The Science Behind Your Stubborn Fat Did You Know?

Body fat, especially the resistant kind that stubbornly refuses to budge, can be a cause of frustration and disappointment for many of us. You may have tried different weight loss diets, exercise programs, and even supplements to get rid of it, but with no success. However, before you label your hard-to-lose fat as a stubborn enemy, understanding the science behind it could make your weight loss journey smoother and more fulfilling.

In the human body, fat serves as an energy reserve that our body draws up during emergencies. It's essential, but problems arise only when there is an excessive accumulation, often due to an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure. Does it mean reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity is enough to lose fat? Not really! That's because not all fats are created equal.

Your body stores fats in two main ways- subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat is the jiggly stuff under your skin, while visceral fat snugly wraps around your internal organs. The latter is the “bad” fat leading to serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease. While it's easier to lose visceral fat, subcutaneous fat tends to be stubborn.

Fat loss isn't merely about numbers on a scale. It's more about the ratio of fat-to-muscle that affects your body shape and health. Hence, when you set out to shed weight, you should aim at losing fat and not muscle mass. This is best achieved by controlling your diet and staying active, but that's a part of the story.

The real villain behind stubborn fat is often hormonal imbalances. Fat storage and break down are controlled by hormones like insulin, glucagon, adrenaline, etc. When these hormonal signals are not balanced, your body tends to store more fat than it burns, especially in areas like the belly, thighs, or hips.

For example, higher insulin levels can lead to increased fat storage. On the contrary, glucagon and adrenaline stimulate the fat cells to release stored fat to supply energy when needed. Hence, to effectively lose stubborn fat, we need to balance these hormonal signals.
This is why a diet high in refined carbs leading to insulin spikes or a stressful lifestyle causing adrenaline chaos can make your fat seem more stubborn.

Research also reveals that the number of fat cells, and not just their size, plays a crucial role in fat loss. Fat loss happens when the stored fat within the fat cells is used up, shrinking them down. However, the number of fat cells remains constant. Unfortunately, weight loss strategies that only focus on shrinking fat cells without controlling their numbers may lead to a rapid rebound of lost weight.

To lose stubborn fat healthily and sustainably, consider a diet that promotes hormonal balance. Introduce more lean protein, fiber-rich complex carbs, and healthy fats along with regular physical activity. Also, take care of your stress and sleep cycle. Remember, losing stubborn fat is a marathon, not a sprint, and slow and steady wins the race!