How to Get Fat
How do we get fat? Are people so different that we need thousands and thousands of diet books that detail various ways for losing weight? The short answer is no, we don't. The human body works pretty much the same for both you and me. And yet, conventional wisdom fails us here, or else we'd have just one diet book (maybe the one you're holding in your hands!). Conventional wisdom teaches that calories and fat (a dense source of calories) are our biggest enemies. Eat more, weigh more. Calories in must be less than calories out in order for us to lose weight, right?
But this isn't quite how our bodies work. And if it were, we'd be in some serious trouble, because no (imaginable) amount of exercise would ever get us out of that debt. We'll talk about that more in another post, but for the moment, let's just go with it: We're obviously missing something, otherwise, why are we so overweight (and getting heavier)?
The Body Works
Lots and lots of chemical processes are happening in our body at any given time, and different hormones and enzymes all play their part in regulating fat and fat reserves. The crazy part is that the body knows just what to do to maintain balance. (It's friggin' awesome! Seriously, have you wondered at your body lately?)
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| Does this nut make me look fat? |
Take a look at the animal world for a moment. Realize that most animals don’t get fat unless they need to (for colder climates, etc.). Their bodies are working just like they should, because the processes that regulate fat production and storage are in balance. Squirrels and bears (and even dogs, for the most part) are slim in the summer, good and fat for the winter. And it's not just about how much they eat. When the temperature falls, chemicals released in their bodies tell their systems to store more of what they take in as fat, both for nutrition and insulation. Along with that, their energy levels drop so that they can conserve more of their fat for other needs. As winter ends, and fat stores are depleted, their energy levels pick back up and they're back to their slim selves for the spring. So fat retention and energy levels are kind of determined for them, rather than by any conscious decision on their part to "get slim," or to "have more energy."
I'm not suggesting that temperature is the magic bullet to weight loss for humans, but I am suggesting that our bodies are capable of wonderful things and some pretty hardcore regulation. And fat retention is not something so easily manipulated by exercise or calorie restriction, two of the biggest "secrets" that weight loss books sell over and over. Our bodies know how to maintain balance, and our system is well-regulated. But when that balance is shifted, when these processes are manipulated into imbalance, then we get into trouble.
We're going to look more closely at just one of those processes, and how it gets out of control. The big one. And guess what? I'm giving away the secret for free! Or, conversely, if you'd like to donate to the cause, I'd be glad for you to contact me with monetary amounts in proportion to your undying adoration and limitless appreciation. Or would it be "adulation"?
