How to Maintain Muscle

You worked your butt off in the gym, toned up and gained some muscle. You're feeling good then bam. Change in lifestyle or schedule and you're not able to maintain your workout routine. This could result in some muscle loss IF you aren't on top of maintaining that muscle!

Here's a few things you can do to avoid losing muscle.

1 - Eat enough food - Don't starve yourself if you're unable to exercise as frequently or as hard as you'd like. You might adjust your calories a little but just because you're not as active doesn't mean you need to cut your calories a ton. Your body still need the energy supply to function and to maintain your current muscle mass. This will in turn help you to keep your metabolism up and burn more calories even when you're not exercising as often or as intensely.

2 - Eat enough protein - On the topic of food, it's going to be important for you to eat enough protein! Protein is the building block of muscle. It helps to build and repair along with supplying energy to your body. If you're skimping on the protein, you are more likely to lose the muscle mass that you worked so hard to build.

3 - Use your body - Can't lift weight? No problem! Use your body weight! Doing things like squats, push-ups, lunges, etc. with just your body weight can be just as effect as lifting weights. Focus on form, time under tension, isolating movements and holds. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself with just your body weight! This will help to maintain or even continue building muscle mass.