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Zest: Losing Weight
The human body requires energy in order to live; energy is required for just about everything that you do; walking, breathing, talking and for the other essential things that you might not be aware of but nevertheless still occurs inside the body; cell production, tissue repair, hair growth, the list goes on.
All this energy (known as calories) comes from the food and drink that you consume, this is the fuel that keeps your body ticking over and in a healthy state.
Why do you gain excess fat?
The human body tends to gain surplus fat when the intake of energy falls out of balance from your body's needs. If you consume more energy (or calories) than your body needs a 'calorie surplus' is formed.
This storing of fat is a survival instinct that was intended to offer energy deposits for the body should there ever be a drought or famine, (a useful evolutionary trait that helped early man to survive in times of hardship...although maybe not so useful for modern man with his love for fast food, funky-coloured fizzy drinks, remote control tv and take away pizza. Chump.)
Fat is the body's source of emergency energy, stored in case of crisis and although harmless in small amounts can cause long term damage if allowed to accumulate in overly large quantities.
How do you lose weight?
To lose weight you need to consume less energy than your body needs. This is known as a 'calorie deficit'.
When you create a lasting calorie deficit
the body is forced to break down its fat deposits in order to create enough energy to sustain its requirements. There are three ways to create a calorie deficit:
Firstly by
maintaining your current lifestyle but by dropping your calorie consumption. (That means you can maintain the lifestyle of a lazy bum but you've got to go on a severe diet!)
Secondly by increasing your rate of exercise but maintaining your current diet regime. (Work crazy hard in the gym without changing your pace of eating)
Lastly by increasing your rate of exercise and by dropping your calorie consumption. (Hit the gym, cut the food!) The last method is the fastest (and healthiest) method for weight loss but any of the above methods will create a calorie deficit and that means that you'll start to shed the fat.
In order to lose weight you must not only create a calorie deficit but you must also create the right circumstances for the body to take advantage of this opportunity.
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| A balanced consumption of calories (or energy ). The consumed energy equals the body's demand |
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| A 'calorie surplus' when more food and drink is consumed than needed. This is when the body starts to store fat |
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| A 'calorie deficit' when the consumed food and drink is lower than the body's demands. This is one of the major requirements for fat loss. |
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