WANT TO LEAN OUT? Here is the secret....ADD MUSCLE! by Mike French

A great post by a fabulous fellow Team Beachbody Coach to his group - this answers A LOT of questions for most:

1.) Muscle is the MOST anabolic substance in the human body (Anabolic processes tend toward "building up" organs and tissues. These processes produce growth and differentiation of cells and increase in body size)

2.) Muscle chews up body fat. If you add 1 pound of muscle, and your body burns an additional 50 calories per day just to sustain that muscle. (Add 10 pounds of muscle and your body burns an extra 500 calories to maintain it!)

Most people in an effort to burn body fat greatly increase their number and length of cardiovascular workout sessions.THIS IS A MISTAKE!!!!! This hamstrings your efforts to burn body fat believe it or not. While you do burn allot of calories during extended cardio sessions you are also chewing up hard earned muscle. That is why you don't see any competitive
bodybuilders who also run marathons!

You burn alot of calories during extended or extra cardio but that stops when you stop the cardio.

Here is the secret:Your metabolism continues to burn body fat and calories for HOURS after hard resistance training. The muscle repairing itself has alot to do with this.

In effect, building muscle through INTENSE weight training is the key to the lean, muscular body we all strive for.(A prime example of extended cardio not being the key is people that only do aerobics and no weight training. They NEVER change the shape of their body. They stay the same year after year....what is the sense of that?)

What does this mean for P90Xers or ChaLEAN users?

DO THE PROGRAM AS DESIGNED AND WORK HARD ON GETTING STRONGER DURING YOUR RESISTANCE TRAINING NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

**EMPHASIZE PROTEIN - Eating more protein intensifies the thermogenic effect of the digestive process by 1/3rd and protein is the nutrient that builds metabolism enhancing muscle.

We need carbohydrates to fuel our workouts and repair muscle but don't get carried away. Too much WILL be stored as fat.

Remember guys and gals:MORE STRENGTH = MORE MUSCLE = LESS BODYFAT

Thanks Mike!! You always put it into perspective.

To learn more about P90X, any of the Beachbody Programs, or how you can be a part of our Coaching program, click here to learn more.

MUSCLE BURNS FAT!!

You know what I've found to bring me the best success and rapid results? Is constant strength training. I think we all too often get fixated on cardio and that it's the key to us losing weight, but fail to recognize by weight training, you burn more calories and gain more lean muscle. I've discovered that in some of the Beachbody programs that I've become to LOVE! Something for everyone and they offer some great training from professionals. I've been able to drop my gym membership and get into better shape than I EVER have been, by going to the gym and doing weights and cardio. A simple mantra to remember....MUSCLE BURNS FAT (thanks Chalene)!

I think we've all been conditioned to think that if we lift heavy weights, that we will build bulk and not be feminine. Not true! If you lift heavy weights with low reps, you'll build lean, sculpted muscle, all while burning tons of calories. Why? Because your body is working so much hard lifitng those heavy weights, that by the time you put them down and get on with your day, your body is still burning calories. With cardio, you stop burning calories when you finish your activity. Who would've thought??

Hope this is helpful! I've got lots of great programs that align with this theory. Check them out here: www.choose2befit.com

Here's to your Fitness Success!
Taryn