Today I want to talk about something I get commonly asked as a trainer "What's the best way to burn fat"? because lets face it, NO-ONE likes their excess body fat.
Look at any supplement store online and you will find a series of several different fat burners and appetite supressants, pick one and order it and then when it arrives start taking it and the weight will fall away...ha ha KIDDING! DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT by any means think that any kind of fat burner on the market is the key to losing and more to the point KEEPING OFF that unwanted body fat.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying that products such as Body Science Hydroxy Burn, D-Fine8 and of course, the name I'm hearing EVERYWHERE at the moment, Albuturex don't work. Of course they work, otherwise they wouldn't be selling like crazy out of supplement stores across the country. But let me tell you WHY they work and WHY you should consider the factors below before deciding they are the answer.
First of all, most fat burners contain things known as fat blockers which keeps fat in foods from being absorbed into the body. Great you say? well not exactly. They can also then prevent your body from absorbing other vital nutrients not to mention the fat is still in your system and needs to leave the body which it often does in not the most pleasant way..I'll leave that one to your imagination!
Secondly fat burners tend to supress your appetite. Now for all of you who have read my post about fuelling your body you will know that we don't want our body working out on empty and that diet is important in helping us work to our full potential in the gym. Of course if you are taking these simply as an alternative to exercise then the other downfall is that these chemicals that are working to supress your appetite are still messing with your body's natural hormones and have been known to lead to anxiety. Not to mention after awhile your body adapts, as it does to exercise and the same effects will not occur unless you change it up.
Thirdly many fat burners contain caffeine as a method to artificially increase a person's metabolism. When the body is stimulated by caffeine, it releases hormones into the bloodstream to cue a quickening of metabolism. These hormones are not in infinite supply, and constant stimulation can change the body’s ability to regulate itself and its weight. Overuse of metabolism stimulants can also have the opposite of the desired effect, causing the metabolism to slow down in self-preservation. Basically the effects of caffeine based fat burners will not last the distance.
Now while I don't judge people who want to use fat burners- each to their own I always say, they aren't something I would recommend to any of my clients or anyone who asked me the best ways to burn fat because in my opinion they aren't sustainable. So for anyone who asks here is what I like to do..
1. Light to moderate cardio before breakfast: Keeping my heart rate around 60-70% of my maximum heart rate (MHR= 220-age) my body will be burning fat as it is the most readily available source of energy having depleted carbohydrate stores overnight.
2. Weight Training: As I have said before the more muscle you have the more fat you burn even at rest.
3. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): This method is quick and effective. Get on the treadmill, turn the speed up to a sprint, sprint 30 seconds, rest 30 seconds and repeat for about 20 minutes. Not only does it elevate your heart rate to burn more calories (and fat) at that present time it also increases your resting heart rate (RHR) for up to 24 hours after you finish meaning you are still burning calories long after you go home.
So before you go looking for the next greatest supplement to hit the market or the "easy option" when it comes to burning that unwanted fat, how about trying some good old fashioned HARD WORK, exercise consistently and stick to a clean diet and see where that gets you. Any questions regarding this post or any of my others I am happy to answer so please feel free to comment :)
Until next time remember eat CLEAN, train MEAN and you will live LEAN :)
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