Finding Your Fat Burning Zone

The fat burning zone is a term that is used to define the point where your body uses fat for fuel while exercising. Although this zone exists, it is somewhat misleading. Many people assume that when you reach the “zone” you will be burning only fat. However, when exercising, your body uses both carbohydrates and fat for fuel. It’s the amount of these two fuel sources that define when you are in the zone. When you have reached the zone you will be burning a higher number of fat calories and use less carbs for fuel. Getting rid of you excess body fat is not just as simple as getting in the zone. You will need to make simple changes in your lifestyle to make your fat loss a permanent loss. When trying to lose weight you must create a calorie deficit, meaning you must consume fewer calories than you burn. When burning calories through exercise you want to aim for a higher fat burning in order to shed unwanted fat faster. Here are a few tips to get your fat burning furnace ignited and achieve your weight loss goals. Fat Burning Tip #1 The number one method for shedding unwanted fat fast is exercise. The best exercise for burning fat calories is aerobics. Aerobics, or cardiovascular workouts, are by far the most effective method for igniting the furnace to burn fat faster. During your cardio workout your body is pumping blood and using a higher amount of oxygen. Fat needs oxygen to burn, so you are burning more fat calories. When exercising, your body needs fuel in order to complete your workout, so it turns to your stored fuel to sustain your increased activity level. This fuel comes from your readily available fuel source – carbohydrates, and stored body fat. Your body will first use the fuel that is most readily available, which is the carbs. However, as you continue to workout your body will switch to using a higher amount of fat in order to continue to source the fuel you need for your workout. This doesn’t mean you don’t need strength training exercises as well. You want to be sure to include some form of strength training in your weekly workout schedule. This form of exercise builds lean muscles. The more lean muscles you have, the higher your basal metabolic rate (BMR). This is the rate at which you burn calories while at rest and accounts for 60% to 70% of the total calories you burn in a day. So the higher your BMR, the more calories you burn. The more calories you burn the more excess body fat you will lose. Fat Burning Tip #2 Fuel your fat burning furnace with foods. Eating healthy is a must when trying to lose weight. Selecting the right foods can also help rev up the fat burning process and shed fat faster. Although there is no one “super food” that can do this, there are certain foods that have shown to help shed fat. Foods high in protein, and of course low in fat, are a great way to lose fat. Eggs, lean cuts of meats, beans and fish are all great sources of protein. Citrus fruits also help with shedding fat. The vitami C in these foods is the secret ingredient that aids in burning fat faster. Vitamin C helps dilute fat making it easier to exit the body. Other fat burning foods include high fiber foods, low fat or fat free dairy products, hot peppers, cinnamon and garlic. Fat Burning Tip #3 This tip can help prevent gaining more body fat as well as shed body fat. Reducing stress is important not only for losing fat but for your health. Stress can lead to many illnesses and health risks. When you are stressed your body releases the stress hormone called cortisol. Additionally, your body releases adrenalin and insulin. The increase in cortisol causes an increase in fat production and stimulates hunger. Unfortunately, this extra production of fat generally settles in the stomach, causing excess belly fat. The added insulin released in your system also leads to body fat. This is because the extra insulin sends a signal to begin storing fat. Although being totally stress free is near impossible, finding ways to help you relax and minimize stress can help you shed fat faster. Try breathing exercises, relaxation therapy and other methods to help you feel relaxed and stress free. So reduce your stress, eat the right foods and exercise to burn body fat.