Doing Too Much Too Fast Can Metabolize Muscle

A little weight gain is understandable but that doesn’t mean it should be acceptable. If you are worried that building muscle mass might leave you looking bulky instead of skinny fat, don’t give it another thought. Muscle is denser than fat, so you will appear leaner and thinner even if you scale weight remains the same or increases at first. Nonetheless, if you have been measuring your weight on a scale and not judging your appearance in the mirror, you may have never known you were getting skinny fat and could have increased your risks for chronic health problems like metabolic syndrome. Trying to do too much too fast can result in your body metabolizing muscle because its needs energy once other options are exhausted. Although weight loss will occur, it comes at the expense of both fat and muscle loss, which will not help you change the appearance of being skinny fat.

Tips to Start Your Weight Loss Journey

If you are no longer at a healthy weight for your body, it is time to consider implementing a plan that is personalized to meet your body’s specific needs. Listed below are some tips to jump start your journey including:

• Drink More Water - Six to eight hours of recommended nightly sleep is a long time to go without rehydrating your body. Drinking a glass of water when you wake up is a good way boost your morning digestion.
• Fast Between Meals - According to researchers, fasting between 10 to 16 hours can cause the body to release ketones into the bloodstream, which causes the body to convert fat stores into energy.
• Think Before You Eat It - Mindful eating includes modifying your eating process to include smelling, chewing, tasting, and swallowing each bite of food. The faster or more distracted you eat, the less likely you are to think before you eat.
• Front Load Your Meals - Researchers say that watching the clock for when to eat may be more important than watching calories. The American Heart Association endorses the principle that the timing of your meals may help reduce your risk for chronic disease.
• Keep a Positive Mindset - Diet and exercise are key components, but how you think about weight loss is just as important. Studies show that with a positive mindset, you’re more likely to achieve sustainable weight-loss.

If you want to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic as healthy and fit as when it started, you need to start doing everything you can to live your life with the same commitment you had before it started.

Get Your Efforts Pointed in the Right Direction

It is not just that you are staying at home more due to lockdown orders; the added stress of the pandemic may have caused you to eat more food than your body needed. If your local community allows for walks, try to get outside every day to make sure you are moving more. After all, any physical activity is better than none, but avoid the temptation to do too much too fast. The same goes for adding some resistance training with dumbbells or stretch bands. If you constantly find yourself starring at the refrigerator light or endlessly looking through your cupboard, use your kitchen time to create healthy snacks that are protein-packed or blend a berry smoothie. Even a simple goal like maintaining and not gaining weight can get your efforts pointed in the right direction. Visit Metabolic Research Center online to learn more about our free weight loss consultation, personalized menu plans, virtual coaching, and remote support.