How to Lose Fat Without Losing Muscle

Weight loss can be a tricky issue when it comes to the balance of muscle and fat.  When the body starts to burn away extra weight, it is important to make sure that you are losing fat and not muscle.  There are several different exercises that you can do in order to maintain your muscle tone while you are losing fat.  What you actually need to do is replace the fat with toned muscle.

In order to lose fat without losing muscle, you need to exercise.  Cardiovascular exercise is the best type of exercise when it comes to burning away fat.  The tricky thing about it is, you might also lose muscle in the process.  Make sure that cardio work is a consistent part of your workout routine so that you can burn a significant amount of fat.  You will need other types of exercise to keep the muscle tone while the fat is being burned.

Hammer curls will help to keep your biceps toned.  You should stand with your feet slightly apart.  With a dumbbell in each hand, rest your arms at your sides with your palms facing your body.  Now, using your biceps, raise the weights slowly.  Then you will slowly lower the weights again to your sides.  You can also alternate arms and do one side at a time.

In order to keep tone in your thighs, you can do squats.  Stand with your feet slightly apart.  Keeping your back straight, bend your knees until you are in a sitting position.  Hold that position for 5 seconds, and stand up straight.  Repeat this ten times.  To work your inner thighs, stand with your legs wider apart and face your toes outward.  Keeping your back straight, bend your knees as low as you can and hold it there.  Return to the starting position and repeat it.

Overall, the idea is to do strength exercises that will keep your muscles working and strong throughout your fat loss.  If you want to maintain abdominal muscles, do crunches.  If you want to maintain your triceps, lift weights using those muscles.  Your body won't take away from muscles that are in use.  You should use them, so that you won't lose them.

What you eat and drink will help you as well.  Water is also very important in maintaining muscle tone.  Drink a few glasses of water everyday.  Make sure that you have plenty of protein in your diet, so that your body doesn’t feel the need to take away from your lean muscle for energy.