Oxygen Debt

 

Lactic build up, also known as "Oxygen Debt" is one of the most effective ways to jack up our metabolism and insure a fantastic rate of fat loss 38-50 hours after we've finished working out in the gym. When muscles have to wor k beyond their aerobic ability, they tend to choose the lactate system (one of the three energy systems available to the body). This means they can still produce energy without the presence of oxygen to keep the body going, however there will be a waste product from the process we call "Lactic Acid". Lactic acid is what we refer to as "Sore Muscles" or the "Burning" that follows training a muscle. It's a waste product and when the levels of Lactic acid are too high, it will prevent the muscle from operating normally (Muscle Fatigue). This lactic acid build up, is also referred to as "oxygen debt" because in order to break and metabolize it, the body uses oxygen, burning a lot of calories in the process. 

Lactic acid build up will generally mean three things:

1. Our muscle fibres will create more Mitochondria (cell's powerhouse) and Capillaries (Cell's oxygen pipes) to allow you to better deal with the greater demand. This means it the Aerobic Threshold is elevated, the body can use more oxygen (to burn more fat in order to supply more energy demands) over a longer period of time.

2. Oxygen intake is increased (as described above) allowing for greater fat burning potential.

3. Lactic acid usually means Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy (Muscle size growth) to accommodate for the increase number of Mitochondria's.

4. The process where the body pay up the "lactic acid debt" by using oxygen, will ensure an increase fat burning over the period of 38-50 hours after the workout is over, which makes it an effective weight and fat loss strategy. Put simple instead of going for a run and burning X amount of calories in an hour. Spend your time smart and work at higher intensity to force the body to burn fat not only during the activity but far long after it has ended.

If the muscle is too sore, consider supplementing with "Beta Alanine" and/or L-Glutamine as both act as a buffer allowing the body to clear the lactate build up faster.