If someone asked me the best investment you could make for your future health, my answer might surprise you. It wouldn’t be a supplement, the latest wellness trend, or the number on the scale.
It would be building and maintaining muscle.
My fascination with muscle began long before I became an exercise physiologist. As a child, I found an old anatomy book that had been passed down through my family. Dating back to the mid-1800s, it featured beautifully illustrated layered pages revealing the muscles, bones, and organs beneath the skin.
I remember turning those pages, fascinated by how the human body was put together. Looking back, that book likely changed the course of my life, sparking the curiosity that led me to study exercise physiology and dedicate my career to helping people live healthier, longer lives.
Even today, if someone asks my favorite topic, my answer is simple: muscle.
For years, health conversations focused on cardio, calories, and the number on the scale. Muscle was often viewed as something for athletes or bodybuilders.
Today, science tells a different story.
Muscle is one of the strongest predictors of healthy aging. It supports metabolism, helps regulate blood sugar, protects bone health, improves balance, and preserves the strength and independence we all hope to maintain as we age.
The best part? Unlike many aspects of aging, muscle can be built and maintained at almost any stage of life.
Every strength-training workout is a deposit. Every year of inactivity is a withdrawal.
Beginning in our 30s, we naturally lose muscle if we don’t actively maintain it. At first, the changes are subtle. Over time, everyday tasks become harder—climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or getting up from the floor.
The muscle you build today becomes the reserve you’ll rely on years from now.
GLP-1 medications have transformed weight management, but one important conversation is often overlooked.
When we lose weight, we don’t lose only body fat—we can lose muscle, too.
That’s why resistance training and adequate protein are essential, especially during weight loss. The goal isn’t simply to weigh less. It’s to improve body composition by reducing body fat while preserving the muscle that keeps us strong and resilient.
Building muscle doesn’t require spending hours in the gym. The fundamentals work.
· Strength train at least two days every week.
· Eat enough protein.
· Gradually increase the challenge over time.
· Prioritize quality sleep.
· Stay active between workouts.
After years of coaching people with different goals, I’ve learned there is no universal recipe for better health. We’re all working with different ingredients. But if there’s one habit I encourage almost everyone to adopt, it’s strength training.
For years, many of us judged our health by the number on the scale.
There’s a better question: How strong are you becoming?
Because decades from now, your muscles won’t simply determine how much weight you can lift. They may determine how well you recover from surgery, whether you avoid a fall, whether you can keep up with your grandchildren, or whether you continue living independently.
Muscle isn’t just about looking stronger. It’s about living stronger.
If you’re not sure where to begin, one of our board-certified health coaches can help you build a realistic plan that fits your goals, lifestyle, and current fitness level—because the best time to invest in your future strength is today.