In a world where 60% of the population is overweight we often find ourselves looking for the answers to weight loss. By limiting our mindset to body weight instead of getting rid of excess fat we tend to neglect the most vital part to a weight loss plan – exercise. The fact is without exercise you aren’t losing fat, you are losing muscle mass and causing your body to work in overtime just to fuel its basic needs.
On the outside fat is pretty obvious. I’m sure most of us have dealt with the muffin-top stomach bulge and unsightly cottage cheese dimples plaguing our thighs and buttock area. Before you can work on getting rid of the excess fat it’s important to understand the fatty facts and how it’s accumulated.
Without getting into an intricate chemistry lesson let’s start with how the process of fat digestion and storage begins. Our daily intake has a certain amount of fat. Not all fat is bad, and in fact, fat is necessary for the body to breakdown certain essential vitamins. In addition, there are certain essential fatty acids (EFAs) the body doesn’t naturally produce so we have to fortify our bodies with these through foods. During digestion the stomach processes what it can by breaking the fat down and then sending it through to the bloodstream. Eventually fat finds its way to the muscle tissues and other fat cells for absorption. And it sits there… waiting to be used as energy. If we take in more than we burn off with physical activity it becomes the unattractive and unhealthy fatty tissue we see on the outside.
Controlled fat consumption is important for a healthy diet and actually serves multiple purposes. Protein and carbohydrates are another source of energy for the body, however fat is much more valuable because it contains twice the calories. As mentioned above, we use fat to digest and absorb certain vitamins that are only fat soluble. Unsaturated fats also aid in breaking down the bad cholesterol (LDL) while increasing the good cholesterol (HDL). We also use the fatty tissue as a shock resister and cushion in the event of a traumatic injury.
Once the body finishes sending the fat to its storage destination, visceral tissue or subcutaneous tissue, it will wait until it is absolutely necessary to dip into the reserve. This is a last resort of usable energy, thus fat is the hardest part of body weight to lose. Women tend to notice fat accumulating more in the thighs, buttocks, hips, waist and breasts versus men who usually will notice fat in the buttocks, abdomen and chest areas. Both have a reserve by the kidneys and liver as well.
When deciding on a weight loss program those opting to use only appetite suppressants or crash diets don’t realise the energy crisis they are putting the body through. Starvation causes the body to go into overdrive. Basically it is scared to use any energy because it doesn’t know where the next energy dose will come from, or when it will come. It starts to conserve any available energy it can and horde the resources. This is the exact opposite of what you need if fat loss is the goal. Exercise is the only way to dig into the fatty tissue without exhausting and confusing the body. During exercise the body goes for the glucose energy first, then the carbohydrates and finally gets into the fat reserve.
Studying the secrets of slimming exercise is a great place to start before deciding on an exercise plan. Once you incorporate a healthy diet with a watchful eye on fat consumption and an appropriate exercise regimen you’ll be well on your way to a healthier and slimmer you!
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