Ask any guy about muscle mass, and they’re bound to be pretty familiar with the basics. For example, you probably already know that a solid strength training routine is one of the best ways to increase muscle mass. And given the choice between fat and muscle, you’re likely to choose the latter.
But have you ever thought about how your muscle mass impacts your overall health? Or how your testosterone levels play a part in your muscle vs. fat ratio?
Spoiler alert: even if you’re not a Schwarzenegger-style bodybuilder – and let’s get real, most of us aren’t – maintaining a healthy muscle mass should be a priority. Muscle doesn’t just help you look better; it helps you feel good and function at your best level. But anytime you’re discussing fat loss and muscle growth, testosterone has to be a part of the conversation as well.
So, let’s talk.
What Most Men Don’t Realize About Their Muscle Mass
It doesn’t take a scientist to connect the dots between muscle mass and physical appearance. We all know that building muscle (and in turn, trimming fat) pays off when it comes to how our bodies look. And in turn, a more attractive appearance kicks up confidence levels.
But beyond looking good, your muscle mass is also hugely important in the big picture of your health. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, many of us are seriously underestimating how muscle affects disease prevention and health.
Here’s what you should know:
- Muscle is your body’s main source of amino acids for protein synthesis, specifically for supporting ideal performance in your vital organs and tissues.
- When your muscle metabolism is at its ideal level, you’re reducing your risk of developing a long list of medical conditions and chronic diseases.
- For whatever reason, even though science clearly spells out the importance of healthy muscle mass, metabolism, and strength, questions about how to prevent disease often fail to focus on muscle growth.
People with limited muscle mass don’t respond well to physical stress, and they are far less likely to survive a serious disease like cancer.
In other words, muscles equal metabolism, and optimal metabolism equals improved health and less disease. And who doesn’t want that?
Before you rush off to hit the gym, it’s important to understand that your diet and exercise routine aren’t the only factors that impact muscle mass. Even if you’re religiously dedicated to the first-class combination of weight-lifting, cardio, and nutrition, subpar testosterone levels can make that all meaningless.
One of the most common questions our team receives is, “Do testosterone levels affect muscle growth?” And our response is always the same – both because it’s supported by research and we’ve seen it with our own eyes, right here in our Phoenix testosterone clinic. Your muscle mass and fat levels are absolutely linked to how much testosterone your body is producing right now.
How Low T Shrinks Your Muscles
If testosterone is a key factor in muscle mass, you’re probably wondering: does low testosterone cause muscle loss? In a nutshell, the answer is yes.
If you have low testosterone, you can expect noticeable effects on your ability to build (and even maintain) muscle and keep unwanted fat at bay.
Low testosterone slows – and even stops – your body’s ability to maintain muscle.
If we were to zoom in to get an up-close view of a muscle cell, you would see that it is equipped with a special receptor for testosterone (called an androgen receptor). Testosterone is supposed to bind to that receptor, which sends your body the message to keep up muscle maintenance. But when you don’t have enough testosterone available, those receptors aren’t activated. Then, muscle maintenance comes to a grinding halt and your existing muscle starts to waste away.
Not good.
Less testosterone equals more fat, which continues the vicious cycle.
So now, your muscle is basically disappearing because of low T. Unfortunately, that’s not where the negative effects end. Low testosterone also spurs an increase in fat, especially in your gut. And when you accumulate more fat in your gut, your body starts producing an enzyme known as aromatase. This enzyme takes the testosterone you do have and turns it into estrogen, which makes more fat appear in your chest, thighs, and hips.
All of that fat essentially eats away at your testosterone, so your T-levels drop even more.
Definitely not good.
Low testosterone also takes aim at your energy levels and motivation.
Unfortunately, your low-T levels aren’t done wreaking havoc. Suboptimal testosterone levels have a wide variety of unpleasant side effects, including making you feel tired and depressed. And when you’re feeling like an exhausted, unhappy, and unfocused shadow of your former self, you probably aren’t motivated to eat right and exercise consistently.
So, low T doesn’t just literally destroy your muscles and boost fat, it also makes it feel virtually impossible to do anything about it.
That’s really, really not good.
Thankfully, testosterone deficiency can be easily and effectively treated with a tailored treatment plan.
How TRT Helps Build Muscle Mass and Helps with Fat Loss
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is an absolute game-changer for men dealing with low T levels. Because testosterone plays a role in everything from your body composition to your moods, energy levels, and sexual health, ensuring your T levels are on target is essential.
But right now, we’re focusing on building your muscle mass, so let’s get right to the point: can you gain muscle and lose fat on testosterone?
For men that already have testosterone levels within the normal range, adding more testosterone won’t necessarily lead to gains. But for those that are below those ideal T-levels, rebalancing testosterone can stop muscle wasting and get you back on track.
Not only does an effective TRT plan equip your body with what it needs to increase muscle and reduce fat, but it can also ramp up your energy, focus, and positive mood to put a healthy lifestyle within easier reach. And when you combine testosterone therapy with good nutrition, physical activity, and other strategies, you’ll have everything you need to get in the best shape of your life.
If you’re one of the millions of men that’s never undergone testosterone testing, now is the time to change that. Declining testosterone levels are an incredibly common part of aging, and they can also be the result of different medical conditions, medications, or even a past injury. A quick and accurate lab test can tell you exactly how much testosterone you’re working with, and whether TRT could be the solution you need. From there, all of the pieces will start to fall into place.
TRT From Focal Point Vitality is the Wise Choice
Focal Point Vitality is an experienced provider of TRT in Phoenix, offering first-class options for men that want to take back their lives and fight back against low T.
From day one, you’ll have an entire team of experts – and science-backed therapies – behind you. You’ll start with a private consultation with one of our Valley hormone experts, so you can map out a treatment plan that suits your needs to a T. Then, we’ll implement your TRT plan and get you on track to rapid and sustainable results.
We specialize in hormonal health and age management, so you can be confident that you’re armed with the best and most advanced low-T solutions out there. Our Phoenix low T treatment center isn’t a place that hands out generic, one-size-fits-all TRT plans. Instead, we’re in the business of making sure our guests achieve outstanding results with personalized plans and professional support.
If you’re ready to kick start muscle growth and fat loss, as well as reap an entire array of benefits of TRT, schedule your consultation with us today.
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