Your stored energy does not only come from fat.
Glycogen, proteins, carbohydrates and muscle tissue all fuel the body. But what does your body burn, and when?
First on the list is protein because your body can’t store it. It’s got to use it – or send it down the crapper.
Next, your body burns carbohydrates (both simple and complex), with glycogen being its main form.
Glycogen is sugar stored mostly in the liver. It also controls blood sugar levels as well as providing most of the energy your body needs.
Once all your glycogen has been used up, the body then burns up fat, breaking it down into smaller units to be absorbed in the blood stream.
Muscle comes last.
But is still doesn’t change this: if you’re skinny, and you’re eating less calories than you need, you haven’t got a prayer of bulking up.
And if you’re fat, stay away from fasting diets. Although your body will fuel itself last on muscle, the arrival of cortisol – caused by fasting – will alter the balance. Your body will be less fussy about chowing down on your muscle…
What you do outside the gym (diet and recovery) is just as important as what you do inside the gym if you want to build muscle – it’ s that simple.
