FitSugar

From the Fit Community: I've Lost the Inches but Not the Weight

Fit Community — Tue, 10 May 2011 01:08:33 PDT

It's an age-old question: how come my pants feel looser but I weigh more now than before I started exercising? FitSugar reader livingthin turns to the experts for an answer and posted it in our 10 Pounds DOWN! community group.

Q: "I know everyone is always looking at the scale, but in my case I am slimmer than ever but the scale shows I am almost the same weight as I was on my son's first birthday - [I was] two sizes up [then]. I do two 50 minute exercise sessions per day five times per week; in total I exercise about 500 minutes per week if not more, and do a mix of plyometric exercises, Pilates, and hand and ankle weights. I can see my body is getting firmer and slimmer, but the scale takes my mood way down the higher it goes up. Is there a difference with different people's muscle mass density they build?" - Michele

A: Hi Michele! This question is an important one, and one that I have heard numerous answers to (although even I am not sure which one most accurately answers this). For help in responding, we turned to clinical exercise physiologist Jeff Dolgan.

"The human body tends to have a favorite weight that it functions most efficiently at," explains Dolgan. Scientists have termed this phenomenon the "set point" theory, which means the human body will adjust the components of mass to keep within a certain range. This allows for our center of gravity to stay the same and is helpful in maintaining biomechanical function, says Dolgan. Instead of worrying about the scale, says Dolgan, you should pay attention to your body composition instead. If you haven’t had your body fat tested yet, it may be a good idea to have a professional take this more objective measurement for you.

Keep reading for more advice on your body's muscle mass after the break.

What's the Deal With: Losing Weight on an Exercise Hiatus

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:30:00 PST

So you've taken a little hiatus from your fitness routine. Whether the reason is too much work, or being ill; it happens for a variety of reasons. No matter the reason, it is a little confusing to step on the scale and see that your weight has actually gone down and not up like you expected.

Unfortunately, the slight decrease in pounds isn't the kind of weight loss you want. You've lost muscle. Depending on how long you've taken off from working out, after a month or two, you could end up losing a few pounds of muscle. And this is something you really want to avoid. Each pound of muscle burns about five to ten calories a day. Fat only burns about two, so that means if you drop three pounds of muscle, that's about 50 fewer calories burned per day. Burning less calories will eventually cause you to gain weight.

Fit's Tips: There's nothing wrong with taking a day or even a couple weeks off when it comes to working out, but don't make a habit of it. Try to make a schedule each week and stick to it. Your overall health will benefit in the long run.

Source

Dieting: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:45:00 PDT

It is summer time and while the warm weather and sunshine may bring smiles to our faces, some folks may be fretting about how they look in a swimsuit. Often out of desperation, people try crazy fad diets to quickly shed a few pounds prior to hitting the beach. Well, I am here to caution you about dropping the pounds too quickly, and here's why: Rapid weight loss is often followed shortly by rapid weight gain.

The slower you lose the weight the better your chances for keeping the pounds off. You should aim to lose no more than two pounds a week. If you are losing more than that, the pounds lost most likely come from loss of water weight and lean muscle tissue - not fat. You don't want to lose muscle tissue since one pound of muscle burns 50 calories a day, while a pound of fat only burns 2 calories a day. Muscle mass is a friend to your metabolism.

Fit's Tip: If you are looking to lose weight, try to change your lifestyle with a healthy Mediterranean style diet and adding a daily dose of exercise into your plan. Make a lifestyle change and you will lose the weight and you have a much better chance of keeping the weight off.

Strength Training IS Important for Weight Loss

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:30:00 PDT

Losing weight (and keeping it off) is more complicated than the calories you eat being less than the calories you burn. Without strength training while dieting you risk losing lean muscle mass which is really important to keep your metabolism going.

Your muscles need energy to work, so the more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn over the course of a day. It works like this, for every pound of muscle you gain you will burn 35 to 50 more calories a day. Now that has got to be great incentive to add strength training into your routine if you are trying to lose weight.

Here is another inspirational fact for strength training to build lean muscle: we lose 5% of our muscle mass every ten years after age 35. If you do not intentionally build muscle through exercise you will need to eat 120 to 420 less calories a day to maintain your current weight if you are over 35. I just want to say it is never to early to start building lean muscle - no need to wait until you are 35. So why not start today?

There are so many advantages to strength training, including: benefits to your bones and cardiovascular health, reducing risk of Type 2 diabetes, and protecting your joints.

If you are looking to start a strength training program check out this 4 Minute Starter Arms video. It will get you pumping in no time.

Source

Another Reason to Hit the Gym: Your Bones

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:00:00 PST

I am always amazed how we are constantly given reasons to exercise - to build muscle and lose fat. Its not always about appearances, it's about your health.

Once upon a time it was speculated that excess fat, which places more weight on the bones, could help build strong bones. Not the case any longer as researchers have found a strong (and positive) association between lean body mass and bone size and density. Contrary to prior belief, the findings found that fat either had no relationship or a negative one, meaning the more fat mass, the weaker the bones. What's more? Fat may also secrete substances that affect bone metabolism negatively.

So, we may as well exercise for our bones, especially since we're stuck with them for life.

The Final Say in the Light Weights vs. Heavy Weights Debate

Shape — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:47:20 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

You've always heard that when it comes to building muscle mass, heavy weights are preferred over lighter weights. But a new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology has found that isn't always the case. In fact, you can build just as much muscle by lifting lighter weights. If you do it right...

10 Health and Fitness Myths You Still Believe

The key is working the muscle to total failure or exhaustion, says Michele S. Olson, professor of exercise science at the Human Performance Laboratory of Auburn University Montgomery and the star of the workout DVD Perfect Legs, Glutes and Abs.

8 Reasons Why You Should Lift Heavier Weights

"Failure, in this sense, is a success," Olson says. "If you work your muscles, on each set, until you cannot execute another repetition with appropriate form, the heaviness of the weight becomes less important."

Find out exactly what a "light" weight is after the break!

Don't Count the Pounds: Why Muscle Mass Is Important

Heather Dale — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:06:25 PST

It's hard not to stare at the scale after resuming your fitness routine once the holidays are over. Dinner tables covered with scrumptious dishes, and festive drinks and treats can quickly do a number on your overall body weight. But getting back in shape after indulging during the holidays shouldn't just be about the number on the scale. Here's why muscle mass is the secret to optimal health and staying slim.

More than just calories: Building muscle mass helps strengthen connective tissues, which increases bone density. By doing this, you're reducing your risk for injury, and your chance of getting osteoporosis later in life.

Here are more reasons why muscle mass is important .

5 Exercises to Ditch Arm Flab Forever

Shape — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:07:15 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to celebrity trainer Jay Cardiello for some help!

Ah, that infamous area along the back of your arms, the nemesis of so many women. How do you tackle the jiggle? First, I want to tell you what not to do, as people are often tempted to take the wrong course of action. And that is the concept of spot reducing, or lowering fat stores in one specific area of the body. It is essentially impossible to accomplish and should not be a part of your fitness regimen. Fighting arm flab requires more than just spot treatment!

In order to tone the backs of your arms, which is where your tricep muscles are, you have to remember this: specific exercises to increase your lean muscle mass will get you results, but you must also decrease your fat intake without risking too much muscle loss. (Sound familiar? Have you managed to lose fat, but still carry some extra bulk around the tricep?) So, to lose the wiggle and jiggle, be sure to eat a healthy balanced diet with proper nutrients; get at least six to eight hours of sleep so that your body can repair, recover, and build muscle; and consistently maintain your exercise program. And be sure to incorporate these five flab-fighting exercises into your workout routine.

The Ultimate Abs and Arms Workout

See Jay's arm workout after the break!

From the Community: Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Activity

Fit Community — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 02:39:22 PDT

Not sure what the difference between aerobic and anaerobic activity is? In our Get Fit For 2012 group, FitSugar reader meetcasey explains what each term means and why we should be doing both.

Aerobic exercise requires the body to utilize oxygen to create energy. With anaerobic exercise, the body creates energy without extra oxygen - your body relies on its natural chemicals to create energy.

Learn the benefits of each, after the break!

From the Fit Community: 3 Tips to Start Shaping Up For Swimsuit Season

Fit Community — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:33:47 PST

Bikini season will be here before you know it, so FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV asked an expert for the best way to start shaping up. She posted her tips in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

Well, it's official. The release of the 2012 swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated marks the opening of bikini season! And even if you are still snuggled and warm hiding your bod in that turtleneck, the warmer weather will be here before you know it. So don't wait until you have a beach date to start shedding any excess winter weight. These three simple tips from fitness expert Kate Conti of The Sports Club/LA will have you melting away the extra pounds without major sacrifice, so you can strut your stuff in your swimsuit on the beach this year:

Number one: allow up to six to eight weeks for delivery

Yes, it may still be frosty outside, but you need plenty of time to allow yourself to get results. Don't rely on that Master Cleanse to do your dirty work the week before. Start today! "Give yourself plenty of time to get in shape," says Conti. "If you’ve been sitting around all winter, your body is not going to just snap back into shape in a couple of weeks. Give yourself about six to eight weeks of training before you expect to see any significant results. Your body will need that time to adapt to the added stress of exercise and make the appropriate physiological changes."

Keep reading for the rest of the tips.