Are you looking to shed some weight and build muscle? If yes, then you’re going to need a foolproof plan to get in shape, and we can help with that.
Changing your diet is only the first step in a long, complicated process of altering metabolic function and building muscle. The results you get from the gym will be determined to some extent by things like age, weight, body type, and genetics; however, there are things you can do to maximize fat burning.
Here’s our guide for burning fat and gaining muscle:
1. Start Strength Training
Strength training requires you to perform short workout sessions with a full burst of energy, and move from one workout to another one, essentially to push the muscles beyond your comfort levels.
The most common form of strength training is weight lifting. Studies show that strength training is an effective way to build strength, burn fat, and reduce visceral fat by over 70%. This particular study revealed that aerobic exercises provide lasting weight loss results when combined with strength training.
2. Eat Healthy Fats
Contrary to what you may have heard, eating more natural fats doesn’t lead to weight gain. Actually, it helps to streamline digestion.
It is instrumental in reducing hunger pangs and the highs and lows you get from eating sugar and processed food. The types of fat you get from grains, fruits, and other whole foods takes longer to digest, but it doesn’t overwhelm the stomach.
Eating healthy fats also reduces appetite and may be effective at treating eating disorders. One example of a diet rich in healthy fats is a Mediterranean diet, which involves lots of nuts and olive oil. Another study found that following this kind of diet reduced the risk to cardiovascular health significantly.
3. Fill Up on Fiber
Eat more soluble fiber to keep the digestive tract working longer, and to reduce weight gain and inflammation. High-fiber foods are excellent for reducing belly fat and could be instrumental in building muscle over time.
Another reason soluble fiber is so important to weight loss and muscle growth is that it keeps you feeling full and keeps your appetite in check – which means you add more calories by eating snacks.
4. Increase Your Iron Intake
A deficiency in iron affects the thyroid gland, and it matters because the thyroid gland pretty much controls metabolism; although there are other factors involved.
According to this study, iron deficiency causes a disruption of thyroid hormones and makes weight management more challenging. Low iron levels may be identified by symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
5. You can get more iron by adding these foods to your diet:
- Meats
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Beans and other grains
- Green leafy vegetables
- Fruits
6. CBD and Weight Loss
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in hemp and cannabis, and although it has no direct effect on weight gain, it causes a range of effects that influence weight. Through its interaction with CB1 and CB2 brain receptors, CBD influences many neurological and physiological processes within the body.
CBDCentral.com looks at how cannabidiolcan help you lose weight:
Reduces Appetite:
CBD works in the endocannabinoid system to affect processes such as sleep and appetite; and while for some people, consuming cannabis products causes the munchies, CBD actually regulates appetite so that food consumption is kept within the normal range.
Turns Bad Fat Into Good Fat
Another one of CBD’s effects in the body is the conversion of white fat into brown fat, which helps to burn calories. White fat is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular health disorders, and diabetes. Cannabidiol has been shown to convert destructive fat cells into a more easily absorbed form of fat that can be easily used to provide energy.
Burns Fat
By optimizing metabolic function, CBD causes you to eliminate fat by breaking it down and getting rid of it as waste (here’s a bit of research on how this works). Since brown fat is more actively converted to heat, having more of it in the body means you’re likely to burn more fat. CBD can help you burn fat by transforming white fat cells to brown fat cells.
Reduces the Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Conditions such as hypertension and diabetes come with severe symptoms that can make it impossible to carry on with your-day-to-day routine; but CBD may be instrumental in preventing these disorders from causing damage to the body.
The physiological processes that CBD triggers in the body also regulate things like high blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels. If such conditions are caused by dysfunctional CB1 receptors, then using cannabidiol can minimize risk.
Conclusion
Effective weight loss requires a multi-faceted approach but once you’ve got all the basic routines checked, adding CBD to your fitness program will improve your results and strengthen other aspects of your physical and mental health. Ultimately, this is the best form of workout –one that targets both body and mind.
Author Bio
As a nature/natural-living enthusiast and passionate researcher with ten years in the cannabis industry, Kelsi enjoys playing her part to educate the world on the benefits of alternative health and medication options
Ken Weiss is a health blogger who is passionate about natural and holistic cures for men’s health issues. He is the founder of menshealthcures.com
