Fat Or Muscle – Which Does The Body Burn First?
Learn about the relationship between fat and muscle, and which one your body gets rid of first.
When planning to lose weight, a lot of people worry about losing their muscle shape, such as their brawny biceps or their six-pack. Thus, the question arises: Does the body burn fat or muscle first? Both fat and muscle tissues can be burned to provide heat and energy to the body but to understand if the body burns fat or muscle first, let us take a second look at the fat burning process.
When we eat, we take in nutrients as well as fat, whether what we eat is fatty or not. The body then breaks down the food, after which it disperses the nutrients and some fat to be absorbed in the bloodstream and used in bodily processes. Afterwards, the body stores leftover fat under the skin and in various organs throughout the body. In order for the human body to continue existing, it needs to use up the stored energy. The stored energy does not only come from fat but from glycogen, proteins, carbohydrates and muscle tissue. To know if the body burns fat or muscle first, let us review these sources of energy.
The first thing the body burns is protein, mainly because protein cannot be stored in the body. Proteins from alcohol are burned first followed by other proteins. These nutrients are dispersed in the bloodstream and any excess is channeled towards the excretory system to be removed from the body. Thus, you can rarely complain that your body has too much protein. Next, the body burns carbohydrates, both simple and complex, with glycogen being its main form. Glycogen is sugar stored mostly in the liver and controls blood sugar levels as well as providing most of the energy the body needs. Once glycogen has been used up, the body then burns up fat, breaking it down into smaller units to be absorbed in the blood stream. Muscle comes last. Thus, the answer to the question ‘does the body burn fat or muscle first’ is fat.
The idea that the body burns muscle first before fat may come from the fact that glycogen is also stored in muscle tissues. However, it is the glycogen in them and not the tissues themselves that get burned. In fact, some nutritionists and health experts claim that burning muscle tissues is not healthy. Muscles, after all, are necessary to perform body functions. If you feel you are burning muscles more than fat, you might want to ask your fitness trainer about it and possibly switch to a better routine. Also, if the muscles burn first, there would be little use in building and toning them to burn fat since that would mean they are used up first before the fat they are supposed to help break down. The next time you face the mirror and ask yourself if you should lose weight and whether your body burns fat or muscle first, relax. As long as you exercise regularly and eat sensibly, you’re bound to get the results you want and good health in the process.
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