Let us first attack this subject by explaining a some information regarding the bodies use of fuel and its metabolism. As most of you have probably heard about a "Fat-Burning Zone" I will start with this. This zone is actually based on sound science but in a poor form of application. The "Fat-Burning Zone refers to the range of about 55% to 65% of one's maximum heart rate this was determined because studies show that their is a ratio of fat to carbohydrates used for fuel depending on the level of intensity. On the lower end of the intensity spectrum the ratio is very much lopsided towards Fat as the main source of fuel compared to the amount of Carbohydrates used, but as the intensity of exercise increases this ratio begins to change decreasing in percentage of fat used for fuel and increasing in percentage of Carbohydrates the body uses for fuel. So the "Fat-Burning Zone" was created as an application that if you exercise or do cardio at a lower intensity one will burn more fat than carbohydrates for fuel helping increase fat-loss. While this is some what true it is not the best approach to fat-loss.
As I explained in the above paragraph relating to the "Fat-Burning Zone" your body has a preference of fuel to use depending on the level of intensity of that exercise. So if you are trying to achieve a goal of fat-loss and you know that your body prefers to use fat as energy during a low intensity of exercise one would want to find the lowest level of intensity. Funny thing is the lowest level of intensity one performs is while we are at rest that is to say that from what calories we burn while at rest the vast majority of these calories are derived from your bodies consumption of fats. Now don't get to fluster by this because it sounds as I am saying that to lose fat all you need to do is rest and never workout this is incorrect. Exercise is very key to achieving a fat-loss goal, but the main focus of a program designed to accomplish fat-loss should be to raise an individual's Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) or the amount of energy expended to maintain all vital bodily functions and tissues. While at rest are bodies are constantly going through process that are both catabolic or anabolic the differences in these two different processes give us our metabolism. A lot of a person's resting metabolic rate depends on genetics and heredity, but one can employ strategies to lower it or raise it as we are wanting to do. Because your resting metabolic rate is a total amount of energy expended most commonly expressed in calories it must derive those calories or energy by means of breaking down nutrients and turning them in to usable energy. Because you are at rest which is the lowest level of intensity one can perform your body will break down fat molecules to obtain the calories it needs for maintaining it's vital bodily functions and tissues. Thus if we raise one's resting metabolic rate we raise the amount of calories your body needs obtain to maintain itself, thus it will make your body breakdown more nutrients, which the highest percentage of these will be fats, to meet its increased calorie demand.
Now knowing the key to increasing fat-loss is increasing resting metabolic rate you need to understand how to do this and why these strategies work. The number one strategy that we at intellectual fitness stress for increasing one's RMR is also the number one often neglected factor. Strength Training. Now I know this may go against everything you have heard, but this is truly the key to maximizing a fat-loss program. This is because the primary vehicle we have for changing the resting metabolic rate of an individual is by adding muscle mass to the individual's frame. This serves one primary function during a fat-loss program it raises the bodies caloric demand to maintain itself because muscle requires more calories to sustain its existence than fat. So by adding muscle you automatically increase the RMR of your body which will lead to a greater amount of fat loss.