One of the frustrating things for many people embarking on their weight loss journey is how eager some body fat can be to stick around. No matter how many targeted exercises you do and special diets you try, you may still find that it’s in no hurry to disappear. You can learn more about why that might be and what you can do about it below.
Non-Surgical Procedures May Help
If you’ve tried everything to remove stubborn fat, then non-surgical procedures like CoolSculpting may be something you consider trying next. The CoolSculpting cost can be something you inquire about with a trusted specialist, but you may be surprised at how affordable it is, given the results many people experience.
CoolSculpting involves using a vacuum-like device to freeze fat cells in those problem areas like your abdomen, thighs, muffin top, and arms. Results can be visible in weeks or months, and some people opt for one, two, or more sessions.
Stubborn Fat Is Different From Standard Fat
After spending weeks or months trying to tone those troublesome areas with exercise, you may think that the fat in those areas is simply stubborn. It is, but it’s also physiologically different from the fat in other parts of your body.
Fat cells have receptors to perform different tasks, and stubborn fat has alpha-2 and beta-2 receptors. Alpha-2 receptors slow down or prevent fat burning, while beta-2 receptors speed it up. The ratio of these receptors can determine how easy you find the fat-burning process. Not surprisingly, stubborn fat tends to have higher alpha-2 receptors, which means it’s some of the most challenging fat to shift.
Hormones Can Play a Part
Many people eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercise for the recommended amount of time each week, but they still gain weight or fail to lose it. Our bodies are complex, and females, in particular, can experience more stubborn fat due to hormones.
Fat stored in the lower parts of our bodies is often linked to estrogen. Sometimes, increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol can also stop you from being able to burn fat as easily. Hormone fat is connected to visceral fat, which means you may struggle to get rid of fat around your abdomen region with fluctuating hormone levels.
Women Can Have More of It Than Men
You generally won’t hear too many men talking about having stubborn fat they can’t shift. On average, women’s fat content is higher than men’s, representing 25% of their total weight compared to 15% for men.
Extra fat in some areas is normal since women’s bodies are designed for childbearing, but that doesn’t mean you want it there. However, subcutaneous fat in women’s lower bodies has approximately ten times more alpha receptors compared to the fat that men have in the same area. As a result, shifting fat around your hips, thighs, and buttocks may be much harder to do without assistance if you’re a woman.
Stubborn fat is frustrating, especially if you’ve been working hard to get rid of it. Now that you know why it’s there and how truly challenging it is to get rid of, you may decide to seek expert advice to learn what to do next.