3.08 Increasing Fat Burning
Burning fat is important during exercise. If the wrong exercise or intensity is performed, you may simply burn carbohydrates and even break down muscle for fuel. Here are a few things to know to help burn more fat and less muscle as you stay physically active:
- Keep exercise intensity low to moderate
- Exercise on an empty stomach or with just a little protein meal/shake prior to exercise
- Add interval training
- Warm up with brief (10 minutes or less) aerobic exercise prior to resistance exercise
Note a couple of things. Abdominal exercise or “ab exercises” like sit-ups DO NOT get rid of belly fat, they just strengthen the underlying abdominal muscles. To rid yourself of belly fat you simply need to burn more fat in general through exercise and improve your diet.
Exercise is very important to lose body fat, especially in those who are overweight or obese. However, you can never out exercise your diet. Diet is key to success as well. Keep the diet plant based, avoid saturated fat and cholesterol as well as processed foods.