By now, we all know that the best way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume. But for most people who want to lose weight, the real vision isn’t just about weighing less, it’s about having a trim, toned body that looks great from every angle. Nutrient partitioning can help you get there.
What is nutrient partitioning?
Nutrient partitioning, also called energy partitioning, refers to a scientific process involving hormones and other chemical messengers that tell your body what to do with the excess calories you consume, as well as where to get the additional energy it needs. Although the specific science is fascinating, it’s not necessary to understand all the details of the process in order to benefit from it. Here’s the first thing you need to know in order to understand energy partitioning:
- If you eat more calories than you burn, those excess calories will either be used to build muscle or stored as fat.
- When you eat less than you need to burn, that energy will either come from stored body fat or muscle tissue.
There are specific hormones in your body that determine where the energy will be stored and where the energy will be taken from when it’s needed. Genetics plays a role in a person’s nutrient partitioning efficiency. For one person, it may be very easy to bulk up at the gym whereas another might find it more difficult because for every pound of fat they lose, they lose two pounds of muscle. The good news is that even if your body doesn’t naturally partition nutrients efficiently, there are things you can do to help encourage it to shed fat and build lean muscle.
Nutrient partitioning and weight loss
If you’re trying to shed unwanted body fat, you’ll need to optimize your body’s nutrient partitioning efficiency. This means encouraging the body to send more resources to muscle building or muscle maintenance than it does to storage. And you also want to encourage it to draw needed energy from fat rather than muscle. Some people’s bodies are primed for this naturally. For everyone else, a healthy diet and exercise are the answer for efficient nutrient partitioning. Here are a couple of key points that can help you understand the relationship between nutrient partitioning and weight loss:
- Weight training helps optimize nutrient partitioning
Cardio burns calories, which is important for weight loss. But when you add strength training to your workout, you’re setting off a series of chemical reactions that tell your body to use any extra calories to repair, build, or maintain muscle. This also increases your metabolism, because your body continues to use calories to build your muscle even when you’re at rest.
- What to eat to promote muscle growth
Protein is needed to grow muscle. Essential fats help increase insulin sensitivity, which helps direct nutrients to muscles. Combining protein and simple carbs within an hour after exercise will result in rapid muscle growth.
- What to eat to reduce fat storage
Complex carbs burn more slowly and are less likely to be stored as fat. Protein is more difficult for the body to convert into stored fat than some other nutrients, making it more likely to be used to build muscle. Fiber creates a feeling of fullness without contributing calories.
Efficient nutrient partitioning is important if you want to achieve a slim, trim, and sexy body. But you don’t have to understand the science of it for it to work. You simply have to pay attention to what you eat and how you exercise. If you’d like guidance and support sculpting your body naturally, try 10x today.
Want to naturally sculpt a body you’re proud to show off? Try 10x Diet today.
10x Diet is a doctor-supported weight loss program that gives you a roadmap for healthy living and access to safe, effective medication that’s only available through a doctor’s prescription. Whether you want to lose 30 pounds in 3 months or you just want to reset your relationship with food, join 10x today, and give yourself the gift of a healthier, slimmer you.