Is Body Fat Ever a Good Thing?
Absolutely! Not only is some body fat actually good, it’s essential. Why? It plays a vital role in protecting your health and in providing a supply of reserved energy required for certain body functions.
Basically, body fat is divided into three parts – essential, reserve, and excess. Essential body fat is made up of subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat. Subcutaneous refers to the fat layer directly beneath the skin, and it provides insulation from extreme temperatures as well as protection from bruises. Intramuscular is the body fat contained within muscles, and this is the fat that serves as a source of emergency fuel for the body, plus it acts like a cushion to protect vital organs from impact forces.
Reserve refers to the level of body fat needed to avoid health risks. Yes, it is entirely possible to not have enough body fat! What is the minimum level recommended for your reserve body fat? It depends on your gender, height, and age. A quick search on the internet will lead you to dozens of online resources where you can calculate your appropriate level. One chart showing the percentage of essential fat and other levels for men and women is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage.
Excess fat, of course, is any body fat in addition to your combined Essential and Reserve body fat. This blog is all about that excess fat. Specifically, we’re focusing here on how to lose stomach fat. However, before you attempt anything too drastic on your quest for six pack abs, you do want to educate yourself on the facts about fat loss and make sure you choose an approach that is safe and healthy.
Tags: 6 pack abs, belly fat loss, fat loss, lose belly fat, lost stomach fat, Six Pack Abs