The theory of “spot reduction” is a theory in the health industry that doesn’t seem to be going away even with very little evidence around it. By targeting a specific body part people hope they can improve the aesthetic of that area by burning the fat specifically there. Now, by doing a certain level of resistance exercise you may develop a level of tone from the lean tissue mass. However, this doesn’t mean you will lose fat tissue from this area.
Fat is stored in our cells as triglycerides, but in order for your muscles to use this fat, your system needs to break it down into free fatty acids and glycerol, which are transported into your bloodstream to then be used as fuel. The fat being used comes from anywhere and everywhere in your body, not the area you're working at the time.
Spot reduction is an appealing notion as it gives the belief people can reduce fat quickly in problematic areas. Unfortunately, fat loss doesn’t work that way and there Is very little evidence to support it. Quite simply, to lose fat you need to be burning more than you are consuming, so when it comes to exercise just doing some crunches to get rid of belly fat for example, it is unlikely you that you will be burning much energy. You are more likely to be successful, by committing to a full intensive workout, where by you will burn far more calories.
If you would like learn more about how your body can lose fat and how a programme can work for you, get in touch with us today, book a free consultation and let’s get things moving!