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5 Best Cardiovascular Exercises to Lose Body Fat

Boost your fat loss with expert-guided cardio exercises tailored for maximum burn.

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Choosing cardiovascular exercises to lose body fat might seem daunting, but with the right moves and guidance, it's entirely within reach. I'm Cara D’Orazio, a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor with 19 years of experience, and I’m here to walk you through 5 cardiovascular exercises to lose body fat. My expertise spans strength training, barre, and Pilates, all designed to make fitness accessible and enjoyable.


That's why we'll explore effective exercises ranging from the dynamic mountain climber to the powerful kettlebell swing. These workouts are chosen for their ability to elevate heart rates, target key muscle groups, and optimize fat burning—perfect for integrating into your routine between weight training sessions. Whether you're a beginner, dealing with injuries, or simply looking for low-impact options, I've got you covered. My approach, recognized by Forbes and Women's Health, is about making sure you can "workout like nobody is watching," focusing on what feels right for you. Let's dive into these exercises and start you on the path to losing body fat today.

Mountain Climber

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In the mountain climber exercise, start in a plank position with your wrists directly under your elbows and your elbows beneath your shoulders. Your body should form a straight line from head to heels, ensuring your neck aligns with your shoulders, which align with your hips, and your hips with your heels. Maintain your hips low and your legs straight.

To execute, you can either hop your knees in, alternating so that as your right knee comes forward, your left leg extends back, or for a low impact version, simply pull one knee in at a time, focusing on engaging your core. It's especially important for beginners or those with knee or lower back injuries to consider the low impact version to avoid strain. Performing mountain climbers effectively, even if only for one to two minutes at a time, can significantly enhance fat burning during strength training workouts.

Modified Burpee

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The second exercise could be a modified burpee or a traditional full burpee. It's advised that beginners, those with injuries, or older individuals opt for the modified version to avoid strain.

For a traditional burpee, start standing, then place your hands on the floor and hop into a plank position—maintaining the plank form described in the mountain climber instructions. Then, hop back to a standing position. An optional pushup can be added while in the plank position before standing up, though this may not be suitable for everyone.

For the modified burpee, place your hands on the floor and step back into a plank instead of hopping. Here, you can perform a standard pushup or modify it by dropping to your knees, then step back to the starting position. This is the second exercise.

RELATED: 13 Strategies to Burn Body Fat Faster Than Ever Before, From a Champion Bodybuilder

Sumo Squat Jump

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The third cardiovascular exercise is the sumo squat jump. Start with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart, toes slightly pointed outwards. Ensure your head aligns with your shoulders, shoulders with hips, and hips with heels, maintaining a wide stance. Squat down, bringing your hips to knee level or just above, ensuring weight distribution through your feet.

For the high-impact version, propel yourself upwards into a jump, landing softly on your toes, then balls of your feet, and finally your heels. If jumping is not feasible, rise onto your toes instead, resembling a calf raise at the peak of the movement, then lower back down, reloading through your feet at the squat's base.

Regular Squat Jump

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The fourth exercise is a traditional squat jump, differing from the sumo squat jump by targeting the thighs and glutes more directly, as opposed to the sumo's focus on the inner thighs and glutes. Like the previous exercises, perform these until you reach fatigue—whether that's 20, 30, or more repetitions. These exercises are intended to elevate your heart rate and burn fat, especially when incorporated between weight training sessions.

Squat Jump

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For the squat jump, position your feet parallel and hip-width apart, toes pointing forward. Initiate the movement by squatting down, ensuring your weight is on your heels. Your ankles should align with your knees, and your knees with your hips. You can squat down until your hips are nearly at knee level. Propel yourself upward into a jump from this position. For those unable to jump, rising onto the toes, similar to performing a calf raise, offers an alternative. Then, lower yourself back to the starting position.

RELATED: 11 Top Fitness Trends Right Now, According to an Industry Expert

Kettlebell Swing

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The fifth cardiovascular exercise is the kettlebell swing, which can also be performed with a dumbbell if a kettlebell is unavailable. To adapt the grip for a dumbbell, place your thumbs atop the dumbbell head with your fingertips underneath, ensuring the dumbbell remains vertical—be cautious to maintain a secure grip to prevent it from flying out of your hands.

The kettlebell swing primarily involves a hip hinge rather than a deep squat. Begin with your feet parallel and hip-width apart. Instead of bending deeply at the knees, push your hips back, engaging in a hip hinge. This movement involves projecting your buttocks towards the back of the room. As you swing the kettlebell or dumbbell forward, thrust your hips forward, fully extending your hip flexors and squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement. The kettlebell or dumbbell should reach shoulder height. Continue this exercise until fatigue, which typically occurs after no more than 20 repetitions, especially with a heavier weight.

Cara D'Orazio is a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor with 19 years of experience and the Owner of C.G.M. Fitness.

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Walking is one of the most effective—and convenient—ways to burn fat and get fit. There’s a reason #HotGirlWalks is so popular in the online fitness space: Walking is a low-impact way of working out with a low chance of causing injury, and it’s accessible for essentially any fitness level or ability. All you have to do is get going and build your way up to the ideal level of endurance. And the best part is, you don’t have to buy any equipment or fancy gadgets. All that’s needed is some decent shoes, a space to walk (whether outside or on the spot), and the motivation to make it happen. Here are five ways to walk to burn body fat—no gym membership is needed!


Burning Calories

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Experts say you can’t lose weight without burning off more calories than you take in—and walking is a great way to do that. “Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories,” Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD, tells the Mayo Clinic. “If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.”

Walk For At Least 30 Minutes

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Because walking is a lower-intensity cardio exercise, you need to do it for at least 30 minutes to get the fat-burning benefits. “If you walk 2 miles, you’ll burn 200 calories, mostly from carbs but a little from fat because, as you reach the end of your walk, when you’re using mostly slow glycolysis and your oxidative system,” according to HPRC. “If you run 2 miles, you’ll still burn 200 calories, but you will do so faster than with walking and almost exclusively from carbs. Since 2 miles is a fairly short distance, you will probably finish the run in less time than it takes for your body to start the fat-oxidation process. A cardio session should be at least 20–30 minutes and at an intensity of about 70% of your max heart rate in order to maximize fat loss during exercise.”

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Raising Your Heart Rate

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Even walking in place will get your heart rate going and burn fat. Just move! “Anything that gets you moving instead of just sitting or lying down is going to be beneficial for you in the long run,” exercise physiologist Jordan Boreman, MS, CES, tells the Cleveland Clinic. “By walking in place, you’re raising your heart rate, which is going to signal to your body to start pumping more oxygen and blood to your muscles to help them move more efficiently, thus burning more calories.”

Interval Training

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Interval training is a good way to give your walks an edge. “You can also alternate periods of brisk walking with leisurely walking,” say the experts at the Mayo Clinic. “This type of interval training has many benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness and burning more calories than regular walking. And interval training can be done in less time than regular walking.”

RELATED:Nicole Winter Flashes Flat Abs and Shares Lower Body At-Home Workout for Beginners

Change the Intensity

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Don’t forget to vary your walking pace as your body becomes accustomed to your fitness level. “It’s very good for people who are just starting out,” Boreman says. “Walking in place is an exercise that’s going to help you burn calories over a short time span. Over time, your body is going to get used to the exercise that you’re doing. So varying it up and increasing intensity as you go on can help with additional weight loss. It’s convenient, it’s something that you don’t have to travel anywhere to do it either.”

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Are you trying to lose weight and burn fat? Cutting calories and exercising more are general approaches to getting in shape, but there are specific things you can do to maximize fat burn and lose weight faster. Body Network consulted two top diet and fitness experts to offer some tips on key things you should do to boost fat burning.


Lift Weights

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Sara Haley, American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified trainer and instructor, recommends incorporating strength training, “especially heavy weights,” she says. “The more muscle you have on your body, the more calories you burn and the more results you will see. Bonus: Lift heavier weights and see quicker and better results!

RELATED: 9 Surprising Things That Happen When You Quit Processed Foods

Do Cardio (Almost) Every Day

Certified Santa Monica personal trainerJason Kozma, aka Mr. America and Mr. Muscle Beach, a champion bodybuilder who trains clients at Santa Monica-based High-Performance Personal Training, recommends doing cardio almost every day.

“Every pound of body fat contains 3500 stored calories. If you want to lose 1 pound of body fat a week, you have to have at least a caloric deficit of 500 calories per day. If you want to lose more, then you have to do more,” he says. “You would be surprised at how many people think that they can alter their diet and lose weight without adding additional cardiovascular exercise. It’s simply not possible to create enough of a caloric deficit by changing your caloric intake in order to burn fat at any sort of significant rate.”

Switch to Steady State Cardio

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Kozma also recommends switching from cardio to steady state cardio, an aerobic exercise that involves maintaining a consistent pace for an extended period of time. “I personally prefer steady state cardio in the fat-burning zone to preferentially burn body fat rather than muscle tissue,” he says. Haley agrees, recommending workouts like swimming, walking, jogging, and cycling.

RELATED: 15 Foods Experts Say You Should Stop Eating Today

Eat More Protein

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Haley recommends amping up your protein intake. “It takes more energy for your body to digest protein than it does for fats or carbs, which means you burn more calories when you eat protein,” she says. “It also helps reduce appetite and prevent muscle loss during fat loss,” adds Kozma. “Protein supports muscle growth, keeps you fuller longer, and helps prevent overeating.”

Sleep More

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The more you sleep, the more fat you can burn, says Haley. “Although often overlooked, sleep can make or break your fat-burning efforts. When you're sleep-deprived, your body produces more cortisol, a hormone that encourages fat storage, particularly around the belly,” she explains.

“Lack of sleep can disrupt hormones that control hunger (ghrelin and leptin), leading to increased cravings and overeating. Poor sleep can also negatively impact insulin sensitivity and increase cortisol production which increases fat storage,” adds Kozma. “You would be astonished at how many people have no idea about this and are chronically under-sleeping and unknowingly sabotaging their fat loss and exercise efforts.”

Get More Incidental Exercise

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“Too often I hear from people, ‘I’m working out, but I’m not seeing results.’ More often than not, I also hear that they do their workout but don’t move their bodies nearly enough for the rest of the day. Consistent daily movement (like walking, taking the stairs, doing laundry, cleaning your house) will keep your body burning fat throughout the rest of the day,” says Haley.

RELATED: I Lost 6 Pounds in 6 Weeks and Shaved Inches Off My Waist by Adding 600 Calories Daily

Incorporate More Healthy Fats

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Eat fats to burn fat, says Kozma. “Healthy fats, such as those from avocados, nuts, and olive oil, can help control hunger and improve the body’s ability to burn fat. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular, improve fat metabolism,” he explains. “Eating healthy fats helps with nutrient absorption, reduces inflammation, and supports long-term fat loss by promoting a feeling of fullness.” And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 31 Fitness Tips Every Beginner Needs to Look Sexy, According to Coaches.

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FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Expert-Recommended

We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. We strive to only recommend products that adhere to our philosophy of eating better while still enjoying what you eat.

As a nationally board-certified and licensed athletic trainer with ten years of experience in the fitness industry, I have trained middle school, high school, college and professional athletes in just about every sport along with moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas up to the age of 94. I have encountered just about every demographic and scenario you can imagine. What holds true is that every client wants to feel stronger, and look more lean.


So here are my 5 favorite fat burning exercises—yes they are boring, but we have to remember that simplicity is a major key to consistency and one workout will never make or break your fat-burning goals.

Squats

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Goblet, Back, Front, etc….

Squats are the most commonly done exercise in the world, we all squat subconsciously in day-to-day activities and squatting uses your entire lower body and hip complex, all of your abdominal muscles, erector spinae, and much more. There are tons and tons of variations and all of which have huge benefits when performed correctly and when structured properly into a workout.

RELATED: 14 Proven Ways to Get Back in Shape

Deadlifts

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Trap bar, Kettlebell, Barbell, Dumbbell, etc…

Deadlifts are often deemed a dangerous exercise and I don’t agree entirely. The bottom line is the target, your entire posterior chain of lower body muscles, your low back, erector spinae, all abdominal muscles, traps, lats, and biceps. I think these should be done for sets of 6-12 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest in between.

Sprinting

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Repeat sprints to be exact.

Doing repeat sprints emulates HIIT training and many forms of sport. When most people get asked what they would prefer their body to look like, 100m sprinter or marathon runner, they choose sprinter every time. Get and keep your heart rate elevated with max effort full body running intervals.

Step Ups/Stairs/Hills

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Overcoming vertical distance.

When I was playing football my senior year in high school and I was trying to get in shape for basketball season, I would run extra hills at practice with my pads on and stairs after practice with no pads. The idea of this movement group is that you are changing levels and alternating legs to generate force and this activates all of your leg muscles, and elevates your heart rate significantly.

RELATED: 13 Secrets for Building Powerful Legs

Kettlebell Swings

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Single Arm, Double, Russian, American, etc…

These can be so effective when done correctly, I was worried about adding them because they can be complex and increase risk of injury but they are fantastic for using your entire body and elevating your heart rate. Another thing that people aren’t aware of is that every time you change your body position relative to gravitational force your body regulates blood pressure. That is why a lot of the exercises mentioned below, as add-ons, incorporate the idea of moving between parallel and perpendicular to the ground.

7 More Effective Fat-Torching Exercises

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Here are some other great exercises that I think deserve a mention, in no particular order and are great alternatives if any of the above, are not ideal for you.

  1. Man-Makers. A weighted burpee with rows, pushups and presses added in for total body torture.
  2. Thrusters or Wall Balls. If you can squat, add some weight or a medicine ball to the mix and get the additional overhead pressing involved.
  3. Push-ups. The upper body squat.
  4. Pull-ups. The upper body deadlift.
  5. VersaClimber. The versaclimber claims to have the best EPOC results of any cardio machine on the market.
  6. Rowing. Although this is the only sitting exercise, rowing uses approximately 80% of all the muscles in your body and when done for HIIT or EMOM style workouts, will torch you head to toe.
  7. Swimming. An under-talked-about but extremely safe and effective exercise, if you can swim efficiently and treat it the same as repeat sprints, stairs or the above-mentioned circuit training styles, swimming leaves no muscle group behind. Plus, it includes added resistance in all directions, breath holds, and no joint impact.

What I Mean by "Torching Fat"

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The physiological recipe for that is typically the same for each person, prioritizing daily protein intake, water, sleep, and compound resistance training for exercise. Now when we talk about torching fat, certain exercises do it better than others because of their ability to activate multiple major muscle groups, stimulate growth hormone and testosterone production, elevate the heart rate and increase post-exercise oxygen consumption, otherwise known as EPOC, or the rate at which the body burns calories after exercise.

Besides the exercises themselves, the intention behind them matters—doing air squats when you are already a well-conditioned individual isn't going to stimulate your body enough to torch fat but if you’re a novice exerciser that is in your 50’s, maybe it will.

Aside from specific exercise movement patterns, how you perform and group exercises can greatly improve the fat-burning results. For example, doing HIIT interval training versus traditional 1 rep max strength training.

You should learn to use different work-to-rest ratios—TABATA is the most famous, it's a 2:1 ratio, 20 seconds of exercise, 10 seconds of rest, for 8 rounds or 4 minutes. Try others like 1:1, 30 seconds of work, 30 seconds of rest, 2:1, 40 seconds of exercise, 20 seconds of rest, etc. The other method that keeps workouts very simple and structured is EMOM—every minute on the minute you perform an exercise or group of exercises, your remaining time left is your rest time, the harder/faster you work, the more rest time you earn. I remember doing a 25-minute EMOM in college for basketball practice, we had to run a full-court ladder or suicide every minute on the minute for 25 minutes straight, I remember feeling like one word, death.

I typically recommend managing your heart rate at about 70-85% of max heart rate. You can use devices like the Apple watch, WHOOP, Oura rings, Garmin watches, myZone straps and more to see how hard you really are working, elevate to about 80-85% and then rest until your back down at 65-70% and repeat.

Lastly, we have to remember that YOU CANNOT spot reduce fat, we lose fat systemically across the body.

Related: 11 Proven Ways to Make Your Diet Stick for Good

Final Word From the Trainer

Dillan Foss, ATCDillan Foss, ATC

With over a decade in the fitness industry, catering to a diverse clientele ranging from athletes to seniors, the recipe for torching fat is the same, add lean muscle. The key ingredients for achieving that include prioritizing protein intake, hydration, adequate rest, and engaging in compound resistance training. Understanding that spot reduction is a myth, emphasis should be placed on systemic fat loss through compound exercise movements like squats, deadlifts, sprints, step-ups, and kettlebell swings. By incorporating these exercises with intention and consistency, you can torch fat and transform into a leaner and stronger version of yourself.

Dillan Foss is a Board Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer, and the founder of Limitless Theory, a wellness concierge business rooted in the integrative benefits of sports medicine and dietary and lifestyle interventions.

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FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Expert-Recommended

We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. We strive to only recommend products that adhere to our philosophy of eating better while still enjoying what you eat.

“How to lose body fat” is a question I get asked a lot as a nutritionist at Top Nutrition Coaching. Maybe a client wants to shrink their belly, reduce some arm flab, or slim down a double chin—no matter the area they want to target, it’s important to know how to reduce body fat. “There are three key components of a sustainable body fat loss plan,” says Lacy Puttuck, MS, RDN, CISSN, CSCS, a Registered Dietitian also at Top Nutrition Coaching:


  1. Weight training: Skeletal muscle is metabolically active and burns a great amount of energy even at rest. By increasing and maintaining muscle mass, your overall calorie burn is higher. This higher calorie burn makes keeping fat off more successful.
  2. Higher protein diet: You must feed the skeletal muscle to maintain it. Eating enough protein provides the building blocks for this to occur. Current research supports 1.5-2 grams per kg of body weight (Philips, 2014)
  3. Adopting healthy habits: These habits need to include cooking meals at home and avoiding unnecessary calories. Many times, we consume snacks and calories that exceed our metabolic rate. Over time, this will cause fat mass to be gained back. It is important to look at daily habits that will not support fat loss and work with a health professional on making long term adjustments.”

Those are the basics, but read on for a more comprehensive look at how to lose body fat, with proven methods and tips that work, and find out exactly how to lose body fat this year.

What is Body Fat?

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Body fat, or adipose tissue, is a major source of stored energy (calories). Its size and function is based on a variety of factors. Within fat tissue, we find nerve cells, immune cells, and connective tissue along with the fat cells. Fat cells can release hormones related to appetite and metabolism and help form steroid hormones (like testosterone). We have subcutaneous fat, located directly underneath the skin where it cushions bones and joints. There’s also visceral fat, or ‘belly fat,’ that gathers deep in the abdomen, where it wraps around digestive organs and the heart.

Weight loss only shrinks fat cell size, not the number. The amount of fat cells you will ultimately have is set in puberty, and they stay put throughout adult life when weight is stable. However, weight gain from extra calories makes fat cells bigger--they expand like a balloon to store the extra fuel. Once the size limit of a cell is reached, new cells are formed.

There are different types of fat, including brown, white, beige, and pink. We typically refer to white fat when talking about body fat loss. It’s made for storage and is the most abundant type. It hangs out in the belly, thighs, and hips and releases over 50 types of hormones, enzymes, and growth factors. Some of these help the liver and muscles respond better to insulin. If there are too many or larger fat cells, insulin doesn’t work as well and the risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease goes up.

Essential fat, located in most organs, muscles, and the central nervous system, is a combination of fat types and is required for normal body function. It helps manage hormones like estrogen, insulin, cortisol, and leptin, helps control body temperature, and aids in absorbing vitamins and minerals. If body fat drops too low, there may not be enough essential fat to perform these duties.

RELATED: 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week

The Difference Between Losing Weight and Losing Body Fat

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Weight loss is the overall decrease in weight from all parts of the body, including fat, muscle, and stored water. It’s critical to remember that muscle is part of that number. We can expect to lose around 20% of total weight from fat-free mass, like muscle, in the process of intended weight loss. (That’s the equivalent of 8 pounds of muscle for a 40-pound weight loss.) When calories are severely restricted (looking at you, 1200-calorie-or-less diets), that amount goes up as the body starts to break down the protein in the muscles and convert it into glucose for fuel. Muscles are active calorie burners. Losing more muscle mass during weight loss can lower metabolism more than what would be expected with a change in body mass. This means you can gain weight (fat) back much more easily.

Body fat loss is the specific reduction of stored fat from the body. Changes in body fat don’t always align with weight measured on a scale, and I’ve frequently seen in my career clients who drop clothing sizes without a comparable change in weight on the scale. Loss of fat while maintaining lean body mass is more important than overall weight loss, considering the problems that can occur with excess fat like that in the belly.

Understanding the Basics

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So, how does the body store and burn fat? When we eat, the presence of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids from food in the intestine triggers the release of the hormone insulin. Insulin tells the cells to open their ‘doors’ and let the nutrients in, and to then store them. While glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles, tiny fat droplets go into the fat cells. Excess calories from any source (protein, fat, or carbs) trigger fat storage. If the circulating insulin level is high, like what happens with insulin resistance, then the enzyme that breaks down fat (lipase) becomes very active as well. The tiny fatty acids from the broken-down fats are absorbed from the blood into fat, muscle, and liver cells, where they then stay. Fat cells can store glucose and amino acids from proteins, too—but it takes more effort, so they are much more likely to store fat than the other nutrients.

The body needs calories for energy at rest to pump blood, inflate the lungs, and for brain function among other things. We need calories when we’re active, as the muscles need energy to do their job and move you. We even need calories when we eat—our digestive system needs energy to break down and store the nutrients from the foods.

So many needs, it’s no wonder the body has become so good at its survival skills! When it senses deprivation of fuel (calories), some organs in the body make and release hormones that act on cells of the liver, muscle, and fat tissue and have the opposite effect of insulin. The body starts breaking down glycogen into glucose first, followed by stored fat. When body fat is broken down for energy, or ‘burned, ’ the byproducts leave your body through water (in sweat and urine) and as carbon dioxide (through breathing out).

RELATED: This Plan Is How to Lose 5 Percent Body Fat In 2 Weeks

Key Factors That Affect Your Ability to Lose Body Fat

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  • Metabolism: The human body evolved to value fat storage and to see calorie shortage as a distress signal. Fuel-burning slows to compensate for fewer (calories) coming in. The body doesn’t know if there’s an intended calorie shortage or a true emergency. Cutting back too much can thus backfire. If you’ve ever been close to running out of gas, you’ve likely changed how you drove to conserve fuel until the next stop—this is a similar scenario. During weight loss, a part of your brain becomes less active, resulting in changes in appetite and hunger hormones such as leptin (“I’m satisfied”) and ghrelin (“I’m hungry”). Fat cells produce leptin, and when they shrink, they make less of it. You feel less full. Ghrelin is made in the stomach and tells the brain it’s time for more fuel; it drives you to eat. During weight loss, ghrelin levels rise and increase hunger. You take in extra calories as you eat more to feel full, with less awareness of the amount you’re truly eating.
  • Physical activity can speed up metabolism to a degree. The temporary boost comes from the ‘afterburn’ effect, otherwise known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption or EPOC, where the calorie-burning rate stays slightly elevated in the hours after exercise. High-intensity exercise results in more circulating epinephrine and human growth hormone—both of which stimulate body fat loss.
  • Genetics: Genes linked to weight gain can affect appetite, metabolism, cravings, and body fat distribution. Some genes make it difficult to lose weight even when changing up your food intake and activity level.
  • Hormones: Changes in sex hormones can affect body fat. For example, the body tries to store more fat during perimenopause. Fat tissue releases estrogen during a time where the amount is otherwise dropping—all part of the body trying to maintain homeostasis. After menopause, the percentage of body weight coming from fat is higher.

The Significance of Diet in the Process of Losing Body Fat

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“When it comes to losing body fat, nutritional intake is the basis for overall success. However, the different aspects of eating may not be what you would expect,” says Courtney Pelitera, MS, RD, CNSC, a Registered Dietitian specializing in sports nutrition & wellness nutrition at Top Nutrition Coaching. “Without a doubt, the most important part of a weight loss diet is to be in a calorie deficit. To put it simply, this means that you are eating fewer calories than you are spending in a day/ week/ month. Other aspects of diet that are significantly important to weight loss are meal timing, nutrient density of food, and nutrient content of food. Some examples of manipulation of these things include intermittent fasting, low carbohydrate diets, or low-fat diets.”

She continues: “The best way to use nutrition for fat loss is to find what works best for you in order to be in a caloric deficit. Looking at the research, there is no one weight loss diet with better long-term effects as long as the caloric deficit is maintained.

For example, if it is going to be easy for you to not eat food from 6 PM - 10 AM, maybe intermittent fasting is the best weight loss strategy for you. If you don’t mind eating lower-fat foods, maybe a low-fat diet is the right call for you.

The Mediterranean diet is one of the most well researched and studied for long term effects on weight loss and cardiovascular health. This diet involves eating high amounts of fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein, and healthy fats like avocado and olive oils.

Of note, higher protein diets are something that I recommend frequently for fat loss. This is because protein helps to preserve muscle and keeps you full for a longer period of time. This allows you not only to eat less calories but also to maintain a higher metabolism through higher muscle composition.”

RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Fit as a Pear Body Type

How to Achieve a Calorie Deficit and the Safest Way to Achieve It

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“A calorie deficit is when your body is using more energy than you are consuming,” says Pelitera. “A good deal of this is determined by a person’s basal metabolic rate. This is how many calories your body burns just surviving (brain function, organ function, digesting food, pumping blood, etc.) on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, for many of us, this is not something that can be drastically changed. However, we can change a small percentage of overall calories burned with daily movement and exercise.

Keep in mind that you cannot out-exercise a poor diet. However, you can help the weight loss process a bit by getting more movement each day and utilizing strength training.”

Specific Foods or Nutrients That Can Aid in Losing Body Fat

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“Diets higher in overall protein (about 25-30g protein per meal) are shown to have higher satiety levels, leading to less overeating, less snacking, and an overall lower calorie intake,” says Pelitera. “No one food is going to burn fat, but diets high in fiber, fruit and vegetable intake, lean protein sources, and low-fat dairy products provide a vast nutrient profile while promoting overall health and encouraging healthy weight loss.”

The Role of Exercise in Losing Body Fat and Which Types Are Most Effective

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“Exercise alone will not aid in weight loss,” says Pelitera. “Studies have shown that exercise increases appetite, and therefore, naturally, we eat more when exercising. However, this absolutely does not mean that people should not be exercising, as the benefits of exercise on cardiovascular, mental health, aerobic fitness, blood glucose levels, and blood pressure are significant.”

She goes on: “Exercise in combination with a caloric deficit is the key to success. Regular aerobic exercise has been linked over the last decade of research to losing and maintaining low body weight throughout the research. This includes things like running, swimming, skating, elliptical, biking,and even walking on a regular basis.”

How to Balance Cardio and Strength Training for Optimal Fat Loss

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“We know that both strength training and cardiovascular exercise are very important in overall health and longevity. For weight loss specifically, cardiovascular exercise has been shown to be more effective in long-term weight loss. However, looking at body composition, fat mass in particular, strength training is known to be very important in reducing overall fat mass while also maintaining muscle mass,” says Pelitera.

“When exercising, the order of exercise (cardio vs strength) has not shown to make enough of a difference to be overly concerned with which you do first. My advice to clients is to do the exercise you want to focus on more first. If you want to work on building some strength, do that first. If you want to try to run fast or farther for example, do cardio first. In theory, you will be more tired for the second exercise, therefore might not put your best work in.

Alternatively, if you are prone to skipping a certain part of the workout, like people who love strength training but hate cardio, do the cardio first to make sure it gets done!

A good exercise split is to focus on strength training 2-4 times per week for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cardiovascular exercise recommendations are 5 days per week at a moderate intensity for 30 minutes, 5 times per week.

Of note, there has been some more recent research on “exercise snacks” that I really like to implement. This is the idea that all exercises do not have to be done at one time. For example, taking a 10 minute brisk walk before work, on your lunch break, and then after work will fulfill your 30 minutes of cardio exercise without feeling so tedious throughout the day.”

RELATED:12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster

Debunking Common Exercise Myths Related to Fat Loss

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Myth: I only need to increase my cardio exercise for fat loss

Fact: “Cardio is very important for fat loss, however combining cardio with strength training is the best way to optimize your body to lose fat and not lose muscle mass throughout your weight loss journey,” says Pelitera.

Myth: I should make sure to burn a certain amount of calories according to my smartwatch for fat loss.

Fact: “The fact is, our smartwatches and devices are not very accurate at determining how many calories we are burning or how much food we should eat at all. Instead, try using the watch to determine your step count. Make a goal to increase your normal steps by about 1,000 steps per day. Increase this number each week to increase daily movement,” she says.

Myth: I worked out today, so I can eat that extra treat at lunch.

Fact: “This ‘earning my food’ type of mindset is a poor way to treat your relationship with food and your body. It will also not help when it comes to weight loss. Instead try eating consistently, about the same number of calories everyday. Incorporate foods that your love on a weekly basis, including a sweet treat here and there. Try splitting your treat with a friend or family member!” she says.

Beyond Diet and Exercise, The Following Lifestyle Factors Contribute to Body Fat Loss

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“When trying to lose body fat and optimize metabolism, it’s important to ensure you are getting optimal sleep and managing stress in addition to quality nutrition and exercise. Both sleep and stress are key players in metabolism,” says Colette Micko, MS, RDN, CDES,Registered Dietitian at Top Nutrition Coaching. “If you are getting inadequate sleep, generally defined as less than 7 hours per night, it will impact workout performance and recovery from workouts, nutrition habits including overall food preferences and portion sizes, and disrupt the body's natural rhythm to burn fat for energy.”

“Chronic stress can have similar effects and directly and indirectly impact body fat reduction efforts,” she continues. “Being in a state of chronic stress creates a hormonal cascade that can potentially negativvely impact mental and physical health. Chronic stress can increase the hormone cortisol, which can create higher blood sugar levels throughout the day and insulin resistance. It can also lead to decreased serotonin which increases cravings for simple carbohydrates and disrupts natural sleep rhythm.”

RELATED: The 11 Supplements Everyone Should Prioritize, According to a Nutrition Expert

Sleep and Stress Management Impact Body Fat Levels

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“Both inadequate sleep and chronic stress can negatively impact body fat levels for a variety of reasons,” says Micko. “Specifically, lack of sleep and chronic stress can:

  • Increase hormones associated with chronic inflammation, such as cortisol.
  • It can lead to dysregulation of appetite (increased hunger and less responsiveness to feeling full. This makes it harder to stick with your nutrition regimen and more likely to consume higher volumes of food.
  • Increase cravings for highly palatable foods, specifically high fat/high sugar foods that trigger the pleasure center of your brain.
  • Increase insulin resistance, which makes it hard to burn body fat and increases fat storage.

One study found that sufficient sleep can actually accelerate the body’s ability to lose weight and body fat. This study looked at overweight adults who followed a calorie-restricted diet for two weeks while getting 5.5 hours of sleep versus 8.5 hours of sleep. The group who got more sleep lost more weight, reduced body fat, and felt less hunger throughout.”

Advanced Techniques or Technologies That Help in Losing Body Fat

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“Some of the more advanced techniques in body fat loss involve a larger time investment from the individual. Many people can lose a significant amount of body fat with small changes to their daily routine, nutrition, and exercise programs. When there are sticking points or very specific goals more advanced methods may need to be employed,” says Puttuck. “One of the big ones, nutritionally, is weighing food and tracking it all in a calorie and macronutrient counting app. Many people are resistant to adopting this habit because of the time investment. It does allow you to see your food in a detailed way and make very detailed and precise changes depending on goals. This data is also very useful to coaches and dietitians in helping them make those smaller changes.

Another advanced technique for body fat loss is including some High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in the fitness program. This is advanced because you should have a greater than average fitness level before doing HIIT exercise to avoid injury and illness. HIIT has been shown to lead to greater body fat loss and greater retention of lean mass during times of caloric deficit (Viana, 2019).”

How to Tailor Your Fat Loss Plan to Your Body Type or Metabolic Rate

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“Metabolic rate is determined by many variables, and you can get measurements done that can estimate this more accurately for you. Knowing your metabolic rate can help you to plan your nutrition and exercise effectively for fat loss. Your metabolic rate does change with age, foods you eat and changes in skeletal muscle mass,” says Puttuck.

“Body type plays a role in how and where body fat is lost from. The shape of your body does determine where fat will be stored more readily and where loss can be challenging. It is important to know that with the right techniques in nutrition and exercise, you can lose that body fat, but it cannot be targeted. When we are in a caloric deficit and working to maintain lean mass, body fat will be lost.

Higher protein diets have been shown to slightly increase metabolic rate due to the higher thermic effect of food protein carries. Those who eat a higher protein diet during fat-loss periods maintain more skeletal muscle mass and have an overall greater calorie burn throughout the day (Pesta, 2014). Eating higher protein also increases satiety, leading to less caloric intake.”

Common Challenges or Plateaus People Face When Trying to Lose Body Fat

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“When trying to lose body fat, it’s important to have realistic expectations. It’s not truly a “plateau” or stall until you have seen no change or progress for three weeks or more. It’s normal to have 1-2 weeks with no change as your body is establishing a new baseline. Losing body fat and losing weight is stress on your body; having periods where your body rests and reaches a new equilibrium is a positive sign that your body has reached a point of maintenance,” says Puttuck.

“Common challenges when people are trying to lose body fat are:

  • Skipping meals or irregular meal patterns
  • Undereating/underfueling (especially with women)
  • Focusing on caloric intake without emphasis on nutrient-dense foods and diet quality
  • Not lifting heavy enough promotes muscle growth, which in tern helps you burn more calories at rest and shed more body fat
  • Doing the same workout without seeing progress. You need to continually change up your workouts to see results.

How to Overcome a Weight Loss Plateau

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“There are many different ways to overcome a weight loss plateau, but making a change or shift to your nutrition, workouts, sleep or stress management are important areas to start with,” says Puttuck.

“To determine which area of your lifestyle habits needs adjusting, I would recommend spending some time bringing awareness to your current habits. This can include self-monitoring in the form of tracking food intake and sleep habits. Reassessing your food intake to see what patterns may be contributing to your stall can be a helpful first step in overcoming your plateau. Are you eating too little? Are you falling back into mindless snacking patterns or eating late at night? Are you getting enough protein throughout the day? Bringing awareness to your current patterns will help determine the next steps.

It’s also important to continually challenge your body in new ways when it comes to exercise. Making a shift to the intensity, frequency, or training type can help your body shift out of a weight loss stall. This can mean lifting heavier weights, adding more high intensity style cardio into your routine, or just increasing daily movement/walking.

Breaking through a weight loss stall is different for each individual. I would ensure you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep most nights, limit alcohol consumption, add daily stress management into your self-care routine, and change up your workouts every few months.”

How Can You Maintain Your Body Fat Loss Over the Long Term

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“One of the biggest contributors to the maintenance of body fat loss is the amount of lean mass that was preserved or gained during the time of loss. Skeletal muscle is metabolically active and burns calories at rest. This leads to a greater resting metabolic rate, making weight loss easier to maintain. Weight training before, during and after a fat loss program is key to maintaining that fat loss,” says Puttuck.

“It is also important to adopt healthy habits during phases of fat loss, not just go on a diet to lose fat. Long term fat loss depends on maintaining healthy eating habits and not exceeding caloric need. Too many times, individuals will take on an extreme diet, lose fat and then go back to their old ways once the goal is reached. This is not a recipe for maintenance. Work with a health professional to guide you in making those long term changes that support your fat loss goals.” And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 20 Superfoods for People Over 50.

Cited References

Chouchani ET, Kajimura S. Metabolic adaptation and maladaptation in adipose tissue. Nat Metab. 2019;1(2):189-200. doi:10.1038/s42255-018-0021-8

Turicchi J, O'Driscoll R, Finlayson G, Beaulieu K, Deighton K, Stubbs RJ. Associations between the rate, amount, and composition of weight loss as predictors of spontaneous weight regain in adults achieving clinically significant weight loss: A systematic review and meta-regression. Obes Rev. 2019;20(7):935-946.

doi:10.1111/obr.12849

National Center for Biotechnology Information (US). Genes and Disease [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 1998-. Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22259/ Accessed 3/27/24.

Bjune JI, Strømland PP, Jersin RÅ, Mellgren G, Dankel SN. Metabolic and Epigenetic Regulation by Estrogen in Adipocytes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:828780. Published 2022 Feb 22.

doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.828780

Tirthani E, Said MS, Rehman A. Genetics and Obesity. [Updated 2023 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet].

Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan- Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573068/

van Opstal AM, Wijngaarden MA, van der Grond J, Pijl H. Changes in brain activity after weight loss. Obes Sci Pract. 2019;5(5):459-467. Published 2019 Aug 24. doi:10.1002/osp4.363Sindorf MAG, Germano MD, Dias WG, et al. Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption and Substrate

Oxidation Following High-Intensity Interval Training: Effects of Recovery Manipulation. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021;14(2):1151-1165. Published 2021 Oct 1.

Velotti, N, Guerreiro VA, Freitas P. Obesity, adipose tissue, and inflammation answered in questions. Journal of Obesity. 2022; 2022:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2252516

Athanasiou N, Bogdanis GC, Mastorakos G. Endocrine responses of the stress system to different types of exercise. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2023;24(2):251-266. doi:10.1007/s11154-022-09758-1

Kim JY. Optimal Diet Strategies for Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2021 Mar 30;30(1):20-31. doi: 10.7570/jomes20065. PMID: 33107442; PMCID: PMC8017325.

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/diet-and-weight/

Cox CE. Role of Physical Activity for Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance. Diabetes Spectr. 2017 Aug;30(3):157-160. doi: 10.2337/ds17-0013. PMID: 28848307; PMCID: PMC5556592.

Bellicha A, van Baak MA, Battista F, Beaulieu K, Blundell JE, Busetto L, Carraça EV, Dicker D, Encantado J, Ermolao A, Farpour-Lambert N, Pramono A, Woodward E, Oppert JM. Effect of exercise training on weight loss, body composition changes, and weight maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity: An overview of 12 systematic reviews and 149 studies. Obes Rev. 2021 Jul;22 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):e13256. doi: 10.1111/obr.13256. Epub 2021 May 6. PMID: 33955140; PMCID: PMC8365736.

Willis FB, Smith FM, Willis AP. Frequency of exercise for body fat loss: a controlled, cohort study. J Strength Cond Res. 2009 Nov;23(8):2377-80. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b8d4e8. PMID: 19826285.

CDC Guidelines on exercise.

Viana, R. B., Naves, J. P. A., Coswig, V. S., De Lira, C. A. B., Steele, J., Fisher, J. P., & Gentil, P. (2019). Is interval training the magic bullet for fat loss? A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing moderate-intensity continuous training with high-intensity interval training (HIIT). British journal of sports medicine.

Pesta, D. H., & Samuel, V. T. (2014). A high-protein diet for reducing body fat: mechanisms and possible caveats. Nutrition & metabolism, 11, 1-8.

Phillips, S. M. (2014). A brief review of higher dietary protein diets in weight loss: a focus on athletes. Sports medicine, 44, 149-153.

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Jess, who goes by the handle @pitalifts, is a TikTok influencer and Latina weight loss coach who shares about her experiences losing weight. In one viral video, she reveals the different kinds of cardio that helped her get into her best shape ever. “I've lost over 30 pounds, and I want to talk about the different kinds of cardio that I tried during my weight loss journey from easiest to hardest, and what I liked and didn't like,” she says at the start of the clip. We also asked The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian, to weigh in on her tactics.


1. Incline Walking

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“The first was actually incline walking,” Jess reveals in the video. “I think [it] is perfect if you're just starting out because it's low impact and there's very little chance of injury,” she explains. “Walking is an excellent way to get started in exercise,” agrees Collingwood. If you don’t want to jog/run, elevating the incline on the treadmill is a great way to get your heart rate higher, she adds. “However, be careful with how much and how long you do the incline. Start with just a few degrees for a few minutes. Bring it back down for a few minutes and raise it again, repeating several times in interval style. I have seen people get injured by doing too much incline too quickly and not letting their body acclimate to it.”

Related: This is the #1 Carb You Could Eat For Your Body

2. Cycling

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The second workout on her list? Cycling, “because it's also low impact, but you can increase the resistance and increase the intensity of it,” Jess explained. “Cycling is great for people who don’t want the impact of running or walking,” agrees Collingwood. “You can easily adjust the intensity, as she says with speed and resistance. It is a great way to get the heart rate up and sweat.”

3. StairMaster

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The third workout was the StairMaster, “which is a little more intense, but you can start off slow with five minutes, move up to 10, then 15,” she said. “I love it. I have a bad knee and honestly it didn't even bother me.” Stair stepping machines can be very intense and difficult for beginners, says Collingwood. “An elliptical might be easier on the knees. Once you are used to the motion of the elliptical, maybe then you can try the stair stepping machine for a few minutes and work up from there.”

4. Running

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The last workout that aided in her weight loss was running. “I actually tried to run when I was 160 pounds, which was such a bad idea because all I did was hurt my joints,” she said. “What I did was just wait until I was a little bit lighter to start running again.” Collingwood maintains that running is an excellent calorie torcher, but it is difficult on the knees and other spots like hips and glutes. “Start with a walk/run interval so you can get a rest period of walking between the harder running intervals. Sign up for a race like a 5K to increase motivation and have a goal to work towards,” she says.

Related: The Best 20-Minute Full-Body Workout, by Selena Gomez’s Trainer

5. Here Is How Often You Should Exercise

@pitalifts

#weightlossprogress #weightlosstransformation #weightlossgoals2023 #weightlossjouney💗 #lossweighttips

Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. Each week adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 2 days of muscle-strengthening activity, according to the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

💪🔥Body Booster: Many fitness experts maintain that walking on an incline is a better workout for burning fat and building muscle than running on a flat surface.

Dr. Eric Berg DC
Copyright Dr. Eric Berg DC/YouTube
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Does your tongue have a persistent white coating? Or maybe you've noticed your skin becoming more wrinkled lately? These could be unexpected signs that you're consuming too much sugar. Dr. Eric Berg DC, a leading authority on nutrition and healthy weight loss, has helped millions understand the hidden dangers of excessive sugar consumption. With over 13 million YouTube subscribers and multiple bestselling books, Dr. Berg breaks down the surprising signals your body sends when sugar intake is too high. Read on to discover if you're experiencing any of these seven warning signs.

Before We Start What Counts as Sugar

"I need to clarify exactly what sugar is and the difference between a sugar and a carbohydrate," Dr. Berg says in his post, explaining that many people misunderstand the relationship between complex carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates, and sugars. He reveals that carbohydrates consist of three components: sugar, fiber, and starch – with starch being a hidden form of sugar many overlook.

The Surprising Truth About Starch

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"Starch is sugar," Dr. Berg states plainly. He explains that starch is simply multiple sugar molecules connected together, scientifically called polysaccharides. Even more concerning, some modified starches like maltodextrin can spike blood sugar levels to 185 on the glycemic index – dramatically higher than table sugar at 65.

Sign 1 Unexplained High Adrenaline

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The most surprising sign of excessive sugar consumption, according to Dr. Berg, is elevated adrenaline levels. "Too much sugar damages the cell's ability to make energy in the mitochondria," he explains. This leads to increased adrenaline production, causing nervous energy, restlessness, and even insomnia.

Sign 2 Frequent Infections

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"Having too much sugar will weaken your immune system to the point where you're more vulnerable to acquire an infection," Dr. Berg warns. This reduced immunity makes you more susceptible to various types of infections.

Sign 3 Low Testosterone Levels

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"Sugar will lower testosterone," Dr. Berg reveals. This reduction can lead to multiple issues, including erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and difficulty building muscle, as testosterone plays a crucial role in muscle development.

Sign 4 Bleeding Gums

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If you see pink in your toothbrush after brushing, pay attention. Dr. Berg explains this could indicate a mild form of scurvy, showing vitamin C deficiency. "When you eat sugar, you block vitamin C and one place that it shows up is in your gums," he notes.

Sign 5 Chronic Sinus Problems

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"Most chronic sinus problems are a fungus called aspergillus," Dr. Berg explains. This microorganism feeds on sugar, making it nearly impossible to resolve chronic sinus infections without eliminating sugar from your diet.

Sign 6 Persistent White Tongue

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A chronic white tongue coating could indicate candida overgrowth. "I do not think you can get rid of this candida without eliminating sugar from the diet because it loves these simple sugars," Dr. Berg emphasizes.

Sign 7 Premature Aging

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"When you consume too much sugar, you're going to produce less collagen," Dr. Berg warns. This reduction in collagen production manifests as loose, more wrinkled skin, leading to premature aging.

Taking Action Against Hidden Sugars

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Recognizing these signs is crucial for taking control of your health. Dr. Berg's insights reveal how sugar affects multiple body systems, from hormones to immune function. By paying attention to these warning signs and reducing sugar intake – including hidden sources like modified starches – you can start improving your health today. Remember, awareness is the first step toward positive change, and even small reductions in sugar consumption can lead to significant health improvements. And if you enjoyed this article, don't missI’m a Nutritionist and Here Are 25 Weight Loss Truths You Need to Hear.

Christine Roderick corexchristine
Copyright corexchristine/Instagram
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Are you letting your age be an excuse for not getting into shape? One 57-year-old expert who looks half her age has some recommendations to help you burn fat and achieve your best body. Christine Roderick is an “age positive” fitness trainer who helps “women over 40 transform their body, mind & spirits.” In a new social media post, she shows off her flat abs and reveals all her healthy daily habits that help her achieve her fantastic figure. “What I do for maximum fat burning at 57,” she writes. “Use this template for a week, 2 weeks or a month to get results,” she adds, sharing “what a typical day looks like” in her life.

Intermittent Fasting

Her first habit is intermittent fasting. “Fast 12-13 hours,” she recommends. Intermittent fasting prolongs “the period when your body has burned through the calories consumed during your last meal and begins burning fat,” explains Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Hydration

Christine wakes up at 6:15 a.m. The first thing she does is hydrate. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydration is essential for various reasons. Water helps eliminate waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements, keeps your temperature regular, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues.

Coffee

Christina drinks a “loaded” coffee latte at 7:00 a.m. She adds @cymbiotika nootropic creamer and one scoop of collagen. According to the Cleveland Clinic, drinking coffee in moderation has several benefits. “It acts on your brain to improve memory, mood, reaction times, and mental function,” they say, citing a study finding that caffeine can improve endurance and performance during exercise. It is also antioxidant-rich, can ward off diabetes, prevent neurologic disease, lower cancer risk, and ward off depression, they point out.

Protein Before Workout

At 8:00 a.m., she hits the gym for a challenging strength training workout “with about 15 grams of protein as fuel & water with. @kion aminos,” she reveals. According to clinical trials, consuming more protein than the recommended dietary allowance not only reduces body weight (BW), but also enhances body composition by decreasing fat mass while preserving fat-free mass (FFM) in both low-calorie and standard-calorie diets.

Here Is What She Eats in a Day

For breakfast, Christine consumes 30 to 49 grams of protein, healthy fats, and carbs. She might eat eggs, lean meat, avocado, and whole grain toast or have a protein shake with prebiotic powder. Lunch is her largest meal of the day, “lean protein, bit more complex crabs & veggies ( i.e. salmon, leafy green salad & brown rice )” she writes. At 3 she will have a snack, 20 grams of protein in the form of cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, or hummus with veggies or seed cracker. Dinner might be lean meat, grilled veggies, and salad. “I tend to skip a lot of carbs at night but if I do do it it’s usually quinoa or a whole grain,” she says. For dessert, she will have “chocolate something!” she says. In total she aims for 120 grams of protein.

Stretching or Yoga

She also does stretch or yoga in the afternoon “to work on mobility & flexibility,” she says. “Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints,” says Harvard Health. “Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.”

Walking

Christine gets her steps in. She explains that she is “trying to incorporate the 15-20 minute walk after dinner at a 50% so far lol but really want this in my life,” she writes. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day reduced the risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia, and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.

Tea Before Bed

She also avoids eating 2 to 3 hours before bed, “just a habit I made myself get consistent with,” she says. “I drink tea or sugar free cacao if I need something.” Numerous studies have shown that various teas may boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart disease.

Supplements

Christine takes supplements throughout the day:

Morning supplements: @fatty15, @seed probiotics @joiwomenswellness NAD, glutathione, C & methylated vitamin B 12

Afternoon supplements: @modere_us collagen & Trim ( Cla) @cymbiotika D3K2 @udeawellness the hair pill & omega 3 supplement

Evening supplements: Magnesium threonate & citrate for calm & progesterone

Sleep

Lastly, she prioritizes sleep. “In bed by 10 hopefully!!!!” she writes. According to the Sleep Foundation, getting enough z’s is a mood booster, promotes heart health, regulates blood sugar, improves mental function, restores your immune system, helps relieve stress, and aids in weight loss. And if you enjoyed this article, don't missI Hit 60 and These 15 Anti-Aging Foods Keep Me Fit and Feeling 20 Years Younger.

Dr. Kate Lyzenga-Dean
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Do you feel constantly stressed, struggle with stubborn weight, or deal with unexplained fatigue? Your cortisol levels might be working against you. This stress hormone can be both friend and foe—supporting vital functions when balanced but causing havoc when chronically elevated. Dr. Lyzenga-Dean, a Functional Medicine Healthcare Provider, explains that high cortisol doesn't just come from mental stress: "It's not just mental and emotional stress that triggers the release of cortisol. Physical stressors like infections, autoimmunity, hormone imbalance, and more can raise it too." Here are five science-based strategies to help you restore balance and feel better naturally.

This Is How Cortisol Affects Your Body

Before diving into solutions, it's crucial to understand what high cortisol does to your body. "When cortisol stays too high for too long, it raises blood glucose, keeps you in fat storage mode instead of fat loss mode, and blocks the calming and helpful progesterone that can lead to estrogen dominance over time," Dr. Lyzenga-Dean explains in her post. This understanding helps explain why managing cortisol is crucial for overall health.

Recognize the Warning Signs

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According to Dr. Lyzenga-Dean, chronically high cortisol manifests in various ways: "It makes a mess of our immune systems, your circadian rhythm and your metabolism. Not to mention chronically high cortisol causes symptoms of anxiety and depression, chronic fatigue and pain, heart palpitations, stress hives, and general misery at high levels." Recognizing these symptoms is the first step toward addressing the problem.

Balance Blood Sugar With Smart Food Choices

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"Since cortisol is released in response to blood sugar spikes and crashes, eating foods that encourage steady blood sugar levels helps to reduce cortisol," Dr. Lyzenga-Dean explains. She recommends focusing on protein, healthy fats, and fiber, which act as "extended release nutrition" by slowing down the breakdown and absorption of fuel. This natural approach helps level out the spikes and crashes typically caused by processed carbs and sugary foods.

Rethink Your Relationship With Caffeine

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While that morning coffee might feel essential, it could be working against you. "Caffeine directly causes adrenal cells to make more cortisol as well as other stress hormones, which creates a cycle of physical chronic stress and dependence on caffeine," warns Dr. Lyzenga-Dean. She suggests reducing intake or temporarily eliminating caffeine to break the cortisol spiral, especially if you're experiencing morning grogginess and difficulty concentrating.

Add High-Quality Fish Oil Supplements

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The right supplements can make a significant difference. "Fish oil has been shown to lower cortisol, reduce overall inflammation, and help support healthy neurotransmitter function," Dr. Lyzenga-Dean shares. However, she emphasizes the importance of quality: "Be careful about sourcing on this, both for fatty fish that you eat and fish oil supplements, as toxins and heavy metals tend to accumulate in fat."

Replenish Stress-Depleted Vitamins

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Chronic stress creates a hidden nutritional deficit. "Excess stress can cause you to excrete magnesium leading to problems with bone density, muscle tension, headaches, anxiety, and sleep problems," explains Dr. Lyzenga-Dean. She notes that stress also depletes several B vitamins, potentially causing neurologic symptoms, low energy, and hormone dysfunction. Regular testing can help identify and address these deficiencies.

Harness the Power of Adaptogenic Herbs

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Adaptogens offer a natural approach to stress management. Dr. Lyzenga-Dean highlights several effective options: "Panax Ginseng is a well-established cortisol manager. Ashwagandha is not only calming but also energizing. Rhodiola acts upstream on the brain to improve mental function, decrease overwhelm, and lower high perception of stress." However, she emphasizes that quality and proper dosing are crucial for seeing results.

Monitor Your Progress Through Testing

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Dr. Lyzenga-Dean emphasizes the importance of proper testing: "Unfortunately, most doctors don't or won't test for these [nutrient levels], but that testing is surprisingly accessible." Consider working with a functional medicine provider who can help monitor your cortisol levels and related markers to ensure your interventions are working effectively.

Know When to Seek Professional Help

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While these strategies can be implemented on your own, some situations require professional guidance. Dr. Lyzenga-Dean notes that complex cases involving multiple symptoms or long-standing issues may benefit from personalized attention and monitoring. This ensures you're addressing your specific needs and circumstances effectively.

Maintain Long-Term Success

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Understanding cortisol's dual nature helps explain its impact on your health. As Dr. Lyzenga-Dean notes, "When cortisol is balanced and being produced at appropriate times and amounts, it's our friend. It activates our immune system, plays an important role in the sleep cycle, and quenches inflammation." The key is maintaining this balance through consistent application of these strategies while monitoring your body's response and adjusting as needed. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss40 Health Symptoms That Can Be More Serious Than You Think.