Achieve Healthy Fat Loss And Optimum Fitness!
HORMONES AND ITS EFFECTS ON FAT LOSS
By Dean Ahmad
In today’s society the most talked about topic is fat loss. Everyone wants to be fitter, healthier and leaner. The media (internet, magazines, and books etc) can be misleading with the diverse amount of opinions on what works and what doesn’t. It can be difficult for someone to know where to start and what to believe. What they don’t tell you is that no matter what type of training or diet you are doing everyone will react differently. As no one person has the same amount genetic make up and hormone responses.
The weight loss industry has taken off and now is a multi million dollar industry. People spend millions of dollars on products (fad diets, supplementation, exercise equipment, slimming/detoxification centers, books and magazines) all claming their products work. Conflicting information not only lies in the products available but also in the different types of training methods and diets available. No wonder many people are confused when it comes to fat loss and what to do.
There are so many fad diets on the market (Atkins diet, the Zone diet, and South beach etc.) targeting different food groups but they all leave out one very important factor: ones’ genetic make up. For example: if you swap the diets of an Eskimo and a Native African both with very different genetic make ups, each will both fall seriously ill in a matter of days. The only way to individualize a diet is to use metabolic typing by classifying individuals into groups which match with certain types of food. By matching the right groups this will help individuals perform to their best physically and mentally while allowing them to loss body fat.
Despite what most people believe about the ‘fat burning zone’, current research has now proven this ‘zone’ to have little to no effect on body fat. Combining heavy weight training (moderate (12) to low repetitions (6 – 1)), metabolic training (sprint intervals) and a diet suited to your needs has been proven to be more effective. When performing high intensity weight training a spike in Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) will occur, and therefore increasing the growth muscle mass which will aid in increasing metabolism and reducing body fat.
The endocrine system and hormonal balance are overlooked by most when wanting to loss body fat. The endocrine system is involved with the release of hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism, growth and development and tissue function. The most important hormones affecting fat loss are: Testosterone, Estrogen, and Growth Hormone.
Testosterone (male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid) is important for both males and females regarding health and well-being. Testosterone will enhance: energy levels, libido, immune function, and protection against osteoporosis. While the Estrogen hormone is a steroid compound, important in the estrous cycle, and function as the female sex hormone. The levels need to be balance as high levels have been found to suppress testosterone and cause many other side effects. The Growth hormone (GH) stimulates growth and cell reproduction, which levels are increased during puberty and decline with age. The other metabolic functions include: increase calcium retention relating to bone strength; increase muscle mass from a increased muscle cell production; while promoting lipolysis resulting in adipose tissue (body fat) reduction; and stimulates the immune system.
We all need a balanced ratio of testosterone, estrogen and GH for our health and well being. With the perfect ratio; we can burn fat and build muscle at the same time during a training session. The best way to boost GH and Testosterone secretion is during a short intense workout with heavy weights followed by high intensity sprints.
Growth hormone and testosterone have received some negative attention recently due to the bodybuilding scene and the abuse of GH usage and synthetic steroids. These athletes are administering huge doses of synthetic growth hormones and testosterone therefore causing side effects. Where as producing natural forms of GH and testosterone through training and proper diet will improve and boost our health and it is absolutely natural and safe.
The general population are obsessed with weight loss and the next fad diet. While they don’t take the time in looking for the right diet and training program that is best suited to their genetic make up. The endocrine system is also over looked and this is the missing piece of the jigsaw in most fat loss diets. Ask any elite athlete in the world, and you can be assured that his/her diet is specific for them to perform optimally. In other words, there is no one fixed diet for any of us.
To achieve maximum fat loss, the body’s endocrine system must be in check. Optimal ratios of GH, testosterone and estrogen in the body will not only be conducive for the body to pack on muscle while burning fat, it also has countless benefits for our general well being.
About The Author
Dean Ahmad is a certified personal fitness trainer and strength conditioning specialist.
Please visit his site www.OptimumFitness.Info.
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