Do men burn more fat than women?
I joined a karate class in August last year with my stepdad. In less than six months, he lost one stone and seven pounds, but I managed to gain a stone. Are men's bodies made differently than women's? I know that muscle weighs more than fat, but how long do I need to do this exercise before my new muscle starts burning the fat away?
You are right that muscle weighs more than fat, which could be contributing to your weight gain. However, if you are still trying to burn fat, I'm afraid there's no blanket answer to how long it will take. If you want to lose weight, you may have to review your eating habits and how much exercise you do. You need to follow a well-balanced regular exercise programme, combining cardiovascular work and strength training routines no more than five times a week. Many people who religiously do cardio workouts find that they start losing weight and become more toned when they begin strength training. You also need to follow a nutritious eating plan that balances carbohydrates, protein and fat, and make sure you get enough rest.
Remember, if you are working out regularly, you will increase your muscle mass and, as a result, continue to burn calories even when you're resting. For more information on starting a fitness plan and healthy eating regime, take a look at the Shape Up Challenge, iVillage's free, eight-week healthy eating and exercise plan, which includes loads of nutritional tips as well as motivational advice.
You'll see dramatic changes when you pay attention to all these things, and potentially, you could see results in a few weeks to a month. Good luck.
Why not chat to other iVillagers about exercise on the Shaping Up message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:
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