How to Lose Weight and Build Muscle

For millions of people, looking in the mirror every morning has become nearly a ritual of shame. They are not happy with their bodies and their level of physical fitness. Perhaps another year has gone by and they have gained 10 pounds. Or perhaps they’ve fallen off the wagon of healthy eating. For these people the goal is twofold. They want to lose weight and build muscle.

In order to lose weight and build muscle you must be dedicated to a process. In order to achieve this goal you must realize that physical fitness is not an event. It will require a level of commitment over time if you want to see lasting results.How to Lose Weight and Build Muscle

With that said, let’s break down the task into its two independent parts to examine the best plan of attack for each. First up is the desire to lose weight.

Losing weight isn’t the most complicated thing in the world. However, just because it is simple does not make it easy. Therefore, it is crucial that you examine your nutritional regimen. Are you consuming fast food, simple carbs, and/or processed foods? These foods fall into the category of fat builders, in that they generally provide the body with “cheap” calories that are converted into fat cells for later use.

You’re going to need to eliminate these foods in order to lose weight and burn muscle. Instead refocus your diet around natural carbs, the best source of which is fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean meats, the tried-and-true example here is skinless chicken breast.

Now, shifting to the second part of the equation, what is the best way to build muscle? Muscle mass is generated when the muscles in the body are strained, therefore weight lifting is the best way to build muscle.

However, there are certain exercises which are best for building muscle. These are the compound exercises which work several muscle groups at once. Examples of compound muscle exercises include squats, lunges and the bench press.

Because these exercises do not target just one muscle or muscle group, they will generate more muscle mass in the body than a simple exercise such as the bicep curl. Try to adopt a weightlifting regimen wherein you workout for at least 20 minutes a day, but not more than 40 minutes per day.If you can successfully replace the simple, processed foods in your diet with healthy, natural foods and can adhere to a weightlifting schedule you will both lose weight and build muscle.