How Do You Know When Your Body is in Fat Burning Mode?
Question
What is the best way to determine if you are using blubber as a source of energy? Are there signs of losing belly fat? How do I know if I am burning fat or just converting calories into energy?
Sometimes the scale says I am losing weight but I don’t know if it is water depletion, muscle wasting or fat loss. Is there some type of method to know when your body is in fat burning mode?
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2021-01-05T18:49:47+00:00
2021-01-05T18:49:47+00:00 3 Answers
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How Do You Know When Your Body is in Fat Burning Mode
The fat-burning process, known as Ketosis, induces a host of physiological changes that manifest within the first week of undertaking Keto Diet Regime. With over 2 million searches worldwide, Keto Diet has taken the health and fitness world by storm. Though it is a popular method for burning fat, there are numerous other ways to reduce body-fat index. The discrepancies among various fat-burning methods leads to a concurrent result; fat-burning or Ketosis. We have a list of 7 physiologic signs that indicate your body is in fat-burning mode after you have committed yourself to a keto diet;
1. Energy Boost
As you forego carbs for healthier fats in a keto diet, you’ll feel a surge of energy. Since you have dropped your sugar-intake, your body will respond to carb-less, light-fat diet in a rewarding manner. You’ll have more energy to leave the bed in the morning, hit the treadmill and embark on a more physically challenging routine. This energy boost can be attributed to body’s increased reliance on ketone bodies as primary source of energy. Ketone bodies are resistant to sudden changes in blood pressure and blood sugar; providing a more reliable source of energy in contrast to glucose, which leaves you hazy and lethargic.
2. Interim Delay in Performance
While this may contradict the whole discussion just above, intermittent drops in performance are very likely to occur; especially in cases where cardio activities are in question. Glycogen, the trusty enzyme that supported cardio workouts, is suddenly reduced to a second-tier energy source which explains a dip in performance. The sudden abandonment of glucose in favor of healthier fats may cause a temporary drop in performance which is likely to wade away within 3-4 days.
3. Weight Loss
Since the whole point of entering a keto diet routine is to reduce weight, the most visible sign of fat-burning is a marked loss in weight. Ketosis is congruous with loss of appetite, increased fat dissipation and lowered sugar intake. All of this contributes in flattening the belly; which may not represent true weight loss in itself but does lead to noticeable weight reduction in subsequence.
4. Insomnia
Carbs are marked for their somnific capabilities. They induce sleep, and when withdrawn in favor of keto diet, the body takes its time to adapt to newer sleep patterns. If suddenly you are gripped by insomnia, it is an omen that fat-burning or Ketosis has begun. There is more reward in enduring 3-4 days of disturbed sleep schedule than retreating to your carb-laden regimen.
5. Elevated Focus
Caffeinated beverages may provide an instant surge of focus but are counter-productive in the long run. Keto diet, which favors subsuming ketones at a faster rate, eventually increases cognitive performance allowing you to focus with more intent and longer extent. Elevated focus is one of the more latent premonitions of fat-burning.
6. Bad Breath
Usually associated with indigestion, bad breath is a harbinger of Ketosis taking effect. Keto dieters encounter increased levels of acetone in their breath due to increased production of ketone bodies which leave a rather putrid odor in their breath. Bad breath is the most incontrovertible sign of fat-burning and can be subsided by chewing mints or brushing more frequently.
7. Digestive Anomalies
Keto diet mainly consists of greens. Vegetables takes a bit more than usual to digest and release energy. So any digestive anomalies during undergoing keto is a common happenstance. These anomalies harken at fat-burning and most likely subside within a few weeks when your digestive system starts producing relevant digestive enzymes.
The overall effect of keto diet is manifested in increased levels of keto bodies in your breath, urine and stool; all of which are decided markers of fat-burning or ketosis. These keto bodies eventually accumulate to impart a healthy effect of your cells and organs. You can induce Ketosis the moment you restrict carbohydrate intake and upping healthy fat intake. Apart form the 7 signs of knowing when your body is in fat-burning mode, there are more accurate ways to gauge the exact tune of Ketosis in your body like a Blood Keto Level Test or a Urine Test or even a simple Breath Test. No matter what, knowing when your body is in fat-burning mode can prove to be a powerful motivator for pushing towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Increased blood and urine ketones are a tell-tale sign your body is burning fat as a source of energy. Ketone strips, or Acetoacetic Acid reagent strips for urinalysis, is a simple and inexpensive technique to verify if your body is converting fat cells into energy.
This is what they look like.
Testing for fat loss is easy. Just pee on the test strip. If you see color, it means you’re in fat-burning mode. In my opinion they are a must have for anyone trying to burn fat and lose weight.
You need ketone test strips to know if your body is in a position where it can burn fat. Your metabolism can slow so drastically that you cannot lose weight even if you are consuming a measly 1400 calories. The test strips can tell you know if you should decrease food consumption. So, for example, if you pee on the test strip and do not see color, then you know you need to consume less calories. I use them about 5 time a day when on cutting diet.