When does the body burn fat?

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping we have a nutritional guru in the group who can help me

understand what the best approach is to the age old problem of changing body

composition to increase muscle mass and reduce fat. I'm familiar with

dozens of bodybuilding/strength training diet claims, but I have yet to read

a real explanation of what works and *why*. For example, for someone who

works out in the early morning, a common approach is to consume whey protein

and high glycemic carbohydrates (DGC or maltodextrin) in a ratio of 2:1

(carb:protein) before, during, and directly after the workout. As the day

progresses, consume fewer carbs. Late in the day and through the night,

consume minimal carbs, but take some casein before bedtime to

prevent/minimize catabolism. The rationale seems to be that, if we restrict

carbs late in the day, the body uses whatever carbs are available to fuel

brain and nerve cells, and the body, through lipolysis, breaks down fatty

acids as fuel for muscle cells.

Interesting, but it seems to me (no formal training in this area) that the

body would first convert the glycogen stored in muscle tissue to glucose and

use that as an energy source (i.e., catabolism). Only after that source was

exhausted would the body use lipolysis to convert fat to an energy source.

If that is true, then there is no such thing as a " muscle sparing " strategy

to simultaneously gain muscle and reduce fat. Of course, I'm hoping that's

not true and there is a way.

Any thoughts?

Pitruzzello, Ph.D.

Chicago, IL