Body Fat...

[125shifter]

1st: I'm an electrical engineer, not a doctor!

How does the body burn/use fat from fat stores?
How does the body know/decide which fat stores to draw from?

Example:

Does your body draw on fat from a given region because you're working muscle in that same region?

Will your body draw on fat from your arms if you're working your thighs?

[dszil]

How does the body burn/use fat from fat stores?

It typically takes around 20ish minutes with a raised heartrate for your body to switch over from burning your short-term reserves to fat for energy. Once this occurs...it begins "burning" each gram of stored fat in a similar fashion to any other.

How does the body know/decide which fat stores to draw from?
Does your body draw on fat from a given region because you're working muscle in that same region?
Will your body draw on fat from your arms if you're working your thighs?

Some research shows that there is an EXTREMELY SLIGHT ability to spot-reduce fat stores...but the overwhelming reality is that your body will gradually work through the fat in your arms/legs/core all at once regardless of what muscles are getting the primary workout. Several studies have shown that the core tends to contain the last stores to be depleated...but this is typically attributed to this area tending to have the most grams stored...not to what muscles were used during the workouts or what order the researves were "burned" in.

Hope this helps!
-Dan

[125shifter]

Hope this helps!
-Dan

Yes it does - thank you very much.

[Queen]

It typically takes around 20ish minutes with a raised heartrate for your body to switch over from buring your short-term reserves to fat for energy. Once this occurs...it begins "burning" each gram of stored fat in a similar fashion to any other.

[
Some research shows that there is an EXTREMELY SLIGHT ability to spot-reduce fat stores...but the overwhelming reality is that your body will gradually work through the fat in your arms/legs/core all at once regardless of what muscles are getting the primary workout. Several studies have shown that the core tends to contain the last stores to be depleated...but this is typically attributed to your gut tending to have the most grams stored...not to what muscles were used during the workouts or what order the researves were "burned" in.

Hope this helps!
-Dan

Good stuff, thanks for posting it. I knew "spot reducing" was negligible but didn't really know the why/how of it.

[Nosmo]

But developing specific muscles can have an effect on how that fat looks.

[125shifter]

But developing specific muscles can have an effect on how that fat looks.

Now you're talking smoke & mirrors!

What's driving my OP is that I've been working hard at getting more fit and building endurance. I'm clearly seeing differences and finding my belt tightening more and more and actually gaining muscle weight. Since I don't take measurements, the scale doesn't tell the whole truth.

I'm leaning out for sure and true to Dan's reply, my waist/hips appear to be "the last to go", but I ain't giving up!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not overweight and frankly in pretty decent shape for a guy my age, but I know I can be in better shape and look better too - kind of an age defying thing I guess.

Edit: Let me add that my statement above about not being overweight certainly isn't meant or intended to offend anyone that might be working toward loosing more than me. Frankly I'd kill for the willpower of some of you that have overcome much greater challenges than me.