Another Magic Bullet is Bound to Ricochet To this day, many bodybuilding, health, & fitness enthusiasts stake their entire moral judgment of carbohydrate foods based on their glycemic index (GI). Several confounders challenge its validity and strict application. Becoming blindly enamored with something that may enhance our physiques &/or health is natural, and something we’ve all been guilty of. But alas, the GI data is neither perfect nor consistent, nor is it free of bugs. Consider the following facts, and re-think the dogma surrounding GI, & reassess what you think you know about GI. A Possible Definition Shift The simplistic…
Author: Alan Aragon
Alan Aragon
Alan Aragon has over 20 years of success in the fitness field. He has earned a Bachelor and Master of Science in Nutrition with top honors, and is a continuing education provider for the Commission on Dietetic Registration and National Strength & Conditioning Association. Alan lectures at national and international conferences, and maintains a private practice designing programs for recreational, Olympic, and professional athletes. He is a contributing editor and resident Weight Loss Coach of Men’s Health magazine. His book Girth Control is considered to be one of the most in-depth manuals for improving the body and understanding nutrition for fitness & sports. Alan writes a monthly research review providing critical analysis and practical application of the latest science on nutrition, training, and supplementation.
The “Fat Burning Zone” On Trial Origin of the myth Dietary variables aside, the body’s proportional use of fat for fuel during exercise is dependent upon training intensity. The lower the intensity, the greater the proportion of stored fat is used for fuel. The higher the intensity, the greater proportional use of glycogen and/or the phosphagen system. But this is where the misunderstanding begins. Although I’m burning a greater proportion of stored fat typing this sentence, getting up and sprinting would have a greater impact on fat reduction despite its lesser proportional use of fat to power the increased intensity.…