Forget what you’ve heard about "toning" vs. "building"—science proves all muscle is created equal, and your ultimate look depends on two factors you can actually control.

Let’s get one thing straight: Muscle is muscle. Despite what many fitness influencers may have you believe, there’s no such thing as "lean muscle" or "bulk muscle." It’s all made from the same stuff.

Yes, you can build muscle while burning fat – science and real-world evidence both say so, but it’s less than optimal.