
We prioritized building lean muscle & gaining strength in Ryan’s program, instead of trying to get a low scale number, and he’s feeling better than ever AND still down 23lbs.
Weight loss should be a side effective of your health regimen, not the main focus.
Now, I’m not saying you need to go put on 50lbs of muscle or start squatting 500lbs. A little bit of muscle goes a LONG way. And it may only take 2-5lbs of added muscle to ‘tip the scales’ for your metabolism, brain health & blood sugar & get you out of the weight gain - weight loss cycle for good.
See you next week, go get strong.
Here’s How We Can Help:
If gaining strength & building muscle is something you’ve struggled with or neglected, and you KNOW it’s what your body needs to get healthy; let us help. Take our Transformation Quiz here, and we’ll craft a ‘done for you’ game plan that helps you build muscle, drop body fat, and get healthy for good.
