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The Blood Sugar Connection
This illustration shows how blood sugar levels can dramatically affect fat loss. We begin our day with low blood sugar. Many Americans will start their day eating foods and beverages that have high levels of sugar and stimulants.
The result is a rapid rise in blood sugar (represented by the red line) to above normal. The body reacts by over-producing the hormone insulin - which causes the blood sugar to come crashing down to below normal levels. Insulin also signals our body to store fat!
When we keep blood sugar in the normal range (represented by the green line), it allows the hormone glucagon to go to work releasing fat. This is one of the secrets to "turning on on the fat burning furnace".
Starvation Response
Caloric Restriction=Fat Storage
The majority of weight loss market has told us that we need to restrict food intake in order to lose weight. The truth is, when we deprive our body - it holds on to those fat reserves even harder!
Would you believe that your body has two extra 'memory banks' that you probably never knew about? Yes, you have a biochemical memory which remembers levels of nutrients you are consistently providing. In addition, your body remembers the quantity and quality of calories you are taking in.
When you deprive yourself of calories or nutrients, you body initiates a 'starvation response'. This response can cause your metabolism to slow down by as much as 50%! This slowing occurs to protect us from starvation during periods without food. Needless to say, this country (with a fast-food restaurant on nearly every corner) does not have many food shortages!
This may sound funny, but the best way to lose fat is to literally eat yourself thin! When you supply your body the quality and quantity of nutrients it needs on a consistent basis - you maximize fat loss. Doesn't sound like a 'diet' does it? It's not - diets are only temporary at best.
Be a Fat Detective!
"Across your lips - onto your hips!" Excess fat is probably our biggest enemy in fighting the "battle of the bulge." Fat contains more than twice the number of calories that protein and carbohydrate contain. In addition, fat from our foods is easily converted to fat storage on our bodies . . . The fat we eat is the fat we keep!
We should limit fat consumption to about 20-25% of our total caloric intake. The fat we do eat should be primarily unsaturated or mono-unsaturated.
Fat contains more than twice the number of calories that carbohydrate and protein contain! In addition, fat from our foods is easily converted to fat storage on our bodies!
How Fast Can I Lose?
The human body is very efficient at storing "emergency energy reserves", but it is very cautious about letting them go - it tries to
conserve.One of the processes that helps conserve fat is the production of a special type of "fat mobilizing" enzyme. These enzymes are needed to convert fat to energy. Here's the clincher . . .the average individual only has enough of these enzymes available to effectively burn about 1/2 pound of pure fat each day. Any more weight lost is fluid and lean tissue! The next time someone approaches you with the "lose 30 pounds in 30 days" gimmick - hold onto your wallet!