Burning fat for beginners. We explain everything you need to know about how your body burns fat.

Burning fat is the way to reach your health goals. If you want to lose weight, fat burning is how you do it. But if you want to burn fat, it's important to know exactly what it is and how it works. Only then can you get started on losing fat. In this blog, we tell you all about burning fat and what this process looks like in your body.

What is fat burning?

Put simply, burning fat is the process where your body converts fat into energy. Your liver breaks fat down into fatty acids and glycerol. Your body then converts these into carbon dioxide, water and energy. Your body uses this energy to power your muscles. But while we say it's simple, there is a whole process before fat gets converted into energy. This process is called glucose burning.

What is glucose burning?

Glucose is a carb made from starch and sugars. Glucose burning is the process where your body gets energy from carbs, fat and protein. There is a set order in where your body gets its energy from. First, your body takes energy from carbs. Carbs are converted into glucose in your body. Glucose is then the fuel you need to move. Your body always has a reserve supply of glucose, which is used when you exercise. Always remember that your body burns carbs before it burns protein and fat.

How does your body burn fat?

Now we know that your body converts fat into energy, and that fat is not first in line when it comes to fat burning. That leaves one question: how exactly do you burn fat? Once fat has been converted into energy, it's important to put your body in a negative energy balance. When this happens, your body starts burning fat. It then draws on your fat reserve, exactly what that reserve is for. When you take in more energy than your body needs, your body converts it back into fat. If you keep doing this, your fat reserve keeps growing and your body fat percentage goes up too. Make sure you take in less energy than you use, and your body will use its stored energy. In this process your body burns fat, so your body fat percentage goes down.

Why aren't you burning fat?

Are you exercising well and watching your eating to burn fat, but it just won't work? Unfortunately, that can happen… Luckily, we know a few reasons why. We're happy to share them with you.

• You sleep too little

It sounds odd, but sleep is very important for fat burning. Your body needs enough energy to keep functioning well on the inside too. A good night's sleep has a big influence on this.

• You eat too little

When you eat too little, you give your body too little fuel. Your body then switches to survival mode, so it no longer takes energy from your fat reserves.

• You don't move enough

Not only through food, but also through exercise you burn fat, of course. If you move or exercise too little, your fat burning will be slower. Try to move for at least half an hour to an hour a day.

• Your nutrients are out of balance

As mentioned earlier, your body burns carbs before fat. The fewer carbs you take in, the sooner your body switches to burning fat. So keep a close eye on this.

We hope this has given you an insight into how fat burning works. Good luck becoming the best version of yourself!