Fitness Q&A
The following are some of the most common questions we get asked in our Oakville and Mississauga personal training studios.
Q. Does eating fat make you fat?
A. Eating fat does not make you fat. Fat gain can be contributed to 3 main factors:
- Consuming too many calories (the law of calorie balance or calories in – calories out).
- Chronically elevated blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar is always high it is difficult for your body to access fat for fuel. This can also lead to type 2 diabetes.
- Insufficient activity. It is far better to consume sufficient amounts of healthy proteins, carbohydrates and fats and use exercise to build muscle and burn calories.
Q. What is the best exercise for fat loss?
A. The best exercise for long term fat loss is resistance training. This type of exercise will help your body to build muscle and increase your metabolic rate. Resistance training will also improve the way that your body uses the hormone insulin and has a positive effect on fat burning hormones testosterone and growth hormone.
Q. How many calories should I be eating?
A. The amount of calories you should be consuming is a factor of your sex, weight, body composition, activity level and goal. A great way to determine your activity level is use the Katch- McArdle formula. To find out your percent body fat please click here:
http://www.bodizone.com/MyNutrition/WellnessAnalysis.aspx
Q. When should I change my exercise program?
A. Your program should be periodized into phases and changed every 4 to 6 weeks for progression and optimal results. Your BODiZONE personal trainer will do this for you.
Q. Does eating carbohydrates make you fat?
A. No. Eating carbohydrates will not make you fat. However eating too much of any macronutrient will. However, eating the wrong types of carbs (refined, empty carbohydrate foods) will cause a surreptitious rise in blood sugar and insulin. This in turn can lead to body fat deposition and health problems. The best time to eat carbohydrate foods is immediately following a resistance training workout (when your bodies’ insulin sensitivity is at its highest). Choose complex, unrefined carbohydrate sources and reap the health benefits of these nutritious foods.