Why Muscle Matters More Than I Thought
And Why It Has Nothing to Do with Becoming a Bodybuilder
Part 2 of 4
When I was young, I thought lifting weights was about being big and muscular. You would lift because you wanted huge arms, a bigger chest, or to fill out your t-shirt. If people talked about lifting, I immediately envisioned bodybuilders spending hours in the gym, drinking protein shakes that came from a canister the size of an oil drum, and freaking out over every gain or loss. Because of that, I never really saw lifting weights as something appealing to me.
If you know me, I focused more on running. But even that came with time. When I was overweight, I couldn't run far at all and hated every minute of it. But now, I love how easy it is. Put on a pair of shoes (usually pretty beat up because my right heel hits and shreds the soles), head out the door, and see where the road or trails take me. Running has taught me discipline, perseverance, and how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It helped me clear my head, process life, and prove to myself that I was capable of more than I thought I was. In fact, I absolutely love the challenge of running in the heat (triple digits if possible) and pushing for vertical is always a challenge both mentally and physically. Though throughout my running life, I knew a few simple truths.
I wasn't trying to be the fastest. I wasn't trying to impress anyone. I enjoyed trying to see how far I could push myself simply for the sake of proving that I could. But age is a brutal teacher, and you find your limits much faster. I have found myself thinking about different things. I want to stay active. I want to avoid injuries. I want to continue running, walking, traveling, working around the house, enjoying working on my cars and doing all the things I enjoy for as long as possible. More than anything, I want to stay capable.
That's when I realized my perspective on muscle needs to change.
The more I learn, the more I realize that muscle isn't just something that helps you look strong. It's something that helps you stay strong. Muscle is what allows you to carry groceries without thinking about it, move furniture when needed, do physical labor, and maintain your ability to enjoy life as we get older. It's easy to overlook because those things are considered day to day things but just imagine how it could affect your life.
One of the harsh realities is that we inevitably lose muscle as we age. Researchers call this sarcopenia, which is simply the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs as we get older. Wrinkles and gray hair are obvious to those around us that we're aging, muscle loss happens quietly and you and others may not even really notice. If we're not doing something to preserve it, our bodies slowly begin to lose muscle year after year.
It isn't just about losing muscle itself. The concern is everything that comes with it. Less muscle usually means less strength, less balance, less mobility, and a greater chance of injuries and falls. That's why I've stopped looking at strength training as something reserved for bodybuilders. I now see it as body maintenance. Just like getting enough sleep, trying to eat nutritious food, or taking your supplement's, maintaining muscle is one of the investments we make in our future.
What finally changed in my mind was realizing that my goal isn't to build as much muscle as possible. My goal is to build enough muscle to support the life I want to live.
Most of us aren't trying to be in a bodybuilding contest. They're trying to keep up with the kids. They're trying to enjoy retirement. They're trying to continue doing the hobbies they love. They're trying to avoid becoming a burden on others for things they used to do themselves. Luckily, those goals don't require living in a gym. For most people, a few strength-training workouts each week can make a huge difference in the long run.
Another thing that surprised me was how much muscle means to overall health. Muscle isn't just responsible for movement or visual appearance. It's metabolically active tissue that helps regulate blood sugar, supports insulin sensitivity, and plays a role in maintaining a healthy metabolism. So, muscle does much more than allow us to lift heavy things. It contributes to many of the systems that help our bodies function their best.
This doesn't mean cardio or running suddenly becomes unimportant. Far from it. I still love running, and I still think walking is one of the most underrated forms of cardio out there. Your heart, lungs, and cardiovascular system matter. There shouldn't be a debate between cardio and strength training. It's a debate for both. Cardio supports your heart and lungs. Strength training supports your muscles, bones, and long-term resilience. Together, they create a more complete all around healthy YOU!
Over the last year or so, the questions I've asked myself have changed. Unfortunately, I still focus on how many miles I should run, how many calories I should eat, or how much weight I want to lose. But today, I find myself asking different questions. How do I maintain my ability to hike, walk, run, or just stay active into my old age? Will I be able to help my kids move into a new house? Will I be able to travel, stay active, and enjoy life without feeling limited by my body? Those questions have become a more constant in my life, because as I age, I realize I want to be able to be active until I finish this race called life.
When I look at muscle with that in mind, it becomes clear why it needs to be a focus. Muscle isn't about vanity...though I want to look bangin! ;) It's about freedom. It's about having the ability to do the things that make life fun. It's about being able to get every drop out of life.
If you've avoided strength training because you don't want to become a bodybuilder, I get it 10000%. I used to think the same way. What I've learned is that building enough muscle to stay healthy, is very different from chasing maximum muscle growth. You won't one day wake up surprised because you look like a professional bodybuilder. What you may find is that you feel stronger, move better, recover more easily, and feel better prepared for whatever the coming decades bring.
And honestly, that's the kind of muscle I'm interested in building these days.....along with putting in miles! Lucky me, building muscle also helps in running!
Next Week in Part 3:
Fat Loss, Fasting, and Why I Need Sanity at Dinner
