Using Fat For Fuel

I have been working to remain on the zero-carb diet for approximately six months. Although I only sometimes succeed, I usually don’t have carbs in my system. Conventional wisdom says that without carbohydrates, you won’t have enough energy to move, let alone a workout. I have not had any problems with energy.

I started the diet around January 22. About a week later, I started walking for an hour a day. Three or four weeks later, I started going to the gym. Initially, I was not pushing myself too hard for fear of injury. However, I have pushed myself hard in the last three or four weeks. 

My strength is increasing rapidly, and my recovery time is also rapid. I do not lack the energy to push even harder, but I am still cautious with my joints. If I feel the slightest tickle or twinge in any joint, I back off or stop the exercise. It takes some intelligence to get old, stay healthy, and not hurt oneself.

On this diet, I want to burn fat for fuel—that is the idea, at least. The simple explanation is that if there is no sugar in the system to burn, the body finds another fuel source. If the body is fat-adapted, it should switch to fat as a fuel source.

Fat adaptation – is one’s ability to convert fat to energy. When a person is fat-adapted, they don’t need a steady stream of carbs (glucose) to power their day. Instead, they can tap into a more abundant energy supply: body fat. This adaptation was an absolute must back in Paleolithic times(science.drinklmnt.com).

Energy from fat allows me to work harder than usual. My body can access it quickly, and it lasts a long time. When I leave the gym, it is because I have completed my exercises for the muscle group I’m training. I’m confident I could continue working on another muscle group. However, I only walk for one hour afterward.

Sometimes, I only know how hard I pushed the next day. I am sometimes very sore, but the soreness doesn’t last long.

Things would be going well if I could avoid or limit the carbs. I am making progress, but any time I lose my way, it is like taking backward steps. I will struggle until I find the discipline to stick to my new eating principles. Until then, struggling is better than nothing.