Tag: strength

Fitness habits to establish in your 20’s

Your twenties is the time to live life to the fullest, to explore, to go on adventures and do everything your body permits you to do. However, if we neglect our body at this age, it is obvious that we have to bear the brunt of it at a later age. It is essential that you take care of your body and inculcate the following fitness habits at this age.

(Also read – How to avoid weight gain due to a desk job)

Strength training

Strength training is essential

Strength training is one habit that you must get into. It increases lean muscle mass, boosts metabolism, torches calories, eases back pain, helps you sleep, and even wards off diabetes. Doing this at a young age when you have the strength and time to do it is like making hay while the sun shines.

(Try reading – Benefits of push-ups)

Drink water

Get into the habit of having enough water

If you aren’t into the habit of having six to eight glasses of water per day, you must! Our body is made up of 50-65% water and it is the most essential and overlooked part of our fitness regime. So get to chugging on that H2O.

Learn proper form

Study and learn proper form

The key to weight lifting and circuit training is proper form. If you do not use proper form, you risk injury; and injuring yourself at such a young age could make matters worse later on in life.

(Also read – Too much of fatigue ruining your lifestyle?)

Stretching

Stretch before and after your exercise

Stretching before and after your workout is essential. If you do not stretch, your muscles can get tight and this sets you up for injury. Stretching is one thing that most of us overlook but is imperative in your fitness regime.

Have fun

Have fun!

While you’re at all of this, make sure you have fun. Because, remember, you’re in your twenties after all!

(You may find this interesting – Post workout mistakes you may be making)

Your 20’s is basically a time to prepare yourself and your body to live a wholesome life. So get off your behind if you are lazy and make the most of it!

How to burn fat without losing muscle

People usually want to lose the fat but are concerned about losing the pretty lean muscle tissue along with it while dieting. Here we give you tips on how to keep the lean muscle tissue and burn away fat.

Eat 5-6 smaller meals per day

To burn fat and keep muscle, you must not reduce your calories too much. Divide the number of daily calories your body needs into small meals spread throughout the day, rather than eating two or three large meals. This way your body receives a steady amount of the fuel it needs to maintain lean muscle mass.

Stack on protein

Stack on protein to maintain muscle

Your muscles need fuel to sustain itself. By having a protein rich diet, you are fuelling your muscles and telling your brain to stay away from muscle instead of stealing muscle for the energy deficit during a diet. If this happens, then your body is only going to use stored up fat to fuel your bodily functions and stay away from muscle. Good sources of protein include nuts, chicken, pulses and egg whites.

Maintain strength

Weight training must be adjusted appropriately

During a calorie deficit diet, you must not reduce the weight you carry. Your muscles need to be worked to sustain itself during this period of draught. By working your muscles, you are telling your body, once again, to use only fat to make up for the calorie deficit and stay away from muscle.

Reduce weight training volume

You need to maintain strength, but a caloric deficit is really an energy deficit, and while this is fantastic for losing any amount of body fat, it is not good for anything that is workout related like recovery and performance. Hence, even though you are maintaining strength, it is important to reduce volume/frequency of your workouts to facilitate proper recovery.

If you manage to do this, then you can reduce fat and maintain muscle. However, if you are lost on how to begin with this module straight away, check out how you can kickstart your weight loss plan.