I read an interesting article in the NY Times today and it was titled “The Fat Trap.” Here’s the link, if you want to read it, but it’s a long article, and I can paraphrase it pretty quickly.
The Fat Trap (abbreviated version)
Some people went to a fat loss center and had a controlled diet and lost on average thirty pounds. Most of them then gained it back. It may be genetic or people who have lost weight are just predisposed to gain weight. Too bad for them.
Okay, to be honest, there was more to it than that, but what I found interesting was that the author stated that fast twitch muscle fiber seemed to change to slow twitch and that caused metabolism to be slower, and thus weight loss would likely be temporary. Seriously? Muscle changed types when weight was lost. That seems unbelievable to me. But they made it seem inevitable.
The point I wanted to contest was that if you don’t have resistance training as part of your fitness/weight loss regimen you are going to lose a lot of muscle with that fat. Muscle burns more calories than fat, that’s why body builders have to eat so much, they need to feed that muscle mass they have going…
That’s what you need too. The Fat Trap article talked about the exercise portion of the program and it was cardio vascular training. They mostly mentioned running. Don’t get me wrong, I love running, but any cardio training is designed to strengthen your cardio vascular system, not bnuild muscle. Look at distance runners. They are skinny and have very little fat, but they also have very little muscle. (There are exceptions, but go ahead blast me in the comment section anyway…)
So why didn’t the article say to add weight training and that will help you to keep the weight off? Instead it just seems to add to the “poor little me” mentality that some fat people have.
And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a diatribe against people who are heavy. If you are happy with the way you are, more power (and fat) to you. Seriously. It doesn’t bother me. I don’t want to oogle you on a nude beach or anything, but there are plenty of people who are into that. If so, y’all are a match potentially made in heaven. But don’t tell me that you can’t lose weight. Most heavy people can, they choose not to lose weight by their dietary habits and their lack of movement. There are exceptions, but this article is adding excuses. Now in addition to, I’m big boned, It’s hormonal, It runs in the genes, etc, etc, you can add, “I have slow twitch muscle fibers, it’s not my fault.” Ack!
Resistance training helps build your cardio vascular system. It helps build muscle, which most people tend to lose over the age of 40. It adds to bone density which will help you avoid those broken hips that older folks tend to get. It also helps to burn calories and keep you from getting fat. This is an honest in-your-face reality.
You can avoid the fat trap and the vicious gain-lose-gain-lose merry go round. Get serious about weight training for yourself, your health and for your loved ones. They want you around for a long healthy happy life.
