In the first part of this article Tom Venuto told us how fat cells are created and live. In this second part Tom tells us how to shrink them and lose weight.

When the FFA’s are released from the fat cell, the fat cell shrinks and that’s why you look leaner when you lose body fat – because the fat cell is now smaller. A small or “empty” fat cell is what you’re after if you want the lean, defined look.

It was once believed that the number of fat cells could not increase after adulthood, only the size of the fat cells could increase (or decrease). We now know that fat cells can indeed increase both in size (hypertrophy) and in number (hyperplasia) and that they are more likely to increase in number at certain times and under certain circumstances, such as 1) during late childhood and early puberty, 2) During pregnancy, and 3) During adulthood when extreme amounts of weight are gained

Some people are genetically predisposed to have more fat cells than others and women have more fat cells than men. An infant usually has about 5 – 6 billion fat cells. This number increases during early childhood and puberty, and a healthy adult with normal body composition has about 25 to 30 billion fat cells. A typical overweight adult has around 75 billion fat cells. But in the case of severe obesity, this number can be as high as 250 to 300 billion!

The average size (weight) of an adult fat cell is about 0.6 micrograms, but they can vary in size from 0.2 micograms to 0.9 micrograms. An overweight person’s fat cells can be up to three times larger than a person with ideal body composition.
Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tom Venuto of Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle has written this great article on the shrinking of fat cells. Here is part one of the article.

Earlier this week someone in our discussion forum wrote, “I haven’t “LOST” any fat… I know EXACTLY where it went! I got a chuckle out of that because I “got” the joke, but truth is, most people really don’t know how fat cells work, how the fat burning process takes place or where the fat goes when it’s burned. It’s actually quite a complex biochemical process, but I’ll explain it as simply as possible, so by the end of this article, you’ll be a “fat burning” expert!

When you “lose” body fat, the fat cell (also called an adipocyte) does not go anywhere or “move into the muscle cell to be burned. The fat cell itself, (unfortunately) stays right where it was – under the skin in your thighs, stomach, hips, arms, etc., and on top of the muscles – which is why you can’t see muscle “definition” when your body fat is high.

Fat is stored inside the fat cell in the form of triaglycerol. The fat is not burned right there in the fat cell, it must be liberated from the fat cell through somewhat complex hormonal/enzymatic pathways. When stimulated to do so, the fat cell simply releases its contents (triaglycerol) into the bloodstream as free fatty acids (FFA’s), and they are transported through the blood to the tissues where the energy is needed.

A typical young male adult stores about 60,000 to 100,000 calories of energy in body fat cells. What triggers the release of all these stored fatty acids from the fat cell? Simple: When your body needs energy because you’re consuming fewer calories than you are burning (an energy deficit), then your body releases hormones and enzymes that signal your fat cells to release your fat reserves instead of keeping them in storage.
Read the rest of this entry »

If you have not joined a gym yet then this article may give you some ideas on what to look for in a gym. My personal favorite things to look for are price, comfort, clientele and helpfulness of staff to the people there while you are checking it out. Everyone is attentive to your needs before you have paid, see how they are to people that have been there for a while

It’s the beginning of a new year and resolutions are being carried out with gusto. Getting fit and staying healthy are no doubt at the top of dozens of resolution lists. Joining a gym is a great first step to achieving one’s fitness goals, but with workout facilities popping up like wildfires, choosing the right gym can be a daunting task. However, just asking a few simple questions can make finding the perfect place to work out less of a challenge. When choosing a gym, one should first ask, ” What equipment and amenities will I actually use?” Sure, there are mega-gyms that offer saunas, massage therapy, a lap pool, and rock climbing, but are all of these things what a person really needs in order to pursue a healthy lifestyle?

In reality, free weights, machines, and cardio equipment are more than adequate to support an effective workout routine. Gyms that are well-equipped, minus the “fluff,” are almost always the more cost effective choice, not to mention less overwhelming.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when first stepping foot in a gym, with all the strange-looking machines and fancy equipment. When choosing a gym, be sure to ask if an orientation (a guided tour on how to properly use the equipment) is available and if it costs extra. Is the orientation in a group setting or is it one-on-one? Finding a gym that provides one-on-one attention along with ongoing monitoring is definitely a big advantage to someone just starting out. Only a few gyms offer such a program at no additional cost, so this is a good way to narrow down your search. To narrow the choices even more, look for facilities where crowding is not a problem and waiting for machines is a non-issue. In addition, any gym worth joining should deliver locker rooms complete with showers; clean, well-organized equipment; and friendly staff. Some facilities even offer “comfort” benefits like complimentary coffee and towel service. Details such as these can make a significant difference in your overall workout experience.
Read the rest of this entry »