The science behind weight loss...

[Daisy]

Have you ever considered how our bodies loose weight - what is the science behind it?
I only ask as everyone is advised that if you eat healthily - and exercise regularly that you will loose weight. I have not had that experience. I used to go to the gym between 5-7 times per week (sometimes twice in a day! And according to my diabetic dietician 'eat like a bird' (to quote her - "Aren't you sick that you don't loose weight? It's not fair is it").

As far as I can see - most diets whether they are high fibre, atkins whatever work on the principal that if you start giving yourself less food - you body will naturally start burning it's fat to give you the energy it is used to (which can in turn lead to ketadiaosis). So how does a diabetic (esp T1) who test their levels all the time (and so is probably far more aware of ketodiaosis and do everything to avoid it) loose weight?

Does the normal Joe average experience ketadiaosis ? but they are not aware of it? I can't see how else you loose weight as your body naturally uses fat stores to produce energy when you are not getting enough from diet - at what other time does it ever do this? We are advised to eat less calories than we use and that is how you loose weight - but in that case - the body surely naturally uses up it's fat stores for glucose - or is there some other secret supply (apart from the liver) in the body that obviously my body has a lot of and never needs to use the fat stores!!!!
Like I say - would love to know the science - I have googled it and the only answere you ever get is eat less calories than you use. But that is not a reason! How does it happen? Why? How?!!
I hope I have made what I mean clear?!
I may not be skinny - but I am fit!
Any thoughts anyone?!

 

[sofaraway]

be careful not to confuse ketosis and ketoacidosis.

ketosis is what happens when the body uses fat for energy, with adequate insulin this is ok for people with diabetes (peopel without diabetes go through ketosis)

ketoacidosis is very dangerous and is caused by the breakdown of fat due to being unable to use glucose because of the absence of insulin which allows acid to accumilate in the blood, which can be life threatening if not treated.

if someone else can expalin more detailed or scientifically it would be appreciated, this is just my basic knowledge

 

[VBH]

Just to add...

DKA occurs with ketones and a BG over 18. It may have to be a lot higher than 18 to incapacitate, but that is why meters start showing ketone warnings at around 16 (although half the meters out there cannot spel "ketones")

 

[C*5_Dodger]

Hi Daisy,

Of the three main food groups, carbohydrate is of no value except for producing fuel. Protein can under certain circumstances be converted by the liver to glucose, but it is also used to build lean tissue. Similarly fat is used to build cells in addition to being used as a fuel. So the idea of using the total calorie value of our food in a diet is meaningless. If the food does not get oxidised you can't count the calories it contains, since calories are produced as a result of oxidisation (Oxidisation is an exothermic chemical reaction i.e. it produces excess heat ? calories). I have never read anything anywhere in connection with diets that does not refer to ?burning calories? So I don't expect you to believe me! A calorie is a unit of energy, how do you burn energy? It is a meaningless concept. Anyway, in order to use fat as fuel the level of insulin in your blood stream must be low. This in turn means that the amount of carbohydrate consumed must be low. Only then can your body switch to burning fat as fuel. This can take place in a few days, but you may feel dreadful for a week or so until your body gets used to using the new fuel. Severely restricting carbohydrate causes ketones to be made from fat, the diet is then said to be ketonic. There are many low carbers on the web, here's the URL of Barry Groves'. He has not got it completely right but it's pretty good. The above is for non diabetics, for type 1s lowering carbohydrate means lowering insulin. Consult a professional that knows about this approach

http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/carbs-weight-gain.html