Your body isn't going to tap into it's stored fat if there is another plentiful, easier source of energy for it to tap into...You need to give your body NO ALTERNATIVE. Fasting gets this done. It is the whole meat and potatoes behind the Fast-5 Lifestyle and other fasting [lifestyles]. If you are not eating, you body still burns energy and if there is no food for it to use it HAS to tap into the fat your body has stored away for just this occasion.
This is why I fast!!! When I don't feel like it on some days, I remind myself of this bit of wisdom succinctly stated above. Thanks Jenna! I can attest to the fact that fasting works. I see the benefit just from skipping breakfast (eating only lunch and dinner on most days, for a daily 14 - 17 hour fasting period). Yay!
Also stated here: Train Your Body to Burn Fat On Demand, By Getting Hungry!
September 9, 2007
Train Your Body to Burn Fat On Demand, By Getting Hungry!
(I REALLY enjoy the beach…it makes me happy for some reason!)
If You Want Your Body to Burn Fat as Fuel, You Must Not Have Food in Your System
[...] Your body will burn all the available energy from the food it eats before it touches any fat on your body. So if you are eating all the time and always have calories in your system, you will lose very little body fat.
People Who Allow Themselves to Get Hungry, are the Ones Who Lose Weight Quickly
For some reason, the trend now is for people to eat something as soon as they get hungry. I work with all sorts of overweight people. The one constant is that they are always munching on something. Overweight people typically eat all the time. If they let themselves get hungry, their body would actually use some of that body fat for energy throughout the day, instead of food energy.
What if You Feel "Light-Headed" or Weak if You Don't Eat Every Few Hours?
The reason for this is that your body sucks at using its fat reserves for energy! If it was efficient at using fat for energy, you wouldn't feel weak or light-headed…you would be full of energy. You need to train your body to begin to use fat as fuel, instead of food calories.
How Do You Train Your Body to Become More Efficient at Burning Fat?
The first thing I would recommend is to end all snacking. [...] Instead of snacks, drink a cup of green tea [...]. [...] dinner would be your biggest meal. The goal is to have as little calories in your system as possible throughout the day when you are the most active.
It Takes About Two Weeks for Your Body To Begin Using Fat for Energy
Once your body gets really efficient at using fat for energy, this way of eating becomes extremely easy. What you will notice is that you will actually have more energy instead of less energy! You will drop weight like crazy…and you will never feel light-headed again, because your body is now using body fat for energy.
Is it Me or Does This Make Perfect Sense?
If you have never been able to lose weight in the past with other diets, it is probably because you were burning food instead of body fat. Other diets focus on different combinations of food, but their big flaw is that you are always eating. Isn't it time to try something different?
Some People Are Having Awesome Results, Eating Just One Meal Per Day
There is a movement that is happening right now of people who eat only one meal per day. I know it sounds crazy, but it is working extremely well for people. I have the whole diet outlined in this post: Lose Body Fat By Eating Just One Meal Per Day
Note: I have followed a "modified" version of this diet for years…a small protein shake in the morning (200 calories), an apple and a protein shake at noon (250 calories), and then a big dinner before bed. This allows me to stay around 8% body fat year round, even though I'm "breaking" all sort of fitness rules…like going long periods of time without food and eating before bed, etc. I love proving "traditional theories" wrong!
