It is shocking to me that in 2010, millions of people (maybe even YOU), believe that they can reduce the fat over their midsections by doing targeted abdominal exercise.
This simply isn’t true. Yet, it remains the most pervasive myth in the fitness world. So on July 21st, 2010….I will attempt to set the record straight for you, once and for all. (Because we’re cool like that)
The Scoop
Your body has hormonal mechanisms in place that allow it to store any excess food energy that you consume. This surplus energy is commonly referred to as: fat. It is stored all over the body, but quantity and location are determined by heredity and hormones. There are a few proven ways of promoting fat loss - however, the ONLY way to lose fat from exercise, is by expending more energy than you consume. Period. If you consume 2000 calories a day, you must expend more than that to begin losing fat. The rate of fat loss you experience is directly proportional to the energy deficit you create.
For example:
If you consume 2000 calories a day, but you expend 2400 calories a day from running around at work, going to gym, and watering your plants….you’ll be creating an energy deficit of 400 calories each day. One pound of fat is equivalent to 3500 calories, so at that rate it would take about 9 days for you to lose one pound of fat.
So - exercise can help you lose fat. It’s magical!
Now pay close attention to what I’m about to say: Exercise CANNOT determine WHERE that fat loss occurs. Losing fat from exercise is a non-discriminatory process. When you lose fat through exercise, you’ll lose it everywhere - with NO PARTICULAR EMPHASIS! In other words, it doesn’t matter how many crunches, leg lifts, sit-ups, etc. you do - they won’t cause the fat to disappear from your stomach! It doesn’t matter whether you do them on a ball, or you do them in the form of yoga, pilates, or on a vibration machine…….or in SPACE for that matter. Abdominal exercise will only strengthen and tone the muscles underneath the fat. In fact, certain exercises like crunches can actually cause the muscles to “bulk up”! - INCREASING the girth of your waist.
Hopefully this has cleared up any confusion you may have had about the relationship between exercise and fat loss. If you have any questions about this stuff, feel free to give me a shout at: info@trainwithmarv.com
M