To burn more fat, don’t eat before workout
High adrenaline and low insulin are good fat-burning combo, studies show
By Maria Cheng
The Associated Press
updated 12:51 p.m. CT, Thurs., June 3, 2010
LONDON - Running on empty may not be such a bad idea after all.
Though many athletes eat before training, some scientists say that if you really want to get rid of more fat, you should skip the pre-workout snack.
Several studies suggest exercising while your body is low on food may be a good way to trim excess fat. In a recent paper, European researchers found that cyclists who trained without eating burned significantly more fat than their counterparts who ate.
Muscles usually get their energy from carbohydrates, which is why athletes like Lance Armstrong and Michael Phelps scarf down enormous amounts of food before a race. But if you haven't eaten before exercising, your body doesn't have many carbohydrates in reserve. That forces it to burn fat instead, scientists say.
"When you exercise (after fasting), your adrenaline is high and your insulin is low," said Peter Hespel, a professor of exercise physiology at the University of Leuven in Belgium. "That ratio is favorable for your muscles to oxidize (break down) more fatty acids." Hespel said that people who exercise without having eaten burn more fat than they would if they had grabbed a bite beforehand.
More at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37...1/ns/health-fitness/
Goal: Stop stress snacking.
