Does muscle really burn fat?
Ever hear people say muscle burns fat? I hear this statement from my clients all the time and usually have to clear up this confusion which is partially true and partially false.
Muscle does not actually burn up fat in your body. Having more muscle does burn more calories though. Here is how it really works: the only thing that burns calories while you are resting are the muscle cells in your body. That means that even while you are sleeping, your body will still be burning up fuel to keep your muscle tissue active. The fuel that your muscles use is in the form of sugar. Once your blood sugar has been utilized, the body will break up fat storage to convert to sugar for your muscles to use. So muscle does not really burn fat, but having more muscle will use more energy which can come from your fat storage. This is how your metabolism works and why people who have more muscle tissue than fat tissue have a faster metabolism.
This is also why the most effective way for weight loss is not only to hop on a treadmill, but to build muscle by lifting weights. Combining the two together will not only allow for faster weight loss, but it will speed up the metabolism and give you a better physique!
For more information on lifting weights safely contact me at don [at] donslifestyle [dot] com
