Stubborn Fat:

When dieting to lose body fat, contrary to what is predominantly believed, there is no way of spot reducing. Though it would seem favorable to just lose the lower part of your belly to show all 6 of your abs or lose the little wiggle and tighten and tone your glutes, unfortunately the body’s physiological functions don’t allow us the luxury of localized fat loss. To top it off, it is generally these particular areas that hold the greater percentage of our stubborn fat, often referred to as ‘puppy fat’ that seems to just stay there no matter how hard you train these areas.

Getting rid of this annoying fat can be quite challenging for some, especially if it has been there for a long period of time. As this fat is simply stored energy that the liver has designated to our subcutaneous and adipose tissues, it by no means unusable as energy and hence can readily become expendable. By creating an environment using a diet, aerobic training regime and supplements this fat can meet its fate and those hidden muscles can surface.

Most good fat loss diets, when incorporated with mild to high cardio/resistance training take advantage of the body’s thermogenic effect in an attempt to lose unwanted body fat. By reducing calories ingested, theoretically the body will give up its own storage, as it does have an expendable affinity for energy required desirably coming from the adipose tissue (stored fat). Using a thermogenic ‘fat burner’ will enhance this process by making it occur faster and more effectively. The fat burners are designed to induce a false ‘alarm’ reaction in the body to force a surge of the hormone adrenaline and the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. These adrenal signals are secreted when in situations known as fight or flight responses. They make the body prepare itself for instant stress responses (such as running away from a bear) by initiating such physiological responses as increasing heat rate and slowing/stopping digestive processes. It is such processes that just so happen to provide and optimal environment for efficient fat burning. This leaves no doubt why adrenaline is often referred to as the body’s most potent fat burner.

Cardio training is extremely important when trying to lose weight let alone the stubborn ‘puppy fat’. It is the most efficient way of burning energy, which also makes it the most convenient way to burn stored energy. By simply performing consistent skeletal muscle movements the body will take what is required from food digested and stored energy (glycogen, fat and some proteins) and use it to fuel the movements. As previously mentioned the stored energy will be used for fuel by setting up the environment for a thermogenic effect. By converting these stored energy sources to usable glucose energy in a process known as gluconeogenesis, the body will actively reduce the amount of fat in the areas where it’s held in large amounts such as the abdomen and the glutes.

People find this scheme extremely effective when large percentages of body fat are to be reduced. When your goal is non specifically reducing the body fat percentage and toning and tightening lean muscle, a regime incorporating diet, supplements, simple cardio and weight resistance training is a trailed and true method. By simply adding some time on a treadmill or bike will account for cardio required to burn adequate amounts of energy to reduce gross body fat percentage.

Getting rid of the ‘stubborn fat’ requires a different approach than simple cardio described above, as it may not come off easy under this regime. It is likely that this fat is a lot older than the broad spectrum of fat spread across the body. This fat has actually become some what of a permanent resident rather a simple store of energy to be used in times of need (very mild starvation). This is what makes it so difficult to get rid of. Accomplishment is inevitable however, by employing a strategy whereby you will make changes when you make changes. You actually have to trick your body into using this fat, much like you would trick your body into a false state of stress using a thermogenic fat burner synergistically with exercise. The easiest way to do this is to increase the intensity of your cardio workouts in short quick bursts. So instead of simply jogging for 15 minutes, do explosive 50 meter sprints for 1 minute intervals over 10 minutes instead. This will force your body into an extreme state which it is not used to, naturally stimulating the stress hormones and neurotransmitters. By shocking the system in such a fashion, the fat which is deemed ‘stubborn’ will become mobile, if you will, and as long as you don’t get used to the ‘shock’ of this type of cardio training, this will work until your goals have been achieved.