Best way to lose fat while gaining muscle unveiled

Washington: The "holy grail" of losing fat while gaining muscle had always seemed unrealistic, but now, a new study has come up with the best way to attain it.

The McMaster University scientists revealed that a "grueling" low calorie, high protein diet and exercising six days a week is the key to weight loss and muscle gain.

Study participants who followed that diet lost more weight and retained more muscle than those following a low protein diet.

Researcher Stuart Phillips said that they expected the muscle retention, but they were a little surprised by the amount of additional fat loss in the higher protein consuming group.

The results showed that the high-protein group lost about 10.5 pounds and the low protein group only eight pounds. All of the participants, by virtue of the demanding six-days-a-week exercise routines, got stronger, fitter and generally were in much better shape.

However, researchers cautioned that this regimen is not for everyone.

Phillips and his team hope to conduct a follow-up study on women and also explore a different approach that he says will be "a little easier and much more sustainable."

The study is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.