Do you really need to build muscle?

So what's the big deal behind building muscle?

Who needs to?

Why do you need to?

What if you don't want to "get big" though?

If you're new here, welcome! Let's dive into all things why you need to be building muscle!

1) Muscle is the key to movement.

You literally would not be able to move if you didn't have muscles. Ever heard of muscular dystrophy? Ever seen someone who injured an arm or a leg come away from their cast with muscle loss? Movements are hindered and speed and power loss is apparent. 

If you want to move well and avoid injury from movement, you need muscle. You need it! There is just no argument - muscle is necessary.

"But Laura, we all have muscle. Why do we need to build it?"

Your body is constantly going through what we scientists call anabolism and catabolism. Essentially we are building up or tearing down. This is why we can heal and why we make new tissue. Muscle is one of these tissues that get built up or broken down. The process of catabolism and anabolism is also known as metabolism. 

Muscle is one of those tissues that follow the "use it or lose it" rule! Essentially, you use more muscle, you get make more and make it stronger. You use it less, you lose more of it and get weaker!

So that's why we need to participate in activities that support muscular anabolism! Or muscle building!

2) Muscle is metabolic

Want to lose fat? Want to tone up? Build some more muscle.

Most people who want to tone up and don't have a copious amount of bodyweight to lose to get healthier are NOT overfat, but rather, undermuscled. Building up muscle supports goals of toning up since it helps increase the amount of calories your body burns at rest. It doesn't do this by a significant amount, but the activities that you have to do in order to build muscle tend to support fat loss (lifting weights, eating protein, consuming at or above maintanance calories).

3) Everyday movements get a lot easier!

If you're stronger, movements get easier! Walking up stairs become easier. Moving boxes become easier. Your chances of losing your balance, of slipping and falling, or of injuring yourself from seemingly irrelevant tasks, decreases.  A lot of people who come to me with balance issues, back pain, or other nagging aches and pains find these issues improved once they start getting stronger!

Having enough muscle tissue on you is so important to help your body be strong enough to withstand the actions of everyday life. Don't discount the power of having strength and muscle mass! It's so vital!

Wondering how to build muscle? Trying to put on muscle mass but not getting anywhere? Let's chat! Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more!