Quote (ForbiddenOath606 @ Apr 17 2013 09:35am)
How come the lower your body fat %, the slower the fat loss?
Can you give the PHYSIOLOGICAL reason why?
Like if a person is from a 500-1000 calorie deficit, at 25% fat, they will lose quite quickly... but the same calorie deficit in someone with 10% fat, why is it slower?? Same deficit, how can your body hold onto that fat with such a deficit..? And make it such a slow process.... I know physiologically for survival purposes it tries to hold onto the fat.. but with that same deficit.. how is it holding onto that fat, in being in the - zone?
Many reasons.
1. As you lose body fat, your deficit changes. You need to reduce calories more as your weight decreases to achieve the same deficit.
2. Certain body types are predisposed to a certain BF %, ie: mesomorphs, endomorphs, ectomorphs, and combinations thereof. Some body types are genetically resistant to fat loss past a certain point (this is most likely survival based).
3. As body fat and total weight decreases, assuming you reduce calories further, and keep exercise levels the same, fat loss can also stall from body adaptation. The only solution to this is shocking the system either with a re-feed and followed up with much larger deficit/exercise routine.
4. Past a certain percentage, somewhere between 8-12%, the human body tends to try to hold onto fat for insulation and shock absorption, as well as backup energy source in time of fasting. This, like #2, is biological, and can not be "changed" per se.
5. Body chemical/hormonal balances play a huge role in this - too much estrogen can easily cause fat loss to stall. Too much testosterone can cause other adverse effects, however, fat loss will be easier.