On Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:51:40 -0500, Jeff Evans <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> I have seen the argument made on many forums that decreasing carb  
> consumption and increasing fat consumption "trains" your body to get its  
> energy from fat.  Does anyone have a source for this statement?

I don't have any scientific sources for you, but it seems simple enough.   
The body can burn carbs or fat for fuel.  It generally prefers carbs.   
Don't give it any carbs, and it has no choice but to burn fat.  Don't give  
it any fat, and it will burn protein (by turning it into carbs).

> Also, assuming that is true, would I not then need to cut back on the  
> fat consumption level (even within the Paleo bounds) in order to  
> convince my body to start burning its own reserves?

Yes.  I've seen many places say you can eat as much fats as you want and  
not gain weight, but that just doesn't seem to be the case.  I think the  
reason that statement gets made is that for a lot of people, they just  
don't want to eat that much fat, so they may consume a calorie deficit  
even without trying if they're not eating carbs.  It's easy to eat a lot  
of unnecessary calories from carbs.

> Said another way, if I am fully meeting my energy requirements through  
> diet alone, regardless of the quality of that diet, then why would my  
> body have any reason to burn fat?

It would still be burning fat, but it won't have any reason to burn  
*stored* fat if you're giving it enough from diet.

> Are there any special guidelines for us cavemen whose goal is fat loss?

Just the standard "pair your diet with a solid exercise program".

-- 
   Robert Kesterson
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