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Muscle Does Not Turn to Fat

July 26, 2005 7:46 pm 6 comments

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Here’s another great locker room myth that you can now forget: If you stop working out, your muscles will turn to fat. Anahad O’Connor, writing in the Times handy Really column, says it just isn’t so. What is so, on the other hand, is if you stop working out your muscles will slowly shrink, and if you keep eating the same amount of calories that you ate when you did work out, there’s a good chance that where there once were muscles there will eventually be adipose tissue, otherwise known as "fat." There are, the paper reports, two things you can do to avoid the fat fate. One: cut back on caloric intake, and two; keep active. Even if you quit your daily exercise routine, moderate activity is often enough to persuade your muscles to stick around. Read more.

6 Comments

  • Bryce Zabel
    July 26, 2005
    11:21 pm

    I really, really like your blog. I may even stick a link up on mine to yours I like it so much. Well done.

    Reply
  • Kate
    January 20, 2007
    9:09 pm

    I’m so glad that muscle turning into fat is a myth because i was soo scared that when i quit i was going to turn into a big blob of fat…as i am a girl i’m actually now wanting to loose my muscle on my arms do you have any advise on how i could loose the muscle quiting please let me no!!

    Reply
  • kev grant
    January 27, 2007
    6:16 am

    Kate, you do not want to lose muscle tissue, pretty much ever. its only muscle in your body that burns calories, nothing else.
    if you have been training hard to get muscular arms, all you need to do is stop training them and the muscle will slowly lose tone and reduce in size.

    Reply
  • dan
    March 10, 2009
    12:49 am

    thank yoiur ofr this account i it is realy inspiring but i dnt think it is tru it normall y does turn to fat thankls

    Reply
  • Rosemarie
    February 22, 2011
    11:54 am

    I was training religiously for the past two years. I attained my goal on many ways. Since Dec.2010( starting my 12th week) I have been bound to my couch due to the discovering of two seriously herniated discs. Standing or walking are limited to 3 mins. then I need to lie down to relieve the pain. I have gained my weight back and my body has returned to it’s pre-training days. I am horrified. I am consuming less calories trying to avoid the weight gain but that’s not working. What else can I do since I cannot move for more than three mins.? It is also looking like surgery is the next step. Thanks!!

    Reply

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