Summary: One of the trickiest balances of exercise is maintaining (and growing) muscle strength while losing weight.If you've been trying to lose weight, you might have also noticed that you're losing muscle. One of the trickiest balances of exercise is maintaining (and growing) muscle strength while losing weight. Research has shown the importance of weight lifting, as it helps you burn calories, speeds up your metabolism, and aids in weight loss. An study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that whey protein supplementation protects against some of the loss of muscle that happens while dieting and exercise. Researchers randomized 40 people to receive a 14-day, low-calorie diet that was supplemented with whey protein, soy protein, or an addition of carbohydrates. Researchers assessed myofibrillar protein synthesis (a measure of muscle maintenance), during fasting and following a meal, before and after the two-week diets. Researchers found that all groups experienced a decline in myofibrillar protein while fasting. How can this help preserve muscle mass as you're trying to lose weight? Listen in as Dr. Mike explains this study and suggests ways that you can lose weight but still have muscle.
