Woman beats fatty liver and prediabetes after discovering musclespan — find out how

Maria Arellano Simpson, 44, has struggled with yo-yo dieting since she was nine. After gaining 100 pounds postpartum and fighting prediabetes and fatty liver, she discovered strength training—and a whole new perspective. She is now reversing health issues, discovering freedom in movement, and advocating for a novel concept: musclespan.

Since the age of nine, 44-year-old Maria Arellano Simpson has alternated between restrictive diets. To lose weight, she concentrated on cardio, but this only resulted in a slight reduction in calories.

She gained a fatty liver, was diagnosed with prediabetes, gained 100 pounds, and had a body fat percentage in the 50s after giving birth to her daughter 12 years ago. She developed the idea of musclespan because she felt compelled to maintain her health and longevity last year, as per a report by Women's Health.


Having recently entered perimenopause, Arellano Simpson was aware of the advantages of strength training and muscle in general because she was researching ways to stay healthy during the transition.

She began to receive content from the social media algorithm that emphasized her longevity and muscle. While browsing TikTok one day, she spotted a powerful and athletic trainer from the fitness app Ladder who was promoting strength and muscle. "Caching muscle instead of thinness" was her new goal.

Arellano's quality of life significantly improved after she reversed her fatty liver and prediabetes after nine months of muscle-focused exercise. She climbs stairs with ease, plays with her daughters at the park, and has almost no chronic knee and back pain. "Muscle gives you freedom," she puts it.

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon coined the term "musclespan," which means building and preserving muscle to support longevity, metabolic health, and injury resilience. Maria Arellano Simpson regained strength, reversed health issues, and discovered that muscle can save your life. Musclespan's journey, supported by science, demonstrates how strength is important at any age.

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What is "musclespan"?

Musclespan is a concept that goes beyond lifespan to highlight the significance of preserving strength and aging in a healthy way. The goal is to live as long as possible with healthy skeletal muscle, not cardiac or smooth muscle, that is connected to bones. This becomes even more important as we age and aids in managing unavoidable illnesses, injuries, or surgeries.

Being prepared with both strength and mass is crucial to overcoming life's obstacles when we encounter unforeseen curveballs. Regardless of their fitness objectives, people of all ages can benefit from this method.

According to the data, it is never too late or too early to improve muscle health, and having both strength and mass is crucial for overcoming obstacles in life. As a result, musclespan is a useful strategy for extending years of health and vitality.

How do you make your own musclespan bigger?

Here's a useful plan:

• Stand, walk, or stretch every 30 minutes to keep moving.
  
• Lift weights on a regular basis, at least twice a week. Aim for 3–6 sets with weights that are hard for you to do 8–12 times.
  
• Eat protein. Women should try to get at least 100 grams a day, or 0.7 to 1 gram per pound of goal weight.
  
• Rest and recover: Give your muscles time to heal and grow by getting good sleep and taking breaks between heavy workouts.
  

How can you keep track of how your muscles are getting bigger?

• Functional fitness checks: Are you able to do 10 push-ups, 25 bodyweight squats, and one pull-up?
  
• Grip strength test: A dynamometer can quickly show how healthy the muscles in your hands are, which is a good sign of how strong you are overall.
  
• VO₂ max tracking: Cardio capacity is a measure of muscle function as well—use wearables or labs to find out.
  
• Blood tests: Keep an eye on things like fasting insulin and triglycerides to see how your metabolism is doing in relation to your muscles.
  

Building musclespan is more than just getting fit; it's about living longer, being strong, and being able to bounce back. Maria's story shows that everything changed when she stopped focusing on the scale and started focusing on strength. Anyone can build muscle, protect their future, and live a life full of movement and independence if they follow a plan based on science. Muscle is really freedom.

FAQs

What is "musclespan"?
This is the time to maintain strong, healthy skeletal muscle, which promotes health, independence, and resilience throughout life.

How do you increase musclespan?
Include resistance training (2-4 times per week), adequate protein, regular movement, rest, and recovery.