@Elaine –
From one Harley chick to another.. I am 44 years young and riding my Harley in sunny South Africa. Gotta say that bike rallies and day jols don’t help much with the ‘healthy diet’. There is no ‘quick fix’ (or I’d have found it already!). A decent diet and hard workouts are the only way to go (NO PAIN, NO GAIN). However, I can promise you that if you follow that, the rest WILL follow – I’ve proved it! I also reckon that riding a Harley is good for the butt! Certainly, it’s the best stress-reliever known to man!! You go girl!! Live to ride & ride to live (it’s much easier with a skinny butt!!). Just remember: There is no such word as “CAN’T”, only “WON’T”. Cheers and may you go from strength to strength! lol.
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:
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:
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
Enjoyed this article guys! It’s nice when the two of you team up. I am a size 4 but I would like to drop about 8lbs of fat and gain about 10lbs of muscle. I look a lot like the girl on the left and I used to look a lot like the girl on the right. I would like to get back to that with your help. I follow the “Cheat your way thin” diet but my muscle building skills are a little on the weak side right now because I had to stop my personal trainer due to the slow economy. Keep up the great posts and looking forward to more.
Hi! I’d love to add 10 lbs of muscle and loose 10 lbs of fat! I’m reading and learning from you as I go along, eating much healthier and learning how to exercise for the best benefitl.
I been working for the last year getting into shape. I am down to loosing the last 8 lbs of fat and looking to put on some more muscle and tighten up everything else especially the lower abs and thighs. I would really appreciate new incite.
I would like to gain 20lbs of lean muscle. I’ve been working out for 25+ years and still would like that 6 pack for once in my life. Everytime I lose fat weight I lose muscle and I have never seemed to get the right balance of losing fat and gaining muscle. I hope some day to accomplish that….
I need to lose 50lbs of fat. I am 205 and I would like to be a healthy muscular 155. Im not sure how this works but I guess I need to gain 20lbs of muscle in order to burn more fat???? Im so lost…lol
I am into building the muscle loosing the fat
my aim is to distribute this theme to everyone
thanks
Hey guys, I couldn’t be more happier with the results I’ve seen so far.
I’ve also stopped worrying about how much I weigh. In the past I’d always try to get down to 200lbs, I currently weigh 255, and have not been in better shape for years, and my belly is disappearing!
I feel better, sleep better, my apnea is diminished; all around win!
All of your program ROCKS!
I would love to drop like 10kgs of fat and gain maybe 5kgs muscle…I cant wait to see how I will look then!
I have got ugly fat arms..and no matter what amount of pushups I do..its not working! I think my arms are bulking up even more!
Everyone makes fun of me in college and its very embarrasing to even go there..
I want a lean sexy muscular body..and just slap it in all my classmates faces!
My goal is to exchange 50-60 pounds of fat for about 20 pounds of muscle. I’m in my mid-fifties and am coming to realize the life changing benefits of good exercise and nutrition (better late than never!). Bring it on, guys!
Dear Vince and Joel,
I want you to both know that I have purchased your products and I use them faithfully week in and week out. I am almost 50 years young, and I am getting it done. I am currently at 12% BF and working on that 6 pack. Joel, I use your Cheat your Way Thin and Vince I am currently doing the 4 Day Metabolic Boost Program. I used the No NonSense program for a year and added about 7 pounds of muscle. However, I am currently stuck or at a plateau. I am looking forward to your new program which will be launched on April 6th. Keep me posted on any details as I feel as if this program will push me beyond my potential. I would love to pack on 10 more pounds of muscle. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Keep up the great work and I look forward to mmeting you all someday to personnaly thank you.
Yours in health and leanness,
Brian
Thanks for all the helpful tips I have received! They are great!
I am a size 6 right now, but I have about 5lbs of pregnancy belly fat to lose still. My babies are now 14 & 15!! It is the hardest place for me to lose weight / fat. I would love to be a sexy lean size 2, heck I would be happy with a sexy lean size 4!
Thanks so much!
Enjoyed your comments. Two my favourite trainers together, awasome!
Hi Guys,
What is the best protein, carb, fat ratio per meal for building muscle the fastest? I understand that I should be eating every 2.5 hours. Can you give me an example of an entire day of eating that will pack on the muscle fastest?
Thank you,
Ian
Hey guys….you article definitely makes sense to me…I am always looking for inspiration and new ways to improve my body…keep the articles coming…I am committed to a lifetime of good nutrition and fitness and with your help, I believe the sky is the limit. At any rate, I’d like to gain about 5 pounds of lean muscle mass. With summer just around the corner, I want to look my best in my summer clothes…take care and keep up the good work!!!!
Hey Vince and Joel. I’m trying to gain a minimum of 5 pounds of muscle. I’m 15 and my primary objective is to lose all of my belly fat, and thats losing about 15% of my total 22% body fat percentage. So I’m going to focus on HIIT and Weight Training, to lose fat over the next month and at the same time either keep or increase the amount of muscle on my body, and since its Easter, I’ve got about a week of holidays from high School!! :-D
Thanks for reading this,
Kevin
I have a question which I’m sure many of the ladies would like to ask…
When a lady loses body fat, the first thing to go is the “boobs”. At least, this is my experience, anyway. Whenever we see pictures of fitness models with the ‘ideal bodies’, were they just naturally endowed with ‘humongous’ boobs, or is that all silicone? Is there something we can do to maintain the boobs, or do I start budgeting for the plastic surgery???
Enjoyed your comments. Two my favourite trainers together, awasome! I’d like to gain few more lbs of muscle. I’m in not bad shape, don’t need to loose any fat but gain muscle. Thank’s to you I’m not doing any more long boaring cardio, only intervals 2x week (it works well). I’m trying to follow all your advises re: changing, super sets etc. but it looks no more lbs are coming my way! I eat very clean but my body doesn’t like meat! I eat enough calories. Any suggestions?
Thank you for all the articles and reports
I promised myself 6 packs last Nov. for my 40th birthday which I celebrated
this month. I am 5’10” and got down to 185 lbs starting from 208 lbs last Nov.
Currently my body fat is 25%. My goal is to lose 10 lbs of weight and add 10 lbs
of muscle. That should push my body fat to around 15%. A hard task, I
suppose!
It’s nice when both of you do things together! You’re the best!
I’m into 10th week of YSPQ of Vince combine with CYWT. And results are talking! I took 4 pounds of muscles and lost 8 pounds of fat. After pregnancies, I was above 30% BF and I’m now at 24.6%. Now I still look like the girl on the left photo but I have hope that I WILL look like the right photo!! I don’t know how many pounds of muscles I have to build but I know that I WILL build them and lose the fat that is covering them. I know I CAN and NOTHING will stop me! My mood and confidence had build up at the same rate than my muscle, so I’m really impatient to see what it will like with 10 pounds more muscles!! Wouhou!! I feel so powerful now compared to before when I always felt tired and depressive. I’m also proud because my daughters see me working out at home and they will learn very early how much exercices is important in life! Sometimes, they even workout with me with their 1 pound dumbells, it’s so cute (they are 6 and 2!) :)
Thanks to both of you to change my life! And thanks to myself too for being commited… ;)
Valérie
Good day,
I am 56 and struggle each and every day. Part of my issue is getting into the gym on a regular basis and the second thing is I am kinda confused as to the proper supplements and the appropriate ratio of lifting vs aerobics to really kick start my program. Over the past month I am carefully watching what I eat and with the exception of a cheat day once a week I keep my caloric intake to 1700 calories with 400 calories in protein drink supplements along with whole food protein of chicken; carbs are largely whole wheat.
Thanks for your input.
Regards,
Raymond
Thanks for always providing great info. Have been participating in strength training for about 5 years now and I love it when I get comments about how trim and toned I am!
When I went from a high carb diet to a high protein diet after foot surgery, I was amazed how fast my weight went down and my endurance went up! At 52, I thought my days were numbered and raising a 9 year old by takes a lot of endurance! Can’t thank you enough for all the fantastic tips!
Lou
I never really get to where i want to with building muscle becuase i feel i am too weak… I’ve been working on toning my arms and i just cant seem to get it… i get tired fast and my arms hurt.. I feel like a complete weaking lol… my lower body on the other hand isnt that bad… maybe leaner abs would be nice as well… not that i have a long way to go i just need some guidance and hope you can help me out with gettin rid of my “batwings” as i call em! And teach me an effective and visible way to gain some sexy muscle… PLEASE!
i have been reading vince and joel’s posts for some time now, always informative and inspirational. i applaud all of the posters here who are being proactive enough to make a physical change in their appearance. change is by no means easy and complacency is typically the preferred route for most. don’t give up. i’ve always felt that anyone who can radically change their appearance for the better, can achieve anything that the set their focus on. don’t give up!
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Hey, it’s Joel! So you want to know a little more about me, huh? Well, I’d be happy to oblige :-)
I guess it all started back in 2001 (my freshman year of college) when I was just a “skinny fat” 19-year old kid. At the time, I was spending close to 2 hours a day in the gym (now my workouts last about 30 minutes), and despite my efforts, you’d probably never guess I worked out a day in my life by looking at me...