28/09/2026
💪 MUSCLE ISN’T JUST ABOUT HOW YOU LOOK. IT’S ABOUT HOW WELL YOU LIVE.
We often think of muscle as something we build for strength, performance or appearance.
But muscle is so much more important than that.
Think of it as your body’s reserve.
When your body is faced with serious illness, surgery or infection, it can enter a catabolic state, breaking down muscle to provide amino acids and energy needed for repair, immune function and recovery.
The more muscle and strength you have going into those situations, the greater your reserve.
But muscle isn’t just a reserve.
🩸 It’s also one of your bodies most important tissues for managing glucose.
Skeletal muscle is the body’s largest site for insulin-stimulated glucose disposal.
When you exercise and your muscles contract, they can increase glucose uptake independently of insulin.
That means every time you walk, run, lift weights or do a squat, your muscles are helping to remove glucose from your bloodstream and use it for energy.
Regular physical activity and resistance training can therefore play an important role in maintaining insulin sensitivity and metabolic health.
And there’s another fascinating side to muscle…
🧬 Muscle is an endocrine organ.
When your muscles contract during exercise, they release signalling proteins called myokines.
These myokines communicate with other tissues throughout the body and are involved in regulating metabolism, immune function and inflammation.
Some myokines have anti-inflammatory effects, meaning that exercising your muscles isn’t simply about making them stronger - you’re also creating signals that can influence what is happening elsewhere in your body.
When you train your muscles, you’re not just training your muscles - you’re sending signals throughout your body.
And this is why I’m such a believer in strength training, particularly as we get older because muscle you build today isn’t just for what you can lift in the gym.
It’s for:
🛒 Carrying the shopping
🪜 Getting up and down stairs
🏃♀️ Continuing to run and stay active
🧳 Travelling and enjoying life
💪 Having greater physical reserve when illness or surgery occurs
❤️ Maintaining independence as we age
You don’t need complicated workouts.
You don’t need the latest fitness fad.
You need consistency.
🏋️♀️ Strength train regularly
🥩 Eat enough protein
🏃♀️ Keep moving
😴 Recover properly
At Excel Fitness, I’m much more interested in helping you build a body that is strong, capable and resilient for life than chasing a number on the scales.
Build the muscle now that future you will thank you for.
