The basic formula for burning fat is: Energy in = Energy out. Most people are aware of the components that the normal body uses. These are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The carbohydrates, as glucoses, are uses for fuel as are the fats. The quantity that is uses is dependent upon physical activity and that which has been recently consumed, if anything. Your body will burn the fat and carbohydrate that has been stored if you use more energy than has been ingested via food or beverage. When the body has used the stored fat and carbohydrates, it will turn to the protein for the fuel necessary for the daily activities.

This use of protein can occur even if one is not exercising. Let go too far, the body will start to consume itself. The body may react to less intake by lowering its metabolism in order to hold on to the body weight, a phenomenon more common than not, it seems. The reason behind this may be found in early evolution where the body protected itself through feast or famine.

We hear often these days (I just did from my doctor) that muscle burns more fat. Since, as some experts say, muscle burns more energy than body fat while it is resting, a higher muscle to fat ratio will result in burning more stored fat. Metabolic studies have shown this to be true but it is not as significant of a difference as some would like to think.  The bottom line is that the fat burning depends on how much energy is expended. For instance, walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes burns 60% of the total calories burned as fat. Running, on the other hand, burns only 30% in the same 30 minutes. So the moral is: work smarter, not faster!