Use It Or Lose It

An inactive lifestyle definitely plays a role in the loss of muscle strength in men and women. By age 40 (believe us, it’s just around the corner), we typically lose muscle mass at the rate of 1/3 of a pound per year and most of us certainly gain more than 1/3 pound of body fat per year. If we do nothing to prevent muscle loss, by age 80 we will have approximately 1/3 of the muscle we possessed at age 40. This condition (called sarcopenia) is one of the main reasons for frailty and loss of vitality in later life.

The downward spiral of muscle loss can also explain why so many women (and men) put on weight as we get older. With less muscle, we burn fewer calories and begin to put on the pounds.

However, we can move muscle loss and weight gain in the other direction through strength training. Enlarging muscle cells, through increased nerve reactivation and awakening of ‘sleepy’ stimulating cells, increases beneficial enzyme production, which in turn improves the body’s ability to process oxygen and fuel (food), leading to greater overall body strength.

Women, strength training the BLI way, will not result in a bulkier “body builder” look. Female (and male) body builders follow a different program. They lift heavier weights, have lengthier workouts, some take steroids and they tend to follow rigorous diet programs. You will become stronger through modified strength training programs, but in most cases, end up looking smaller because the muscle to fat ratio is altered.

ref: The Better Life Experts | January 8, 2009