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3 Reasons YOU Want Muscle

Posted by Joel Marion

3 Reasons YOU Want Muscle
By Joel Marion & Vince Del Monte

It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, 22 or 62, attempting to lose fat or “get buff”, you WANT muscle.  In fact, we’ll venture to say that virtually everyone wants muscle (whether they know it or not), and here’s why:

1.  Building Muscle = Faster Fat Loss

Even if you’re primary goal is fat loss, you’d be extremely wise to build specific periods of time in to your training schedule in which you primarily concentrate on building muscle.

Why?

Muscle is metabolically expensive.

You see, for every pound of muscle you manage to add to your frame, you’ll burn an additional 40-50 cals per day. So, let’s say you gain 10 lbs; that means your body now REQUIRES 400-500 more calories to simply maintain its weight, posing several benefits:

  • You get to eat the same amount and lose fat faster OR
  • You get to eat more and lose fat just as quickly

Either way you look at it, that’s a pretty solid deal, only possible through the addition of calorie-burning lean muscle.

2.  Building Muscle = Easier Weight Maintenance

Let’s say you lose 30 lbs, which is awesome, but you fail to put on any appreciable amount muscle, or even worse, you lose muscle mass in the process (which is extremely common).

In either case, metabolism will in fact be slower after you’ve lost the 30 lbs than it was when you first started your fat loss journey…NOT what you want if your goal is to actually keep the weight off.

With the addition of lean muscle mass, your metabolism won’t be slower, it will be faster, making maintaining your new body incredibly easy.

Muscle is the difference between losing 30 lbs once and for all, and struggling to losing 30 lbs over and over and over again for the rest of your life.

Wouldn’t you love to just lose the weight once and never have to worry about “gaining it back”…again?

3.  Building Muscle = A Hotter, Sexier Body

Being thin is one thing, being hot is another.  And the latter is something only lean muscle can provide.

I think we’d all agree that while being thin is certainly better than being fat, what we truly want our bodies to look like goes far beyond simply being skinny.

For example, take a look at the photos below; these are both “size 2” bodies:

size2

The difference:  one looks “okay” and the other is smokin’ hot.  The REAL difference:  Muscle.  While the same exact “size”, the physique on the right is comprised mostly of dense, shapely, tone muscle, while the image on the left…isn’t.

And for the guys, when it comes to taking your shirt off or being comfortable on the beach, we’d probably all agree that simply being “thin” or “skinny” isn’t where it’s at.  Muscle makes a dramatic difference in the way we look.  Just look at the before/after pics from these two clowns:

vince_ba

joel_ba

While the “before” photos were thin, there’s a world of difference in the confidence and general appearance of a physique possessing significantly more muscle.

How would your life change if YOU were to gain 5, 10, or even 20 lbs of lean muscle?

Both Vince and I can tell you that since our transformation, our entire lives have benefited massively because of one thing:  muscle.  It really can and does affect your entire life.

Comment Time:

How many pounds of lean, sexy muscle would you like to gain?  Respond in the comments section below along with any muscle building questions you might have.  Vince and I will be checking in throughout the day to answer your questions, and we’ll also select 2 “commentors” at random to receive a free muscle building “gift” ($97 value).

Talk to you in the comments section!

Joel and Vince

P.S.  If you have never commented on the blog, today is the day.  You might win something cool, and besides, when you take action and comment, it just reinforces your goals and pushes you even more toward achieving them.  We’re looking forward to YOUR comment below!

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506 comments - add yours
Reply  |  Quote

@ Keena:

Hi Keena. 10 lbs will drastically make your body look different. How much do you weigh now? The key is to also put it on the first spots. For example, my chest and legs grow easily but if I keep packing on muscle to those body parts, my body will look unproportional and unpleasing.

They key to building muscle is to know which body parts to focus on for YOUR physique so you have an symmetrical and eye appealing physique.

Readjusting your carbs to pre and post workout and two easy steps to building muscle.

Great post Joel!

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Awesome blog!! Very motivating! It finally explains why I have lost weight…put it all back on..lost weight put it all back on…
How can I gain more muscle without going to the gym? I am a uni student and cannot afford equipment or gym memberships! Is walking and cycling enough?

Reply  |  Quote

Um, adding muscle for sure is beneficial, but a pound of muscle only burns about 5-6 calories per hour, not 50.

See, Illner K et al “Metabolically active components of fat free mass and resting
energy expenditure in non-obese adults” in the American Journal of Physiology,
Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2000

Reply  |  Quote

That’s not so easy for a woman over 50 with only an hour a day to work out. The gym doesn’t seem to doing anything for me even though I follow my sets and push my reps to failure. What am I doing wrong?

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I cant even imagine looking like that girl in the pic you have posted! Im 43 years old and have had success with weight loss but taking it to that level? Is this hours in the gym or what? Truly unbelieveable…No cosmetic surgery? HELP!

Reply  |  Quote

awesome!! transformation dudes! I would like to gain about 5kilo of lean muscle.
But how is it Possible to gain 5 kilo of muscle without gaining fat?
try this a lot of times, but i always gain about 1-2 lb of fat.

Reply  |  Quote

G’ morning guys! Enjoyed your article! I have lost about 20 lbs, but know that I have gained some lean muscle. My husband says my butt is shaped different! Lol, have several more pounds of fat to lose. Is there any way to measure lean muscle to fat ratio at home?

Hey Joel! Would love to see your abs! ;-)

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Hey guys. I’m a 53-year old CYWT user who has lost 50 pounds. A question regarding training:

I try to put in at least 2 days of strength/resistance training per week. (I was doing 3 but having some dificulty with my ancient body recovering sufficiently in between.) On non-strength days I do cardio – mostly intervals largely on the treadmill (up to and including Tabata duration intervals some days.)

The problem is that I have developed a foot injury/malady that is making running (or actually anything foot-centric – elliptical, bike, etc.) very problematic. I don’t have regular access to a rowing machine, so I’m looking for cardio alternatives.

I have done some resistance-based cardio – using low weight/high rep exercises with either dumbbells or exercise bands. I’ve even done Tabata routines this way. My question is this: Since I have had some recovery issues – with muscle soreness after heavy strength work lasting for several days and requiring longer recovery periods in between – am I running the risk of interfering with proper muscle recovery by doing anything strength/muscle related as my cardio alternative?

I don’t want to negatively impact my strength training – and I know that the recovery period is when the muscle is really building. And I can’t really give up cardio work either (I’m a heart attack survivor — 5 years and counting, so cardio is important too.)

Thanks for your help and all the great work you’ve done.

Reply  |  Quote

I enjoyed reading your article today, would love to look like the girl in photo, but doubt I would ever get there. I am a 45 year old woman, and I need to lose 50lbs,at least to begin with, how much muscle do I need to gain to achieve the best results. I am currently working out at the gym 4 days aweek and do Bootcamp 2 nights a week, have changed my eating habits,but in 3 months all I have lost is 14lbs, a little discouraging to say the least, so any advise would be greatly appreciated.
thank you
Pauline

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Hi! My goal this year is to be in my best shape ever! :) I am a personal trainer from Sweden. Both of you are my inspiration! I want to gain about 2-3 kg of muscle.

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These 3 things make real good sense to me and are motivating also. I might add one more reason especially for people putting on the years…we just need more strength, period. You loose it over time if you don’t do something to keep it.

Reply  |  Quote

Thanks for the info!
I have been overweight all my life. I was diagnosed with SLE about 2 years ago. At that point I made some lifestyle changes (losing 50lbs) With that said, I’m still overweight looking to shed the fat while building muscle in the process. My short term goal is to arrive at 20% body fat. My long term goal is to reach and maintain a 8 -12 body fat percentage. Becoming lighter and stronger will hopefully improve the pain and fatigue I experience daily.

Thanks again for the information

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This is exactly the thing to do. I am starting my weight loss journey and will use that to help me. Thanks!

Reply  |  Quote

Great article guys! I want to put on 5 more pounds of muscle and lose 5 pounds of bodyfat, and that should get me right around where I want to be :)

Reply  |  Quote

That is a good post. I have the exercise down and packed but I need help on? my nutrition plan. :-(

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@ Nicole:

Hey Nicole. If you saw what my wife ate every day you would swear she is training for a heavy weight bodybuilding show – but guess what? That’s her FAT LOSS plan! One big benefit of muscle is that you can eat more, which creates a cycle of having more energy and leads to better works and even MORE muscle.

It’s a beautiful cycle most people only hear about from others – when you can live, you’ll LOVE it. Be sure to keep weight training as a FOCAL point of your fat loss if you want to finish with a SCULPTED body, not scrawny body.

Stay focused!
Vince

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Hi!
I have to say: more muscle more confident you get. You feel strong. I have put on some 10 lbs in a year and that brought me quite an impresion on girls and friends. Hoping to gain even more with the new approach.

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@ Teresa:

Hi Teresa.

Your body really DOES look different when your body comp changes – even adding a few pounds of lean muscle to the right spots on your body will get you A LOT more stares… make sure your husband is on guard at all times!

Joel and I are living together now… I’m watching him dial in his fat loss and I have to say – I’m VERY impressed. Joel is “in the zone” and one of the most focused guys I know – I know he plans on surprising his readers with some dramatic pictures in a few months. Don’t get anywhere!

Reply  |  Quote

I would like to drop 20lbs of fat and gain 10lbs of lean muscle. My question is whether or not this can be done utilizing the 1000 calorie challenge. I purchased this before the holidays and will start it today. Also can the exercise part of the program be started at a higher calorie challenge then the 300 one.

Reply  |  Quote

Been working out with weights since summer, and look better, but haven’t lost any weight, and there is plenty to lose. Very frustrating. Have been going low carb for weeks, but really, that isn’t helping either. Wah. Very Frustrating. I can see muscles building in my arms, which is sort of cool, since I am trying to build lean muscle mass to help me with my goals, but I am hoping that when I finally lose my fat, that they are not too muscle-y looking. I want to be lean, not look like a female body builder!!

Reply  |  Quote

Rob wrote:

Hey guys. I’m a 53-year old CYWT user who has lost 50 pounds. A question regarding training:

I try to put in at least 2 days of strength/resistance training per week. (I was doing 3 but having some dificulty with my ancient body recovering sufficiently in between.) On non-strength days I do cardio – mostly intervals largely on the treadmill (up to and including Tabata duration intervals some days.)

The problem is that I have developed a foot injury/malady that is making running (or actually anything foot-centric – elliptical, bike, etc.) very problematic. I don’t have regular access to a rowing machine, so I’m looking for cardio alternatives.

I have done some resistance-based cardio – using low weight/high rep exercises with either dumbbells or exercise bands. I’ve even done Tabata routines this way. My question is this: Since I have had some recovery issues – with muscle soreness after heavy strength work lasting for several days and requiring longer recovery periods in between – am I running the risk of interfering with proper muscle recovery by doing anything strength/muscle related as my cardio alternative?

I don’t want to negatively impact my strength training – and I know that the recovery period is when the muscle is really building. And I can’t really give up cardio work either (I’m a heart attack survivor — 5 years and counting, so cardio is important too.)

Thanks for your help and all the great work you’ve done.

Hey Rob. First off, congrats on slashing 50 lbs from your body! That’s tremendous.

You obviously have some foot issues that need to be PRIORITIZED asap. That should be your PRIMARY focus. Finding a therapist who can determine the ROUTE cause, look at your mechanics and recommend some quality shoes and exercises to strengthen your feet…

Almost ALL injuries stem from foot issues…. if you’re feet are messed, the rest of your body mechanics will follow. Lets get that sorted first, okay?

In the mean time:

1. Could you do pool running or swimming? Pool running is an EXCELLENT form of aerobic activity. If PRO runners do it for off day recovery, you have to believe it’s good for you.

2. Separating your cardio and weight training workouts is the #1 strategy to maximizing muscle retention while losing fat. I will NEVER EVER EVER do cardio and weights together when I’m in SERIOUS fat loss model I also do my cardio at a low intensity (which goes against what many people suggest but I KNOW it works for me) early am in a depleted state. THen I do my weights in the PM after 4 solid meals so I have energy to blast my muscles.

Think about how to break up your days like this – it’s an extreme method but it works.

And lastly, don’t underestimate the value of your diet. Most people can get to 10% body fat WITHOUT any cardio – just diet and weight training alone so don’t count yourself out if you have to drop your cardio for the next little bit while you get your feet issues sorted.

Trust that helps :) Keep training SMART.

Vince

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Would love to gain 10 lbs of muscle at a minimum!

Reply  |  Quote

I want to trade 40 lbs of fat for muscle. I am taking meds for cronic fatigue. How can I build muscle when my energy is not constant.

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I have found through experience that I always look better faster when im building for muscle instead of just trying to lean out with cardio. Your pictures speak for themselves

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I am just finishing up your cheat your way thin diet and it has worked great. I have 6 more pounds to loose. Putting on 12 pounds of muscle mass would be great. Now that I have changed my diet life style, its time to work on my workout.

Todd

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