Back
,

Body Fat, what?

lose wieght and burn body fat

What is Body Fat:

Training Aspects, Personal Trainer, Fitness, Goal Setting, Healthy Eating

To continue from lasts week’s article of focusing on body fat over the number on the scale, this article addresses the what and how of body fat, and some effective ways to reduce it. Too many times, people focus on their problem area, such as the abdominal region doing crunches in order to lose their body fat in that specific region.  This technique is called spot training.  The thinking goes that if you have fat in your abdominal region, crunches would reduce the fat in that area.  In reality, this is not the case.  Lets jump into it.

What:  Although it is considered annoying today, not too long ago, body fat was essential for survival.  1 gram of fat yields 9 Calories compared to its sister nutrient, the carbohydrate,  with 1 gram yielding 4 Calories.  This means more than double the energy.

In today’s world, it would be nice to do spot training to rid us of body fat in a specific area.  In reality, our bodies do not work this way.  If you take a look at the figure, you’ll see a bunch of fat cells (the black dots), and an arrow that points to the same amount of fat cells, but smaller in size.  These fat cells are a replica of what occurs in your body.  Once you accumulate fat cells in your body, they are there for good.  This is why when you begin a training program, it must be a lifestyle change!  While the fat cells will decrease in size, you must maintain your exercise regimen in order to keep them small.  In regards to spot training, when you only exercise a certain area in the belief that it will reduce fat there, the body fat will not decrease any quicker in that specific area. Why?  Body fat cells decrease in size at the same time throughout your whole body.  This is why multi-joint exercises (exercise which include various muscle groups) are usually recommended to lose weight.

Now that we know the what, next week we’ll talk about the how. Top ways in losing body fat!

By: Kirill Vaks
Fitness and exercise specialist
BA, CSCS, ACSM-cpt, NFPT-sns  

Suggested Articles:
* Top training Myths
* Macro Nutrient density

Suggested Video:
* Effective training 

Take action… Now!

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Training Aspects is the home of personal trainers and athletic performance specialists. No matter your fitness goal or location we have the appropriate staff to help you!

Visit us:
Inside of the Flyers Training Center
601 Laurel Oak Rd.
Voorhees, NJ 08043

Recent posts
  • From Clutter to Clarity: How Reminders and Environment Shape Goal Achievement
    Fit and healthy, Personal trainer tips
    From Clutter to Clarity: How Reminders and Environment Shape Goal Achievement

    Motivation is thought of to be really important when working towards something but what we get wrong is how it’s only a small fraction of what we need to accomplish the goal. In fact, what often makes the biggest difference is something far more subtle, our surroundings. From visual cues to daily routines, the environment…

  • Youth Sports Fundraising and Team Bonding in Voorhees Township
    Assess Your Goals, Boxing Performance, Cherry Hill sports performance, Fit and healthy, Fitness, Fitness, Fitness and Nutrition News in South Jersey area, Sports performance
    Youth Sports Fundraising and Team Bonding in Voorhees Township

    Team Bonding and Fundraising – All in One High-Energy Experience! Looking to bring your team together and raise funds at the same time? Training Aspects in Voorhees Township is offering a fun, action-packed Team Bonding Fundraiser designed for youth sports teams of all kinds — hockey, baseball, softball, cheerleading, basketball, football, soccer, and more!  Competitive…

  • Top 3 Explosive Plyometric Exercises to Boost Boxing Performance
    Boxing Performance, Cherry Hill sports performance, Fit and healthy, Fitness, Fitness and Nutrition News in South Jersey area, Sports performance
    Top 3 Explosive Plyometric Exercises to Boost Boxing Performance

    3 Explosive Plyometric Exercises to Boost Performance for Boxers and Athletes If you’re a boxer or athlete looking to level up your performance, plyometric training should be in your rotation. These high-intensity, explosive movements improve fast-twitch muscle response, increase speed, build strength, and enhance full-body coordination. Whether you’re in the ring, on the field, or…

Subscribe to our newsletter
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.