My New Store!

To help visitors to this site get on track with their fitness goals, or to help those who have already started to stay on track, I've opened a new store. Diamond Jim's Fitness Store has what you need help you lose fat and get healthy. Thanks for visiting.

Fat Loss: Eat More and Lose?

Eat more and lose fat? I know it seems counter-intuitive; won't eating more make me gain weight? Well, think of this: A campfire will burn continously as long as wood is added consistently. Your body is similar. In order to lose fat, your body has to burn it. But will you burn that fat better if you skip breakfast, get too busy to eat lunch and then down half a pizza for supper? Will that campfire burn that big log if it's added when the fire has almost burned out?

To lose fat, we have to keep our bodies in fat burning mode. And the best way to do that is to add fuel consistently. Five to six meals of the right nutrients will keep your metabolism in that fat losing mode and then you amp it up with cardiovascular exercise. Protein, complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fats in the proper amounts and spread throughout the day will provide the necessary fuel.

So maybe it's not exactly eating more. More correctly, it's more of the right stuff and eating it more often. Losing weight, or fat loss, as with most things in life, is a balancing act. Remember not to get too caught up in the losing weight trap. Fat loss is what we're after, not indiscriminate weight loss.

Fat Loss vs. Weight Loss

One of the most popular resolutions each new year is to "lose weight." If you're overweight, that's a worthy goal. But a more worthy, and, in my opinion, a more realistic goal is fat loss. As most physicians, weight loss centers, personal trainers, etc. will tell you, when you say "lose weight" what you really mean is "lose fat." It is possible to lose weight and still be fat. Loss of water weight and muscle tissue will cause a person to weigh less and still be carrying too much fat. Conversely, a person can lose fat while building muscle and actually gain weight.

So, you ask, how do I lose fat? Most likely you already know the answer: Eat five to six healthy meals a day and exercise a minimum of three times a week. Lots of people think it's crazy that eating more will cause fat loss, but it's true. At least, it's true as long as the proper mix of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats are being eaten. Plus, the exercise must be a combination of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training.

As this blog progresses, you'll find information on exercise and eating right, supplementation and resources to keep you on track to attaining your fitness goals. So, check back often and let's "lose fat" together!