Dieters do not want to lose muscle.  By losing muscle, we slow down our metabolism, making weight loss very difficult.  Losing muscle can prohibit them from reaching their goals.

It is important to note that muscle is active tissue, burning 75 to 100 calories more per pound each day than fat just by being there.  When dieters lose this active muscle tissue, they put their diet goals further out of reach. 

This is one of the problems with quick weight-loss diets, such as shakes, powders and pills.  A dieter loses a lot of weight in a very short period, however the weight loss is a combination of muscle and fat.  When the dieter gains this weight back, which he or she inevitably will, all the gained weight is fat.  This makes it even harder to lose weight the next time this person goes on a diet. 

The goal of any proper diet and exercise program should be to get the resting metabolic rate high enough to burn calories even while the body is inactive.  That way, if we go off our diets for a reasonable period, we won't gain any fat.  The only way to achieve a high resting metabolic rate is by increasing the body's muscle.  The only way to increase muscle is through strength training. 

Similarly, the only way to guarantee that we don lose muscle tissue while diet is by actively building muscle and making ourselves stronger.  The only way to do that is by participating in a Strength Training program, which helps build muscle. 

Keep in mind that aerobics and step classes do not make a person stronger.  Therefore, these forms of exercise do not build muscle and do not promote the loss of fat. 

Remember, there are 3,500 calories in one pound of fat.  That means it would take a person about eight hours of continuous aerobics to lose just one pound of fat, without actually gaining any muscle.  Using a Stairmaster or treadmill for an hour will not help with weight loss or promote muscle growth.  Their true benefit is increasing cardiovascular endurance. 

Another important fact all dieters should know is that muscle is much more dense than fat.  This means dieters who include weight training in their diet programs should not always rely on their scales.  Instead, they should pay more attention to how their bodies look, how their clothes fit and how they feel.  After all, who cares how much you weigh if you look great!

It should now be clear why we must diet and exercise together.  It should also be clear why strength training is an integral part of any weight loss program.  Everyone - young, old, male, female - can benefit from proper strength training.  If you are interested in losing weight and want to begin a Strength Training program as well, call Body By Berle for a FREE trial workout.