581: Are You Under-Muscled with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
Aug 16, 2023
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Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, a muscle-building expert, discusses the benefits of focusing on gaining muscle instead of losing fat. She explores the correlation between lean muscle, bone density, and reduced all-cause mortality. The podcast also covers the importance of resistance exercises and the minimal effective dose for improving health. Additionally, they discuss strategies for improving metabolic health and the challenges of improving flexibility.
Building lean muscle tissue is important for metabolic health, bone density, and reduced all-cause mortality.
Muscle-centric medicine emphasizes the significance of skeletal muscle for overall health, including glucose disposal and fatty acid metabolism.
Deep dives
The Importance of Muscle-Based Medicine
Instead of solely focusing on losing fat, considering the importance of gaining muscle and optimizing diet can be a valuable approach. Muscle-based medicine emphasizes the role of muscle as a metabolic powerhouse and highlights the significance of protein quantity, particularly in the second half of life. Building muscle can be achieved through various methods, including resistance exercises, bodyweight exercises, and even high-intensity interval training. Skeletal muscle plays a vital role in glucose disposal, fatty acid metabolism, and overall metabolic health. It is also crucial for maintaining functional mobility and protecting against injuries.
Reevaluating Obesity and Metabolic Health
The conventional understanding of obesity as a major health concern is being reexamined. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity, where individuals who are overweight but have healthy metabolic markers exist, is being challenged. The focus is shifting towards the health of skeletal muscle as a key factor in overall health and wellness. Obesity is seen as a symptom of unhealthy, impaired muscle rather than the primary problem. Fat infiltration in various areas, including the liver and skeletal muscle, can contribute to metabolic dysfunctions. It is crucial to prioritize the health of skeletal muscle for metabolic well-being.
Building Muscle without Weightlifting
Contrary to common assumptions, building muscle does not always require weightlifting or intense gym sessions. While resistance exercises and weightlifting are effective methods, there are alternative ways to stimulate muscle hypertrophy and achieve desired results. Bodyweight exercises, high-intensity interval training, and various activities that provide a stimulus for muscle adaptation can be equally effective. The key is to create a consistent stimulus that pushes the muscles towards adaptation. Additionally, strength and muscle mass do not always go hand in hand, as individuals with smaller frames can still be strong without appearing bulky.
Muscle Medicine and Its Numerous Benefits
Muscle-centric medicine recognizes the significance of skeletal muscle in overall health. Skeletal muscle serves as a metabolic currency and plays a pivotal role in glucose disposal and fatty acid metabolism. Moreover, contracting skeletal muscle produces myokines, peptides that affect bone health, brain function, and immune system regulation. Strong skeletal muscles are essential for maintaining functional mobility, preventing injuries, and acting as a protective reservoir in case of falls or injuries. Understanding the importance of muscle in health and longevity is crucial, and it goes beyond purely aesthetic or fitness concerns.
When most people think about getting in shape, their first priority is usually fat loss - and for good reason. Excess adipose tissue can, in many cases, contribute to or exacerbate dozens of other health problems. But what if instead of focusing on losing fat, you focused on gaining muscle? Lean muscle tissue is a metabolic workhorse. It strengthens your bones, acts as a natural glucose storage location and helps to balance your hormones. Interestingly, it’s often faster to build muscle than it is to shed fat, and the two often go head-in-hand.
Listen and learn:
Why lean muscle tissue tests are inaccurate
The future of D3-creatine tests for accurate “weigh in” of muscle mass
The correlation between lean muscle, bone density, and reduced all-cause mortality
Weights vs bodyweight exercise: can you do it at home?
The minimum effective dose for change
Links
Dr Lyon’s Site
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a physician and the founder of the Institute of Muscle-Centric Medicine. She is the author of a soon-to-be released book, Forever Strong.