The Misconception of Fat
July 20, 2010
With a growing problem on our hand, there is a lack of understanding of what fat is and how important it is to the body. Of all the macronutrients, fat is by far the most important of them all. Yes let me repeat this again.
Fat is the Most Important Macronutrient in Your Body
A nice bold statement and believe me that is where the story begins. The world is fascinated with losing it. With the modelling industry rife with models looking as thin as a chop-stick, we are obsessed with the size zero look. The more we try to lose it and restrict its consumption, the more our body wants to store it.
Its functions are in insulation, protection, cushioing, nerve transduction, and hormonal regulation. When you look at all those functions, they would rate as very important and would shut the body’s functions down if we run out of fat.
I have always had fun messing with my friends who were body builders and trying to drop weight. When their fat levels dropped to below a certain percentage that their body could not handle, they would have the the four seasons of emotions, angry, happy, sad and scared all in the space of 3 minutes.
Because of all the abuse that we are putting our bodies through, it is the very basic reaction of the body to store the most important nutrient just in case we abuse ourselves again. The number one abuse that causes our body to stack on the weight would be poor nutrition. When we eat poorly, our body will convert other sources of food into the valuable ones that it needs. I could expand this paragraph into a massive year long read but I will cut it short and keep it simple. A balanced meal of Fats, Carbohydrates and Proteins is essential in every diet.
The second form of abuse that we put ourselves through that shifts our body into fat storing is stress. We seem to be stressed out even more with our society and with the simplest things. Our society has not learnt ho to deal with stress and there is not enough understanding of what it is and how it can impact our body directly. In this Fight or Flight Response, it pushes our body into overdrive and into the Sympathetic Mode which starts a series of chain reactions that prepares our body for action. This is the very mode that turns off our digestive system as the focus is elsewhere. So depending on the number of hours that we are exposed to stress, is the number of hours that our digestive system is turned off.
The third and final form of abuse that we put ourselves through is the lack of physical activity. As a society we have stopped or reduced the amount of physical activity that we have included into our daily lives. This is a crucial factor and if we continue to sit on our bums and not partake in any light physical activity, the hips are definitely going to grow sideways and the weight will pile on.
In summary, you cannot omit fat from your diet. You are made up of fat. All of your cells are made up of saturated fats. You need to eat some saturated fats and the key here is ‘Moderation’. Eat a balanced meal with all macronutrients, take time out to de stress and feel happy and keep mobile, moving and active. Start with a little change here and there in your lifestyles. Abrupt 180 degree changes have been done, but it is all about being ready and being able to embrace the change that will allow you to change your life.
Metabolism and How to Boost It
July 13, 2010
Metabolism is defined as the sum of all biochemical processes involved in life, or the sustaining of life. It is our ability to utilize our food to the fullest extent. No two people metabolize food at the same rate therefore no two people have the metabolism. We all use our calories at different rates, with different results.
The higher our metabolism or metabolic rate, the higher our energy expenditure, the easier it is for us to control our weight. Our metabolic rate is likened to a furnace and we need to start it up so that it will generate loads of heat and burn up all the excess energy stored or consumed.
Exercise and building muscle mass is by far the most effective way to boost metabolism. By adding more muscle to the body, we are able to burn more calories, and this helps to elevate our metabolic rate. Muscle is a metabolically dynamic tissue that is costly to own. So the more you have of it, the more calories you need to maintain it. Start lifting weights and build some muscles fast.
Consume spices in your foods. Spices add variety to your meals and above all, they will raise your internal body heat and give you a good sweat. Add some peppers, chilies and jalapenos.
Move more. The more active you are, the more muscles you will work and the more energy you will expand, the less likely it is for you to store the unwanted weight. Being sedentary is a sure fire way to decrease your overall metabolic rate.
Exfx Fitness
