Staying Lean All Year Long
September 25, 2011 by admin
Staying at a leaner body weight helps create a more conducive growing environment for your body. It helps in maintaining an anabolic environment for further muscle growth through proper hormone production and regulation for instance.
The idea that you have to add 15-25 pounds to your body to help in gaining muscle mass is simply not true. I also fell for this tactic many years ago when I was coming in between 225-245 pounds. In hindsight I looked awful and, did not feel as good at 35 as I do at 54.
Believe me it was not all muscle either.
Today, I work at staying leaner all year long and I do that for multiple reasons. The fact that I am 54 remaining lean helps keep blood pressure in check, that hormone regulation I spoke of a few minutes ago working at its optimal level and, overall general health prosperity.
Adding additional pounds of fat to the body does not serve you for any purpose other than adding additional stress to your cardiovascular system and possibly causing a lack of sleep and proper recuperation from your workouts.
There are many more reasons of course however you get the idea.
Waging war against unnecessary body fat is a full time job especially as you get older to protect your health. We all have heard of the costs that being overweight not only cost you personally but, the countries health care system as a whole.
To help your body no matter what your age is to continue to be in an anabolic state of growth and recuperation, keep a sound resistance program going lifting weight in the 6-12 repetition category, maintaining a common sense dietary plan and, getting the proper amount of sleep.
A leaner body is a stronger more vibrant body. Owning a lean muscular machine is what you want to carry around in this short life span we have to begin with.
Remember, the world is a competitive place and your body is your calling card.
Myself working in the health care field, need to practice what I preach.
You want to work on keeping your body fat levels between 9-12 per cent for men and 12-15 percent for women if possible.
I never test my body fat through calipers etc as that number can vary depending on who is doing the measuring however, I find the mirror does not lie!
Lean is what you want to show off the muscle you have built and continuing to improve on.
Richard Haynes PTA/CPT
Total Joint Fitness LLC
http://www.totaljointfitness.com