Unsightly muscle is not the reason the majority of people diet or exercise. Sadly to say, this way is how most people take the first step towards weight loss.



As a result, they drop pounds but those pounds come from losing muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. The good news is there are ways to maintain your current muscle mass while still losing weight.

The mistake most people make when trying to lose weight is to dramatically cut down their intake of calories. On one hand this makes perfect sense, because every 3,000 calories you take in but don't burn off is going to add an additional pound to your weight. Unfortunately, this is the worst tactic you could try if you don't want to lose muscle.

In primary case there is storage of fat in your body, which is for the need as an energy supply depot in case you suffer from starvation due to short supply of food. That is what it is called when you are not eating enough to sustain your life.

Your body does not automatically use up its stockpiles because you have stopped your calorie intake. Those are the emergency, last resort rations.

First, your body is going to convert your muscle mass into energy and that's going to slow your metabolism so you don't need as many calories in the first place which makes it harder for you to lose weight.

To gradually reduce your calorie intake and let your body adjust to the changes is a better plan. You might reduce your calories by 10% the first week, another 10% the second week, and so on, for example.

Using proper types of exercise is key in burning fat instead of muscle. It is recommended by the majority of fitness coaches and health experts that one should focus on workouts geared toward the cardiovascular system. As your body becomes stronger, you are able to increase your workout, which makes your body even stronger.

Weight training several times a week is necessary and beneficial. That way you'll be replenishing lost muscle and adding new muscle mass. Your metabolism will rise and your body will burn off added calories and therefore lose extra weight if you build lean muscle mass in your body.

You'll also see another benefit of adding some weight training into the mix, muscle tone. Many people who lose weight too quickly or without properly exercising end up flabby.

There is a high cost and it is very risky for certain plastic surgery procedures but they can help with that particular problem. To minimize loose skin while dieting, you should exercise to build muscle tone.