By: Shane Ellison, M.Sc.

Copyright © 2004, All Rights Reserved www.healthmyths.net

America. So damn fat we put chocolate into our health food bars. So damn fat we put sugar into our protein drinks to mimic the taste of Kool-Aid. So damn fat we would spend our last $15.95 on a new book that claims to have the latest and greatest "diet." So damn fat we allow 10% of our children's total caloric intake to be SODA!

So damn fat, that being obese has become the norm. And I should know, because at one time I was "so damn fat" nobody thought twice about it, until they witnessed me go from 30% body fat to 9%. Then it was "Wow, you used to be fat!"

My cure to obesity was not a diet. It was not a workout (in fact I grew fat while I was working out). The cure was activating "thermogenesis". Well known in the scientific arena, thermogenesis is rarely if at all spoken about by personal trainers, medical doctors and the public. Instead, they adhere to the out dated model that to lose weight you simply need to lower your fat intake or expend more energy via exercise than you consume. Yea right! And the earth is still flat. These antiquated model's have caused more people to become fat than McDonalds. The cure to obesity is activating thermogenesis.

Understanding thermogenesis can be a bit troublesome but offer a HUGE reward. So let's go for it. What is Thermogenesis? Thermogenesis has been considered your God-given right to be thin. It is the process by which excess calories consumed are converted to heat rather than stored as fat. Thermogenesis occurs in Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) when the sympathetic nervous system (with adrenaline and noradrenaline) ignites BAT via â-receptors. â-receptors are found on BAT as well as on what I refer to as "white fat". White fat is the fat around out stomach and butt.

This ability of BAT to convert excess calories (or fat) into heat is obviously unique. In most cells, mitochondria (considered the powerhouse of the cell) use the energy they liberate to make the energy-producing molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate) that is converted to "work." ATP is the fuel that drives chemical reactions in living organisms and allows you to have the energy to run on a treadmill. In BAT however, the protein UCP-1 (uncoupling protein 1) interferes with this process, forcing the cells of BAT to release the energy as heat instead of ATP. Heat production does not require work, but ATP production does. This is the secret. If you can activate thermogenesis then you can burn fat via heat instead of work! It is the lazy man's cure to being fat!

That thermogenesis causes the body to release excess calories as heat instead of by exercise explains why fat can be burned while sitting at the dinner table instead of running on the treadmill. It also explains why those with "faulty thermogenesis" NEVER lose fat, despite diet and exercise; they simply are not burning fat via THERMOGENESIS. Instead, they are burning amino acids and carbohydrates while their body stores fat in their stomach and butt. This is why fat people crave carbs and sugar (typically in the form of soda) and why dieting and exercise will NEVER work for them.

In addition to igniting thermogenesis in BAT, the sympathetic nervous system also ignites lipolysis in white adipose tissue. Lipolysis mobilizes fat (triglycerides) into the bloodstream for utilization as fuel - the end result being a 6-pack instead of "Man-Tits".

Recognizing the importance of thermogenesis in losing fat was my number one weapon against growing fatter and finally descending to 9% body fat. For me, activating thermogenesis was my cure to obesity. I'm confident that it is Americas cure too. Next time you consider a fat loss drug from your doctor, a work-out routine from your trainer, or a next fad diet, remember that unless you incorporate the activation of THERMOGENESIS into these approaches to fat loss, it is HIGHLY unlikely that you will EVER lose fat. Thermogenesis is the Holy Grail for fat loss. Activating it should be the agenda of the hour for those considered "so damn fat"!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shane holds a Master's degree in organic chemistry and has first-hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. Get his FREE eBook at www.health-fx.net. Learn about activating thermogenesis by reading his print book, Health Myths Exposed, found at www.healthmyths.net, or your local bookstore.