Muscle Mass VS Muscle Tone
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By :
Daniel Anderson
Submitted
2010-07-01 19:07:09 |
Muscle Tone Vs Muscle Mass is a question many men and women are left to ponder when beginning an exercise regime, but which is best?
The specific wants and needs of the individual really come in to play here, each side has benefits and drawbacks, which we will seek to highlight to make the choice a little easier.
The usual goals range from fat burning and weight loss, to bulking up and gaining mass (heavily associated with young men and athletes). Some people have short term expectations that are unfulfillable, whilst some can achieve the goals they set with relative ease.
Genetics
The genes you have will determine many things, but they don't have to dictate with the authority that some may claim. By understanding our strengths and weaknesses in muscularity, we can optimize results and benefit much quicker.
If you are naturally prone to gaining muscle with ease then you may find fat burning more difficult, but if you find weight loss pretty easy to accomplish then putting on solid muscle may be hard for you to achieve.
Easy muscle gainers often find muscle toning exercises are better to help them gain a firm, tight body, while also burning fat, on the other hand skinny, smaller framed people may find larger, bulk lifting "type" exercises are better to help add solid, attractive muscle to their frame.
It almost seems ironic to suggest high repetition toning exercises for naturally muscular people and heavy mass lifting exercises for smaller framed individuals, but it may just help them reach their goals faster.
Muscle Tone - Benefits And Drawbacks
Toned muscle is sexy, tight and lean. It is probably the most attractive look for both females and males, however it can be difficult to achieve those sculpted muscles without serious attention to good, disciplined dietary habits.
People with good muscle tone enjoy increased flexibility, agility, speed, longevity and as mentioned the affections of the opposite sex.
Toned muscle however, rarely begets power and large degrees of strength that mass muscle can give you.
People with lean toned bodies have been shown to live longer in many studies and suffer less health complications than their larger counterparts.
Muscle Mass - Benefits And Drawbacks
Those who have larger solid mass, often are stronger and more powerful than their smaller contemporaries.
People with a higher percentage of muscle on their frame rest better than others. They also burn more calories per day due to the fat burning nature of muscle.
One of the major drawbacks of maintaining a higher proportion of muscle is the extreme effort required to build and maintain a solid frame, not to mention the larger quantities of food one must consume to "keep" the muscle (although many would consider the need to eat more food a major draw card).
Bulkier framed people find they appeal less to the opposite gender, though it is not such an issue for men.
Health
From the viewpoint of general health, muscle tone probably wins out over muscle mass for several reasons including;
*A toned physique is lighter and places less stress on internal organs.
*Those with toned bodies live longer.
*Those who eat less are generally healthier.
*Speed and agility are more useful in health than power and strength.
*Aerobic activity is more heart-healthy than anaerobic training.
This doesn't mean that you can't have a solid, muscular frame and still be extremely healthy. Lifestyle choices count for a lot in general health.
In Conclusion
In the end, the body you want to have should be the body you seek to accomplish, but it is always a wise move to be informed.
You should always consult a physician before engaging in physical activity, so they can assess your capabilities and check for possible problems.
It's also important to note that the examples given here are based on equal body fat percentages of both toned and bulky individuals.
Remember, any exercise is usually better than none at all and good diet is the crux of a good physique.
Muscle Mass Vs Muscle Tone By Daniel Anderson
Want to keep healthy and have more muscle and less fat? Try these articles:
Low Glycemic Foods
What are omega 3 fats?
Fat Is Not The Enemy
How To Bulk up Fast
Easy Muscle Building tips
Eating For Fat Loss
100 Ways to Lose Weight
Live A healthy Lifestyle
High Intensity Interval Training
Feel free to ask me questions by emailing Article Flame.
I'll try to get back to you
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More:
We all have different bodies and different expectations.
Some of us men want big bulging muscles and some of us want super "ripped" toned.
Some girls want good muscle definition, some just want slimness at any cost.
Personally I believe (and the evidence backs me up), that resistance training helps burn fat very effectively.
Muscle burns fat, so get some muscle on your bones.
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