Thread: Is having muscles the same as being fat, health wise?

Having more lean body mass will allow your body to function at a greater metabolic rate - meaning your body will burn more calories, also release hormones faster and have faster functioning in general. You are correct that you are not helping your heart and lungs directly (unless you are doing quick training that elevates your heart rate) but you are far better off than if you were overweight putting more strain on your joints and having impaired function within your systems.

My biggest cardio surprise came when I started running and cycling after bodybuilding - it was really tough. But I think having that extra lean mass also helped my body take the strain of endurance exercise much better.

When weightlifting and bulking, you aren't supposed to do any cardio as it hinders muscle gain. Therefore, you are not making your heart stronger while you put on all that extra muscle.

actually weightlifting does support cardiac health... its not the same as cardiovascular exercise, however it does place strain on your heart that taxes the heart muscle... (it is a muscle you know )
sooo... just as you lift weights to make your bis/tris/glutes/pecs/etc. stronger... you are also making your heart stronger. When you get done doing bicep curls your bi's are pumped and full of blood and sometimes pulsing or burning... how do you think they got that way? its because your heart was pumping/working harder to support the force that your body was exerting. and it will adapt for such a load next time... just like your bi's. lastly, did you ever put your hand on your chest and feel your heartbeat after you have completed a set? its beating faster and deeper... aka working. Weightlifting goes hand in hand with cardio exercise and cardiac health.

Also, especially as for men, fat seems to be stored mainly in the thoracic/abdominal area, putting u at much higher risk of cardio vascular disease, so I beleive u are much better off healthwise at a toned 225lbs than a fat 225 lbs... U technicaly "carry" the same weight around, but everything from your posture to the blood flow to and from your heart is optimized when u are fit.

You need to look at your blood pressure, and your blood tests in order to determine if you are healthy or not. Bodyweight alone is not enough information.

If you eat like crap to put on those pounds though, even if you remain lean externally, your blood tests may not look as good. Smoking also supposedly makes existing arterial plaque more dangerous than it otherwise would be.

Originally Posted by Pizzer

Therefore, you are not making your heart stronger while you put on all that extra muscle.

Total misinformation. Anaerobic exercise is great for your heart.