As we age we lose 30% of our muscle mass1. Indeed after the age of 30, we lose muscle at the rate of about half a pound a year3+4. Unfortunately, this also includes muscle mass from our vital organs2. Even if we stay at the same body weight throughout our lifetime, fat replaces muscle tissue3. All of this may lead to cardiovascular problems, poor functioning of organs such as liver, brain, heart and reduced hormonal secretion. As a result our bodies go from shapely to shapeless as we lose our strength, feel, look and become old.
Why do we get fat?
Muscle loss not only causes all of these problems but also results in a lowered metabolism (the rate at which we burn food for energy). Research shows that a pound of muscle burns approximately 50 to 100 calories per day3. Unfortunately, for every pound of muscle you lose it becomes easier to gain fat even when your food intake stays the same - because you are now burning less calories for energy. On average over our lifetime, muscle loss slows down your metabolism by as much as 45%4. Ultimately, you have unsightly, soft fat where you once had youthful, toned muscle.
Aerobics can make you fat!
When people find themselves becoming overweight, they generally start doing aerobics. Research shows that an hour of aerobics, if the calorie intake stays constant, causes weight loss. Sadly however, most of this weight loss is vital muscle5. Since body fat is burned almost exclusively by your muscles, they are the one thing you cannot afford to lose4.
Low calorie diets can make you fat!
Studies also show that low calorie diets cause weight loss but once again much of this is muscle tissue3. Research shows that crash weight-loss plans cause people to lose up to 90% of their weight from muscle - including from their vital organs4. Such plans include diets with too few calories and macro nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate), causing the body to use its own muscle for fuel4. When you lose muscle tissue in this way, your body composition becomes similar to that of an old person.
Are you working hard to get older?
Science shows us that any form of exercising or dieting that causes us to lose muscle is a serious step in the wrong direction. In fact, you are actually breaking down the firm body you hoped to produce. Indeed, to lose muscle is extremely damaging to your health, including your immune system and greatly accelerates the rate at which you age3. Due to misinformation you have speeded up the ageing process, in spite of all your sacrifice, willpower and hard work.
Muscle burns fat
An hour of aerobics, depending on how vigorous, would burn approximately 400 to 500 calories per day. Endlessly you see the ads on TV promising the latest and greatest workout equipment. What makes it the greatest? Why, the fact that it burns more calories than its competitors of course. But anyone who focuses exclusively on the number of calories burned while exercising is missing the bigger picture, i.e. the amount of calories you burn while resting! 10 pounds of muscle burns between 500 to 1000 calories per day - even during sleep or while watching TV3. Of the total amount of calories your body burns, 90% are burned by muscle. Think of muscle as a furnace in which you burn calories.
The solution to all of the above is to regain, grow or maintain your muscle mass. If up till now you have lost muscle, then if you want true rejuvenation you must gain back the loss. Even if you are young and beginning to become over-fat, you need to increase your muscle to correct this problem. If you are already in good shape the most anti-ageing step you can take is to continue to hold onto your invaluable muscle. In short, your muscles are your best defence against ageing and body fat.
The ground-breaking university study
Clearly any approach used should have as its primary goal the increase of muscle tissue. So what is the best form of exercise, diet or even food supplements for this purpose? A University Doctoral study examined these questions and came to a ground-breaking conclusion: The most important factor was the trainee’s mental attitude. Other important factors were weight training, no resting between exercises, low-glycemic foods and some food supplements. The research highlighted the fact that the more focused the trainees’ mental attitude, the heavier the weight they could lift. In turn, this greater intensity of effort was directly related to increases in muscle tissue. The results over a 12 day period and a total of 4 hours of weight training - i.e. 20 minutes daily - were on average a gain of 3 lbs of muscle and a loss of 7.5 lbs of fat. Look at the picture on the front page to see what this looks like. This almost one pound a day change would be enough to literally transform the average person’s body.
Let results decide
Today, more than ever before we are bombarded from every side about getting into shape, exercise, weight loss, fitness, anti-ageing and the latest and greatest diet, food supplement, protein shake, health drink, etc. So how are you to know what to do? The answer is simple – forget the hype, just decide based on the results.
Now that you understand the science and see what results are possible from the study, how can you benefit from it?
The System
See the exact system used in the research that was necessary to produce the results.
The Results
See some of the many transformations that have taken place in educogym®.
The Machine
In order to recreate the research conditions, it was necessary to produce a revolutionary new exercise machine.
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