Some say you need to work in the fat-burning zone when exercising if you want to lose body fat.

 

Let's investigate...

 

For some background details, when we work at a higher intensity of effort, we are generally going to be using more carbohydrates for fuel, as they allow for quicker energy provision. Fat, on the other hand, is a little slower to provide us with the energy we need, and it tends to be burned at lower intensities.

 

 

This means that the harder your exercise session is, the more carbohydrates you are likely to be using for energy. If you were to just go for a brisk walk on the treadmill, you might be using mainly fat for fuel, since that would not be particularly intense.

 

 

Well, nothing. In order to lose fat, we have to end up in an "energy deficit". This means that our bodies are using up more energy than we are taking in [through food]. Therefore, whether you are burning carbohydrate or fat within a given exercise session doesn't really matter for your fat loss outcomes. You could use more carbohydrate in an exercise session, but then use more fat at another point in the day. So, you don't need to worry about whether or not you are in the so-called fat burning zone, as you could even be holding yourself back by trying to stay there.

 

 

This is a sneaky trick often used by supplement companies, along with diet gurus and personal trainers. "Fat burning" refers to a process known as "fat oxidation". However, this does not equal fat loss. One more time for the people in the back... FAT BURNING DOES NOT EQUAL FAT LOSS.

 

Sorry for going all caps lock on you, but this is an important point. Increasing fat burning doesn't mean you are going to lose more fat, as it ultimately comes down to overall energy balance. You could eat more fat to burn more fat, but that doesn't mean you are losing fat, since you've got more to store.

 

So, hopefully this allows you to be a little more aware of the types of messages you see on the internet. If you have any questions, we would love to answer them, just email back.

 

 

 

Kind Regards,