The Fat and Muscle Diet Debacle

The diets of professional body builders and guys and gals who just want to develop a ripped body so they can look good on the beach are (or should be) very similar. While many think that different size people need completely different diets, even for the same goal, that is simply not true. There's a common myth that these people also tend to believe which says you can "convert fat into muscle," and vice versa. Again, that is just not true. You can't convert fat into muscle any more than you can convert a chunk of limestone into a diamond. The human body simply does not work that way. The chemical make-up of both are just too different.

It is true that muscle is more dense than fat. This makes muscle heavier for the same volume of each. You can pretty easily see why. Fat is "fluffy," while muscle is rigid and firm. For example, a pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of iron, but you will see that there is much less iron on the scale than feathers. As a result, your weight will probably not change radically, even though you will start to visibly see a difference in your size. This can be because it takes less muscle gain to match the fat loss you may be experiencing. Some people actually gain weight at first (in the form of muscle), before their fat stores melt away.

Creating muscle in the body is a natural course. However, it is not something that the body simply opts to begin on a whim. The need for more muscle, in order to survive, must be high enough for the body to take note. The body is completely focused on survival. Consistent exercise, whether through your daily activities or during regular gym visits, are what is needed to create muscle. Exercising to the point of failure is a must, to really trigger the body's muscle-building capabilities. During this exercise, you are actually damaging or tearing the muscle. While you rest, the body builds muscle fibers to replace the damage that's been done to the muscle, and the muscle gets bigger. To corroborate the point above, there is obviously no fat involved in the creation of muscle.

A low-carb diet is NOT the right diet for those who want to build muscle. There is nothing worse for muscle building than a low-carb diet. Your muscles will not be able to find the energy for working out if you do not have carbohydrates in your system. A well-balanced diet is highly suggested. This includes a good supply of carbohydrates and protein, while staying ultra-low in fat. In this manner, the carbs will supply your muscles with fuel and the protein will supply your body with the muscle-repairing nutrients it needs. Fat becomes the enemy, as it is not needed for muscle building.

The idea is to provide your body with the right "tools" (meaning food) that it needs to repair the damage done to a muscle by building muscle fiber. Finally, muscle begins to burn fat as it runs out of carbohydrates. Layers of fat are burned off so that the muscle is revealed, and continuing the weightlifting exercises cause the muscle to get bigger.