How does fat loss actually work?

You’re just about getting over the Christmas period and your aversion to a tape measure is like sunlight to a vampire. We feel you. Those added inches around the waist don’t always have us running to the gym, in fact it can be quite the reverse when we feel we don’t know where to start.

Understanding how fat is stored 

Can you remember when you first started to learn to drive and everything was confusing - until you learned the mechanics behind how the car works? This can also be the case for understanding the increased fat on your body. Learning the principles of how fat is stored and burned can be insightful and help you on your way to a healthier, trimmer you. We know that a certain amount of fat is necessary for our energy levels and we know some fats are good for us. When we eat fat, it’s either broken down and passed through the bloodstream, used for energy, or stored. There are two types of fat which the body stores: 

Subcutaneous fat

This is the fat we don’t burn - the pesky fat which adds inches to our waistline, the fat which is stored just under our skin if it isn’t used for the body’s energy. The longer it remains there, the tougher it becomes to lose it. Sometimes this fat remains permanently. 

Visceral fat

This is the fat which surrounds our organs. It’s also the fat which can seriously affect our health. That’s why we need to use up the energy we ingest as well as our stored fats. Bookmark the Holmes Place Fat and Weight Loss guide: this nifty handbook will help motivate you throughout January and the rest of the year.

Understanding what happens to the fat we burn 

It’s important to remember that the body will always use the energy stored in the bloodstream and muscles first before it uses the energy from fat stored in our bodies. For this reason, we can still engage in a thorough workout without seeing any loss of body fat - the storage fat is always used-up last as energy. 

This is also the reason why calorie intake and exercise are both interlinked and crucial to seeing any reduction in body fat. The body needs to use up the energy we have consumed and the energy stored, therefore a lower controlled calorie intake alongside exercise will give us the results we strive towards. 

At Holmes Place, we believe we should all eat well and feel well. With help and advice on healthy eating plans from Holmes Place nutritionists, we can offer personalised plans and permanent support to help and motivate you throughout the year and torch fat for good.