At the turn of the 21st century, there has been an increase in concern over our ever expanding waist lines. A consistent correlation of this unsightly phenomenon with the ever menacing lifestyle diseases has been noted by our health watch men and the alarm bells are sounding. Of late, big tummys have been associated with the ever rise in type(2) diabetic cases in America. How is it the love handles are related to diabetes, one would ask. Firstly lets look at how these come about.
The making of a pot belly and love handles.
Lack of exercise and over indulgence in delicacies of our time has been correlated with abdominal obesity. It should be noted though that the exact nature of the of the phenomenon is not understood yet...yes even the scientist are not that smart. However what is known is that for every calorie we take up, all the excess will be converted to fat. For example if your body needs 3000 calories a day, and your greedy self consumes 5000, the extra 2000 becomes fat!, a whole lot of fat! Now exercise increases the energy demands of the body, which helps in burning up the excess calories. One should understand that the body converts extra calories to fat as a way of stocking up for tougher times. Fat is probably the greatest energy store in our bodies, together with another substance called glycogen, found in the liver and muscles. Apparently, in all low intensity activities, fat is the primary source of energy for our system. So when you seated on your couch watching T.V., you are actual burning fat for energy! And before you celebrate and cancel gym memberships, ask yourself, how much energy is needed to change a channel?
Thus the extra calories will convert to fat and be stored under your skin and around your vital organs, most of which are found in in the abdominal cavity hence the increase in size to create more space.
The result? Love handles and pot belly! But one should note also that, its still not that simple. Other factors that will be discussed later also play a role
And exercise...?
And now thus when good old exercise comes in. High intensity workout plans are now advocated for by exercise scientist if an individual entertains any wishes of shedding extra fat. And then it gets confusing (for you at least) from here on. You do not burn fat during a high intensity training! Your burn it while chilling on your couch!
And no you not waisting time at the gym!
Now what happens during high intensity activity is you burn mainly sugar and and glycogen, the other sources of energy that we have not talked about. These are easily processed by the body hence can provide quick energy. Glucose is a functional sugar component in blood, while glycogen is the stored form of glucose, found in liver and muscles. High intensity exercise will deplete these very quickly depending on your activity.
And as you know, you do not exercise forever, one element of fatigue is because of the depletion of these two substances.
And that is where the couch comes in! Rest! The body has to compensate for all the glycogen and glucose during exercise! Hence, the biggest source of energy stored is fat! Thus for a long time after your workout the body is burning fat, for the energy on demand as well as restoration of the other more important molecules.
The result? Less and less fat, lesser and lesser pot belly!
And next time we look at the health risks associated with the Potbelly.
Yours in Fitness and Health
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