How the metabolic system works and its self-control

The solution to this problem is quite simple: in the previous chapters, you learned a simple rule about a person's water requirements, and this rule can help you understand your own body's water needs. You simply need to provide your body with this minimum amount of water each day so that the stagnant water accumulated in your body can be effectively flushed out.

The human body is full of wonders beyond these examples. If we can successfully manage our water storage, why can't we make our bodies do more things similarly, such as storing carbohydrates, proteins, and even fats in appropriate proportions?

The answer is yes, humans can do all of this, and I believe you'll really enjoy it – it's about training your body to lose fat. You simply need to trick your body into believing you'll always provide it with the amount of fat it needs.

This sounds appealing, and following this line of thinking, it's somewhat deceptive. If this weight loss process were really that simple, then you could just consume large amounts of fat to reduce your body's fat reserves, right? No, completely wrong!

Simply put, what you need to do is consider your own body's required fat percentage, not the amount of fat you subjectively want to consume! Furthermore, you must do the same whenever you consume carbohydrates and protein. After all, excess nutrients will be converted into body fat, and in the process of excess nutrients being converted into fat, the body's entire fat-burning process and the enhancement of metabolism will be slowed down.

Please remember, this is an intensive training method, and like any other training method, it is, if not impossible, at least very difficult, especially at the beginning, where the difficulties may be even greater. While many of my clients have experienced this, they quickly (and I'd like to add: and gladly add) find that once they commit to this training and adopt the new diet, they see results almost immediately. This is what motivates them to continue training. In the first week, they make small changes to adapt to their diet, their regular exercise, and other health-related aspects, and they quickly fully embrace the new lifestyle and begin to progress. To complete such a training, we must teach our metabolism what it needs; what should be used as fuel; and what should be discarded as waste, etc. Afterward, our bodies become as young as children, able to process any and all the food we want to eat. Unfortunately, by the time we begin training, our metabolism has undergone a 180-degree shift, so it will then act on its own, selecting the nutrients it needs for its existence.

According to the author's estimate, nearly 90% of the food people consume throughout their lives consists primarily of carbohydrates, such as bread, oatmeal, grains, pasta, fruit, and sugar. This forces our digestive system to use carbohydrates as fuel for the body. Consequently, whenever we eat carbohydrate-rich foods, our bodies anticipate the start of high-intensity activity. Humans are essentially Pavlovian dogs capable of conditioned reflexes. Carbohydrates act as the food bell that forms this conditioned reflex. Our bodies are trained to react immediately upon encountering carbohydrates. The body immediately secretes a hormone called insulin, which:

The newly acquired carbohydrates are digested and converted into energy;

These excess substances are stored in the liver or muscles of the body;

These excess substances are stored as fat.

Under normal circumstances, when the body needs to engage in strenuous exercise, its normal response is to first use the carbohydrates in the stomach (i.e., the last meal eaten before exercise) as fuel for energy, and then use the carbohydrates stored in the muscles and liver. Only at the very last moment will the body consume carbohydrates stored as fat as energy.

In order for our fat-burning furnace to work at its maximum capacity, we must train our metabolism in a proper way so that whenever our metabolic system detects fat in our body, it will directly use the fat as energy instead of immediately storing it in our cells and causing us to gradually gain weight.

Because some people's metabolisms are already accustomed to using carbohydrates as a primary energy source, changing it and shifting it to a new mode can be very difficult, at least initially. However, over time, your body will definitely change, and you'll clearly feel it using both newly ingested fat and converted stored fat into energy. You'll also notice some quite positive changes: your body will eliminate all the cholesterol that has accumulated. Your body will also utilize the vitamins you ingest more effectively. Ultimately, your body will gain a greater supply of vitamins A, D, E, and K, which can make your hair and skin healthier.

After completing all of this, you must gradually reduce your carbohydrate intake to force your body to seek alternative fuel sources. Simultaneously, you must gradually reduce your fat intake to force your body to convert stored fat into energy and stimulate increased protein intake to prevent muscle loss as fuel.

In short, this type of weight loss program is not experimental. It has proven to be very effective at melting away body fat. However, if used too extremely, it can also harm one's health. Later in this book, the author will provide a similar example of dieting.

When you begin reducing your carbohydrate intake, the first thing you must do is keep a record of how you consume carbohydrates. You can buy an inexpensive diary or a small notebook to simply record the entire diet process. For the next 7 days, you must also record everything you eat (including meals, drinks, snacks, chewing gum, and the like). After doing this, find a quiet place to sit down, and make sure you won't be disturbed by anyone for at least 30 minutes. Then, carefully review everything you've recorded over the 7 days.