Wednesday, March 30, 2022

5 Fitness Myths Debunked : 2) YOU CAN TARGET FAT LOSS

5 Fitness Myths Debunked : 2) YOU CAN TARGET FAT LOSS

2) YOU CAN TARGET FAT LOSS :

I often have people come up to me, asking how to get rid of arm fat, or leg fat, or fat from some other dominantly meaty area. And then they're surprised when I tell them, "the same way you get rid of it anywhere else on your body."

This may come as disappointment for some, but you can't approach fat loss like a butcher in a meat locker and just shave it off wherever you please. Our bodies all deposit fat differently and it's heavily influenced by hormone imbalances. For example, belly fat is a sign of elevated levels of the stress hormone called cortisol, while excess fat under the shoulder blade is indicative of insulin resistance.


But despite the hormonal differences that affect fat gain, we all LOSE fat in the same manner. Vigorous exercise and diet will cause fat to disappear from all parts of the body simultaneously. There is no special method to target it - even if fat tends to favor setting up camp in particular area. It'd be cool if we could just launch a homing missile at it, but unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

The only way to control fat in a specific area is to get your hormones in check, but the science behind that is beyond the scope of this discussion. You can however, target specific muscles with exercises to firm them up which is why strength training is important. If you want firmer thighs then perform leg exercises. Trying to lose fat with cardio alone might leave you slimmer, but softer than a sponge cake. (Tip: Don't be a sponge cake - do some strength training)
 

No comments: