One of the questions I am frequently asked is, "Would it be possible to lose the body fat and gain muscles at the same time? My answer would be a definite "yes".

To begin with, if you're really interested in building some muscles, then you need to overload them at the gym. Working out and weight training is of utmost importance. Even if you happen to be on a calorie-deprived diet to lose weight, you must be mentally strong to work on the muscles. Heavy weight training must be backed up with the consumption of high-quality protein on a regular basis.

In order to lose body fat as well as continue to gain muscles, you must watch your diet closely. You must ensure that you keep the caloric intake below the maintenance level. At the time when you reduce the amount of calories, make sure that you consume appropriate portions of protein. A majority of the calories often come from the carbohydrate intake; however you must monitor the fat intake.

Here are some tips to manipulate the carbohydrate consumption, you may eat only vegetables for a few days and then switch back to the grains, potatoes and pastas after a few days. Since carbohydrates are known to provide energy to the body, it may perhaps be difficult to practice this, however it is pretty effective.

How and why should I gain muscle?

Muscles are the most fascinating tissues of the body. It is that part of the body that gives control over the entire structure. The brain requires muscles to transmit information to the other parts of the body. It is responsible for the body's defense mechanism and we have formulated a list of benefits which show the importance of gaining muscles.

Protection is one of the primary reasons to gain muscles. Muscles tend to protect the joints and the bones in the body. Apart from strengthening the joints, the muscles also support the long bones. They help the body to survive those numerous shocks or forces that we experience in our daily lives. Without the help of muscles, the bones would be highly susceptible to fractures and immobility.

In addition, the activities that promote building muscles are the same that lead to increasing the bone mineral density. Muscles support the entire body frame, providing balance and reducing falls. Muscle tissues regulate the blood pressure and therefore it indirectly protects some of the crucial organs such as brain, kidneys, heart and eyes.

Muscles are highly important for the metabolic functions of the body and help in maintaining the body weight. People who regularly work out their muscles are less prone to alarming diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis and heart diseases. A majority of these diseases are also caused due to obesity and muscles are known to dramatically increase your metabolic rate.

Lastly, one cannot stress upon the importance of doing things with stronger muscles. Stronger muscles are indirectly related to appropriate mental health. If you aren't strong enough, it is likely that you aren't active enough and this leads to depression in most cases. To conclude with, the muscles are responsible for the overall development of your body and therefore you must strengthen them with proper training.