Tips from Ross Edgley: Part II - Science of Fat Loss

Every man would have intimately attempted to woo a young maiden at some point in their lives…whether it was the conventional, ‘Table for 2 ’ at restaurant, or the more relaxed ‘DVD Night’ at home. Regardless of the setting one thing is for sure…the success of the night is highly dependant upon the preparation that is undertaken before hand. My point is gentleman, you simply can’t just make you’re way to the boudoir, there are certain things that must happen prior to this…and this is exactly what happens when your body begins to burn body fat. Allow me to draw a comparison:

The enzyme in the body responsible for breaking down fats is called lipase and the process of breaking down fats in your body is called lipolysis and this really happens in two distinct phases; mobilization, or the courting period, and oxidisation, the ‘end product’ of successful date.

Mobilisation

The enzyme lipase turns fats, or triglycerides, into three unbound fatty acids (FFA) and one glycerol molecule, this process is basically the breaking down of fat in your body for future possible use. Worth noting is that this is merely the preparation for the use of fat as an energy source, the fat hasn’t been used for energy at this point or oxidised. Like when you are on a date, the preparation may be going well….but there is still no guarantee you will be invited in for a “coffee” at the end of the walk home. 

Oxidisation

Now oxidation is the point at which the fatty acids that were mobilized are actually burned. This process must take place if the triglycerides are to be burned, since un-oxidised triglycerides can be converted back meaning they will have to be mobilised again. Once again a parallel can be drawn to the wooing of a fair maiden, even if the courting (mobilisation) is executed to perfection, the invite into the young ladies apartment (oxidisation) may still not come to fruition. Thus meaning you will have to begin wooing all over again at a later date.

I hope the, ‘fat burning – Courting’ Parallel has worked and I’ve made the science of fat loss a little clearer for you, if I’ve only complicated matters I’m sorry! In my next article I shall attempt to explain how your training (both cardio and weights) can maximise your oxidising and mobilising potential, making you…The Casanova of Fat Burning! Once again thank you for sitting through another one of my strange articles. Much love and happy training.

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