How Is Fat Burned?

This description is in basic terms. For a more detailed description go to How Fat Is Burned: turning fat into energy, carbon-dioxide and water!

Fat is burned exactly the same way as carbohydrates and proteins. The difference between them is that fats contain twice as much energy. Fats have 9 kcal/g whilst carbohydrates and proteins have 4 kcal/g.

There is no way possible that you can only burn fat. Whenever you are burning fat, you are burning carbs (in the form of gucose), and vise versa. Though fats supply much more energy when your carbohydrate stores have been used. But for most people trying to lose weight this is not going to happen. Your body stores a great deal of glucose so you're better off forgetting about burning all of your carb stores, and just concentrate on exercising.

It really gets me when I see Trainers telling clients about the 'fat-burning zone'. It is the most mis-understood subject in weight loss. You see, the 'fat-burning zone' is usually around 60-65% of you maximum heart rate. The theory is that by exercising at this level of intensity, your body burns a higher percentage of fat (than carbohydrates). But what these people don't understand is that exercising at a higher intensity may burn a lower percentage of fat, but it burns a higher overall amount of fat. Not only will you burn more fat, but you'll also burn more carbohydrates and proteins. This in turn will mean that you will have even less of a chance of putting on more fat.

So what is the best way to burn fat?

Start out by just exercising. Forget heart rates, forget zones, just increase your fitness. After 4-6 weeks start increasing the intensity. If you're walking, bring in some hills. For those of you that can handle it, start jogging for 20 metres then walking for 200 metres and repeat that over the duration of your session. Over a matter of weeks, slowly increase the jogging and decrease the walking.

Fat Burning Pills

I'm yet to see a pill that can burn fat. That's not to say there are none out there, I'm just yet to see it. That being said, I think it would be on the front page of every newspaper if there was one. There are many companies out there proclaiming that their product 'burns' or 'melts' fat. As far as burning goes, they may increase your metabolism by increasing your heart rate or something along those lines but it will do nothing in comparison to taking a walk. As far as 'melting fat', well that's just impossible. This is just how marketers like to catch your attention!