Do not need to be afraid of building excessively large muscles. It will not happen: not quickly . . not easily . . .not ever! So put your fears aside, step off the treadmill, and try the best age-defying, fat-melting workouts in existence.

Your lean muscle tissue is the key to losing excess body fat. Losing as little as 500 grams of it can result in a gain of fat. Why? Because muscle is very active tissue and makes high-calorie demands, even at rest. Less muscle means a lower metabolic rate (the rate your body burns fuel). Several studies reveal that the average person after the age of 30 experiences a decline in their metabolic rate every year which exactly parallels the loss of muscle tissue. This, combined with normal eating habits and the passage of time, leads to an over-fat, out-of-shape body.

Strength training exercise can help both men and women stay lean by building and maintaining lean muscle tissue and raising metabolism. The amount needed to do this is very small and would hardly be noticed, except for a new firmness and an improved body shape. Not a bad thing to gain!

The fact is hours and hours of aerobic exercise (walking, cycling etc) will not help most people lose weight because your metabolism drops back to normal fairly quickly after stopping the exercise. The extra calories are only burned while the activity is being performed.

The new focus is on the calories (or fuel) that is burned after the exercise session is over. This is the secret to losing body fat without having to restrict the amount of food you eat so much. If you gain a little bit of muscle, however, your body's resting metabolism (the amount of calories you burn when you are just sitting still) increases because of the extra calories required to maintain this extra tissue.

Studies have shown consistent strength training exercise to raise the body's metabolism by 15%. This means an average person might burn 200-400 more calories at rest every day. You can now see that strength training is the gift that keeps on giving!

Fortunately, at any age, you can get started on your strength training program so you can combat and conquer this loss of muscle and gain of fat. In fact, the solution doesn't take years if approached correctly; it can be accomplished in six months or less.

To have things happen this quickly it is important to seek the help of a fitness professional to set up your program and teach you correct exercise technique and intensity.

Embellish more lean muscle tissue as your friend - your best ally against excessive body fat and the aging process and will help:

?elevate your metabolism

?melt body fat away faster

?tighten flabby saggy body parts

?smooth dimpled backsides and thighs

?improve body shape and symmetry

?you to look and feel younger

?you to eat more of your favorite foods without gaining body fat

?create more energy, vitality and be more alive

Strengthening your muscles is also good for your heart and blood pressure, strengthens your immune system and will help you live an active life. Whether that means climbing a mountain, playing with your grandchildren (really playing) or carrying groceries into the house, you will be stronger and able to do it so much more easily.

Maybe best of all, strength training exercise can make you happy and is a great way to blow off the stress, anxiety, and tension of the day. You will sleep like a stone at night, as your body demands high-quality sleep to recover from your workouts. Studies show that you will be less likely to suffer from depression, an ailment that clouds many people's lives. And you will simply feel good about yourself. What more could you ask for?