There is much talk about fat loss, especially this time of year. We know what fat looks like on our bodies.Here is a picture of fat inside our body (actually, this is adipose tissue full of triglycerides, which is the storage form of fat).
So, here is the question to my blog readers. When you lose fat weight and there is a noticeable difference (more muscle tone, decreased waist size, decreased skin fold thickness), what happens to the fat (triglyceride and fatty acids) when you 'burn it off'? Where does it go? In what form does it take?
Hint: The fat does leave the adipose tissue (fat cells) and there is some physics/chemistry going on here.
First correct response is the winner!
3 comments:
I'd guess it is absorbed into the body somehow and then the fat cells shrink. I don't know, this is way over my head...I'm just glad it gets out somehow! Jen
It's exhaled as CO2 and H20. Do I win a prize? :-)
--Sally
Okay I will give this a whirl. Adipose is a form of fatty tissue which is a way of storing metabolic energy to be used over time in the body. When exercise is initiated the fats that are being stored are broken down to create energy. The fats are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids. Muscles use energy derived from fat and glycogen. During exercise the shift is to greater use of fat for fuel. The glycerol is converted to glucose in the liver and then to energy. I could go on from here but I think that is how adipose is used as fuel. This is why it is important to eat a well rounded diet and not starve oneself to loose weight, that way you don't loose muscle mass. Plus added benefit of increasing the metabolic rate to keep burning up calories...fat over time and not muscle.
Okay I could have just made that all up, but sounds good:)
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