Not only can you exercise while on the Atkins weight loss diet but you should try and make exercise an integral part of the Atkins weight loss program. As with many other diets, the Atkins program focuses on reducing your intake of high-glycemic index carbohydrates to push your body into using fat as its preferred fuel. Adding calorie-burning exercises to your Atkins diet program will accelerate your weight loss.
Fundamentals of the Atkins Diet
The Atkins weight loss diet is one in which you severely limit your intake of carbohydrates, initially to no more than 20 grams or 80 calories per day, in order to deplete your body's supply of stored carbohydrate. Deprived of its preferred carbohydrate fuel source, your body will alter its metabolism to burn stored fat as its primary energy supply.
Shifting Your Body's Metabolism
Although your body is capable of using both carbohydrate and fat as the energy source to fuel your daily activities, under most circumstances you will rely on carbohydrate as the primary fuel. Carbohydrates are more easily and quickly converted to the ATP molecules your cells use for energy. Fat reserves are typically drawn upon after carbohydrates have been depleted.
Ketogenisis
When carbohydrates are burned to support your daily energy needs, only water and carbon dioxide remain as the waste products. When fat molecules are broken down to provide for your energy needs, ketone molecules are released as a waste product. The presence of ketones in your body is an indication that you have successfully shifted your metabolism into the fat-burning mode. This state of ketone production is known as ketogenesis; you can monitor it while on the Atkins diet with urine test strips specific for ketones.
Exercise and the Atkins Diet
Once you've successfully entered the ketogenic phase, any additional energy demands placed on your body will be addressed through the burning of additional fat molecules, further reducing your body fat stores. The additional caloric demands of exercise can help facilitate the loss of body fat while on the Atkins diet.
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