Adrenaline

 

  Adrenalin is a stress hormone associated with the "fight or flight" primal response. Whenever our body is "stressed" it diverts blood from the stomach (digestion) to the working muscles to allow us to either run from "danger" or stay and be alerted and ready for activity so we can "fight". This also creates the famous "Stomach butterflies" before an important even such as a date because of the stress that accompanies it and the diverting of blood away from the stomach.

When exercising, the body s ees it as a physical stress (a good kind however), and therefore it releases adrenaline to allow us to produce energy and stay alerted. Follow an adrenaline release, endorphins (the good feeling hormones) are released which explains why over time many people find exercise make them feel good to the point of addiction.

Adrenaline is not only important for normal body activity, it is also important for fat loss. One of the ways adrenaline helps the body supply energy is by breaking down Fat into small chunks called "Free Fatty Acids" which the body can then use to produce energy. The body will actually prefer using these Free Fatty acids as they will provide him with the most energy and the least waste products, allowing you to increase your energy and decrease your fat.

Adrenaline is diffused over time when we relax because oxygen counter balance it and breaks it apart.

If you are aiming for productive fat loss, it is wise to consider coming on a fasted state so you haven't eaten anything before working out. More over, drinking coffee (without sugar or milk) or taking a 200mg caffeine tablet, will trigger an Adrenaline response in your body.

The reason you don't want to eat anything 2-4 hours prior to exercise are mainly because initial digestion would require blood flow to the stomach but when exercising you are trying to divert blood flow to the working muscles. If you eat and then follow by exercising, some of the food won't be digested, you would feel "heavy" and the body would constantly diverts blood to the stomach creating a lot more competition for the muscles.

The other thing you must consider, is that generally food contains sugar or Carbohydrates. Both trigger a rise in blood sugar that leads to Insulin response. While insulin is high, the body can't effectively raise Adrenaline - allowing for a less efficient result.