The Process of Fat Utilization

 

The Process of Fat Utilization

As you go about working towards your fat loss goals, it might come in useful to gain an understanding of how body fat is burned as you continually lose weight.

There are three main nutrients that you take in through your diet, proteins which break down into amino acids, carbohydrates which break down into glucose, and then dietary fats, which break down into triglycerides and free fatty acids.

When you're consuming enough energy and macronutrients in your diet, your body will happily use glucose as its primary fuel source as this is the fuel source that it prefers to use.

When not enough glucose is present because you are reducing your carbohydrate intake and therefore don't have this glucose in the blood stream, then the body will begin to turn to the breakdown of fats in order to sustain its energy needs.

Let's have a look at what this breakdown process entails so that you can get a clear idea of what lipolysis is all about.

The Process Of Hydrolysis

It's through a process of hydrolysis that stored lipids (body fat) will be broken down into triglycerides along with free fatty acids.  This is what will kick start the process and what lipolysis will take place from.

Lipolysis

Now that you have these two types of molecules, the triglycerides that have come about due to the breakdown of stored body fat will be transported to the blood by molecules called lipoproteins where they undergo a process referred to as lipolysis, which breaks them down into glycerol and free fatty acids.

These free fatty acids then are going to provide energy to cells around them that require it while the glycerol is carried in the bloodstream to the liver or kidneys where it is absorbed and then converted to glycerol 3-phosphate.

Increasing The Rate Of Lipolysis Through Exercise

One thing to note with this process of fat breakdown and use for energy is that you can speed this all up through physical activity.

But, keep in mind that in order for the body to use free fatty acids as a fuel source during exercise, you must maintain the intensity level at a lower pace. If you try and increase the intensity too much, this is going to cause the body to require glucose as a fuel source for energy and since that glucose isn't present as that's what brought lipolysis on in the first place, you won't be able to exercise at intensities high enough to see good results.

So instead, go for a brisk walk, a leisurely swim, or a casual bike ride.

You won't be aiming to burn up a maximum number of calories during these sessions but instead simply boost the rate that your body is burning off those free fatty acids it's broken your body fat down into as a fuel source.

So now you know the precise process that takes place in the body as you burn off body fat and move closer to your goals. Keep this in mind as you follow your proper diet for fat loss plan.