How does fat actually burn?
Short answer first. Full logic in the chapter.
Fat loss is a two-step chemical process:
Step 1 — Lipolysis (The Release):
Hormonal signals (low insulin, high glucagon, adrenaline) unlock your fat cells. Stored triglycerides are broken down into fatty acids and released into the bloodstream.
Requirements: Low insulin. You CANNOT release fat while insulin is elevated.
Step 2 — Oxidation (The Burn):
The released fatty acids travel to your muscles and organs, where mitochondria burn them for energy using oxygen.
Requirements: Oxygen. This is why walking beats sprinting for fat loss — at a conversational pace, you have abundant oxygen to burn fat. During high-intensity exercise, your body switches to burning carbs (anaerobic), and released fatty acids get RE-STORED.
The takeaway: Walk. Keep insulin low. Be patient. The process is slow but relentless — 0.5-1 kg (2.2 lbs) of pure fat per week is the biological speed limit.
Chapter 6: Fueling the Engine
This answer belongs to the chapter itself. Read the chapter for the full argument, then come back here when you need the short clarification.
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