Fitness Minutes 9:Burning Fat (Part 1 of 3)

“I don’t feel energized after exercise, in fact I feel really tired!” is a response that I got from a reader of the previous Fitness Minutes. Variations of the same question pop up very often during my workshops.

What about you? Do you often feel lethargic after exercise? Do get into a ‘slump’ where you have difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly? Do you often crave for sugar-rich foods or caffeine almost immediately after leaving the gym?

If you have answered yes to the above questions, you are likely to be training and eating to burn sugar instead of fat. Read on to find out what exactly I’m talking about…

Burning Fat vs. Burning Sugar

For most of us, as long as we have the energy to complete our workout, it doesn’t matter where this energy comes from. This may surprise many of you; it DOES matter where your body gets its energy from, especially if you often feel weary or exhausted after exercise.

Our bodies draw its energy from two systems-the fat burning aerobic system and the sugar burning anaerobic system. Throughout evolution our ancestors have relied on the anaerobic system for survival i.e. to run from-or to run after-other animals. It’s an emergency system designed to quickly mobilize energy to flee or to defend yourself.

The problem today is that we put ourselves in sugar burning states all the time. When you are constantly on the go, it is tempting to take shortcuts in the form of harder and shorter workouts. We also want results FAST and often subscribe to the No Pain No Gain philosophy of training. It is so common to see fitness enthusiasts who rush to the gym for a fast and intensed workout; take a quick shower before zooming off to the next appointment in the blink of an eye. This often results in a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, causing you to lose concentration, feel dizzy and, in extreme cases, blurry vision. In the meantime, the lure of carbohydrate and sugar-rich foods that provides an immediate blast of energy also becomes more appealing. Over time, such routines can stress you out and wear you down.

On the other hand, when you set your body up to burn fat, you begin to activate a more sustained and almost inexhaustible form of energy. You become less susceptible to frequent energy highs and lows and feel even more energized and at ease after exercise.

In order to burn more fat instead of sugar, we not only have to be aware of how we physically train, what goes on in our heads and our food choices are equally critical. I will be elaborating more on how we should manage and fine-tune our mind, body and nutritional choices in order to draw more energy from fat instead of sugar in the next two issues of Fitness Minutes.

Health and Energy
 
Hansen Bay
Coach (Health & Wellness)
BA P.E.(S,pore)
Dip Hypnotheraphy (USA) NGH,IMDHA,IACT
M (65) 97939745
F  (65) 65828922
www.vitagefitness.com
"The First Wealth is Health"-Ralph Waldo Emerson