Posts Tagged ‘Glycogen’
Our bodies are so incredibly smart it never ceases to amaze me. There is a need for some fat in our diets to help regulate body temperature. Fat also acts like a shock absorber for our vital organs. We can burn fat very efficiently if you know how.
The way our bodies use energy is very important for fat burning. If you need quick energy, your body will use stored ATP, Creatine Phosphate and Glycogen up to the first 2 minutes of exercise. If there is sustained exercise for at least 20 minutes Glycolosis is the form of energy used. It is not till 60 minutes of exercise that the fatty acids, stored adipose tissue, will be used for energy.
If you can sustain your fat burning workout for an hour, then you can lose weight and burn fat. Circuit training is a great way to train your muscles and get your fat burning workout in too, just by going from machine to machine without stopping in between. Interval training will help with fat burning as well. Be sure to stay within your target heart rate.
Tomorrow we will discuss, target heart rates and how to find yours. Stay tuned!!
When it comes to a weight loss diet we can all use a little extra help to see the pounds drop a bit faster. Let me give you a tip to keep in mind when it comes to weight loss and exercise. We all know that sugar and carbohydrates turn into glucose, which then turns into glycogen. When your body needs energy, it uses the stored glycogen. Any extra glycogen not utilized by the body turns into fat.
With that said, lets turn to our workouts. The days that you are strength training (lifting weights) you can eat carbohydrates. As opposed to the days when you are doing cardio only, limit your carbohydrate intake. Here’s why, the body stores glycogen and uses it when you need energy. When that glycogen is depleted, your body uses the stored fat for energy. By limiting the carbohydrate intake, you limit the glycogen, so the body can then utilize the stored fat and you become a fat burning machine! Do cardio workouts for at least 20-30 minutes most days. Really, the longer the better, and more burning fat.
This is another avenue to consider with your weight loss diet. You need protein for muscle building and strength. Don’t overload with protein or fat. Watch your carb intake and with cardio exercises you will be on your way to successful weight loss!