Burning Fat 101

How do we actually lose fat? What do we mean by fat "burning"?
Here's a very simple explanation of what actually goes on to create a fat loss effect.

Fat "burning" is essentially a two step process.

One - mobilization. How do we get fat out of the fat cells so that we can actually use it as a fuel source?

Fat mobilization is governed essentially by levels of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). It's an oversimplification but basically more HSL = more fat mobilization.

How do we get more HSL? Increase catecholamine levels (specifically adrenaline).

How do we do that? Exercise. Particularly high intensity.

But HSL is also limited by insulin. High insulin levels = low HSL levels = low fat mobilization.

So a great strategy for part one is low insulin levels (from diet and training), plus high catecholamines (through intense training).

Part two of the process is transport and oxidation.

If HSL is high - fat cells break down into free fatty acids (FFA) which circulate in the blood and eventually end up in a muscle (which needs energy) where they can be burned off.

But there's another rate limiting step here. Transporting the FFA into the mitochondria where it can be burned off. That transport is controlled by carnitine levels.

If carnitine levels are high - fat transport is high.

Think of carnitine like passport control officials.

If you get off a plane with 500 other passengers and there is one official at passport control - it'll take a long time to get through. If there are 500 officials - then you go through quickly and can leave the airport. (Leaving the airport is the equivalent of fat being burned off). The more officials (carnitine) the easier the process.

So how do we ramp up carnitine levels? Well - again we have a rate limiting step. If muscle glycogen is high then carnitine levels are low.

So if we reduce muscle glycogen through metabolic work -- we have the optimal fat oxidation state.

High levels of fat mobilization + High levels of fat oxidation = Accelerated fat loss.

So if you figure out how to integrate all those steps, and circumvent each rate limiting step - you'll find that fat loss is simple .....

Or you could just buy Afterburn as I've done it all for you.....

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AC