Fat is something we all know exists but don't always love on our bodies. From time to time, you might want to remove some of this unwanted weight and get back into shape- which means getting rid of shrinking those pesky fat cells!
When you lose weight, the fat cells are not going away. We cannot magically blow up the fat cells when we speak about burning fat since it is impossible. Since a fat cell can expand by as much as 20 times, sometimes even 50 times, its normal size when storing fat, it is possible to reduce the size of a fat cell while the fat in those cells can be reduced.
However, we can shrink these cells through diet and exercise, but what if I tell you that there are techniques that you can pair with them to accomplish your goals way quicker? Read on if you want to shrink those pesky cells once and for all.
Formation of Fat?
The formation of fat cells occurs at two distinct times in a person's life: during the final growth of the fetus and at the beginning of puberty. Men and women store fat differently, and the latter stage defines these distinctions.
In particular, men have the propensity to develop an apple shape, which occurs when most of their body fat is carried in the buttocks, abdomen, and chest.
On the other hand, women tend to have a more pear-shaped physique. The breasts, the waist, the hips, and the buttocks are the primary locations where fat deposits occur.
After puberty, most people's bodies stop producing new fat cells altogether. The question now is, how do you put on weight? When you consume more food than your body requires for immediate fueling, the size of each individual cell will gradually increase to store more fuel.
The Weight Loss Process
Fat tissue is made up of individual fat cells. Cells do not disappear as you lose weight; you burn the fat stored inside each cell and shrink them.
Given the simplicity of this process—you burn energy to burn fat—you might be perplexed as to why some problem areas persist despite your diligent exercise and healthy eating.
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People think that performing sit-ups will help them lose belly fat. The body does not burn fat in the areas closest to active muscles. Instead, the entire body burns fat. Sit-ups and push-ups do not target fat.
Related Article: Weight Loss Vs. Fat Loss: What's the Difference?
Ways to Shrink the Size of Fat Cells
Making a few straightforward adjustments to your routine can facilitate weight loss. The following are some strategies that can help you reduce the number of fat cells in your body and improve your health.
1. Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly is essential if you want to reduce the size of the fat cells in your body. People who exercise regularly have smaller fat cells than people who don't exercise regularly.
Researchers believe that regular exercise helps control the size of fat cells, preventing them from becoming enlarged and storing more fat.
This is accomplished by controlling the amount of fat that is produced by the body. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, you should make sure that you incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine.
2. Don’t Just Diet; Eat Healthily
Are you fed up with diets that don't produce the desired results? Are you sick of having the feeling that you have to restrict yourself all the time? Maintaining a healthy diet, rather than starving oneself, would appear to be the better strategy for reducing the size of one's fat cells.
According to the findings of some researchers, eating a diet high in unhealthy foods can cause fat cells to grow in size, whereas eating a diet high in healthy foods can cause fat cells to shrink in size.
Instead of focusing on overly restrictive diets, you should emphasize eating nutritious foods to reduce the size of your waistline. Believe me when I say that your body will be grateful to you!
3. Maintain Calorie Deficit
Maintaining a calorie deficit is necessary to reduce the size of the fat cells that are stored in your body. This indicates that you need to consume fewer calories than the amount of fuel that your body requires to maintain its present weight.
When the cells in your body are more compact, they have a lower propensity to store excess energy as fat. There are many different approaches to lowering one's calorie intake, and it is essential to zero in on the strategy that is most effective for you.
Experiment with a variety of approaches until you find one that is not only effective but also satisfying to you. Be consistent with the method you choose to lose weight once you've discovered one that works with your routine and preferences.
In the long run, the secret to success is to keep a calorie deficit at all times.
4. Tackle Leptin Resistance
To lose weight and keep it off, you must ensure your body is functioning properly. One crucial hormone for regulating weight is leptin. Leptin is produced by our fat cells and tells the brain when we’ve had enough to eat.
However, when carrying excess weight, your fat cells produce too much leptin, leading to leptin resistance. This means the brain doesn’t receive the signal to stop eating, and you end up overeating.
You need to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet to shrink your fat cells and reduce leptin resistance.
Eating plenty of lean protein, fiber-rich vegetables, and healthy fats will help you reduce leptin resistance and promote weight loss. Combined with regular exercise, eating a leptin-resistant diet is a powerful way to shrink fat cells and achieve sustainable weight loss.
5. Cut Down on Sugar
When it comes to weight loss, one of the first things people are told to do is cut down on sugar. And for a good reason - sugar is one of the leading causes of weight gain. Not only does it add empty calories to our diet, but it also leads to the increased size of fat cells in our bodies.
Fortunately, there is a way to shrink the size of these fat cells. And it all starts with cutting down on sugar.
When we consume sugar, our body breaks it down into glucose and fructose. Glucose is then used for energy, but fructose is converted into triglycerides - a type of fat. These triglycerides are stored in our fat cells, causing them to expand in size. But when we cut down on sugar, our body has no choice but to start burning stored fat for energy. As a result, our fat cells begin to shrink in size.
So, cutting down on sugar is a good place to start if you're looking to lose weight. Not only will it help you shed those extra pounds, but it will also help shrink the size of your fat cells. And that's good news for your health!
6. Include More Vegetables
Did you know that what you eat can actually impact the size of your fat cells? It's true - and eating more vegetables is one way to help shrink the size of your fat cells. Here's how it works: when you consume excess calories, your body stores them in your fat cells. These cells then expand to accommodate the new energy source.
However, when you eat fewer calories, your body must rely on the stored energy in your fat cells for fuel. As a result, these cells shrink.
Vegetables are not only low in calories but also packed with nutrients that can help boost your metabolism and promote satiety. So, by including more vegetables in your diet, you can help reduce the size of your fat cells and promote weight loss. Next time you want to shrink your fat cells, reach for the veggies!
Related Article: Weight Loss: 8 Fiber-Rich Vegetables to Add to Your Diet
7. Get Enough Sleep
Most of you know that we should get eight hours of sleep a night, but only a few stick to that goal. However, new research suggests that getting enough shut-eye is important for your overall health and can help shrink the size of fat cells in your body.
According to the study researchers conducted, people who slept for less than six hours a night had larger fat cells than those who got seven or eight hours of sleep. The difference was especially pronounced in people who were overweight or obese.
So why does sleep have such an impact on fat cells? The researchers believe it might have something to do with how your body regulates hormones during sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more of the hormone cortisol, which has been linked to increased appetite and weight gain.
So if you want to shrink your fat cells, ensure you’re getting enough ZZZs. Your body will thank you for it.
Related Article: Why is Sleep Important for Your Health?
FAQs
1. How many calories should I eat a day to lose weight?
To lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit. This means that you need to consume fewer calories than your body needs. There are several ways to do this, including reducing the amount of food you eat, increasing the amount of physical activity you do, or combining both.
2. What is the best diet for weight loss?
There is no one “best” diet for weight loss. However, some diets may be more effective than others. The best way to find a diet that works for you is by trying new diets. Or just try to eat healthily and include more protein in the diet, as it will keep you full for longer.
3. Why do I keep gaining weight even though I'm eating healthy?
There are many reasons why you might be gaining weight even though you’re eating healthy. It could be that you’re not eating as healthy as you think you are, you’re not exercising enough, or there could be a medical reason. If you’re concerned about your weight, talk to your doctor.
4. Is it better to exercise or diet when trying to lose weight?
Both exercise and diet are important when trying to lose weight. It would be best if you created a calorie deficit to lose weight, and this can be done through diet and you need to work out regularly to burn off that stubborn fat cell.
Take Away
You can take a few different approaches if you want to decrease the size of the fat cells in your body. Exercise is always important for maintaining a healthy weight as well as maintaining healthy body composition.
However, regular exercise may also help reduce the actual size of the fat cells in your body. In addition, the key to reducing the size of the fat cells in your body and improving your overall health is to emphasize eating a diet rich in nutrients rather than following a fad diet or starving yourself. Be consistent with whichever weight loss method you choose, as crash diets and other quick fixes may give you results in the short term, but they aren't sustainable (or healthy) in the long term.
Reading List
Article Sources
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- Cohen, P., & Spiegelman, B. M. (2016). Cell biology of fat storage. Molecular biology of the cell, 27(16), 2523–2527. https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E15-10-0749
- Kakoschke, N., Kemps, E., & Tiggemann, M. (2015). External eating mediates the relationship between impulsivity and unhealthy food intake. Physiology & Behavior, 147, 117–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.04.030
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