Using Fish Oil /Omega 3 as part of training/dieting/weight loss

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

BF Nation!

 

So i'm having a very good year for fitness in 2010. I started the year about 200-205 lbs, and have since dropped down to about 180-185, largely through running, getting better sleep, eating smaller portions, and limited soda use. Just ran my first half marathon last weekend in Duluth, and am looking at competing in a triathlon later this summer/fall. I'd like to drop another 10-15 lbs, and tone up/work really hard to get my college abs back (i'm 28). Anyone had any success with using Fish Oil/Omega 3? I'm not fat by any stretch of the imagination, but i'd really like to burn some of "my gut" that remains. I realize a pill won't do this for me, but i've heard that with the right level of exercise (and a certain heart rate), eating the right foods, Omega 3 can help burn fat cells along your abdominal area.

 

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Oh, and for those that don't drink enough water... i probably have been drinking 10-12 cups daily for the past six weeks and feel great! It makes a huge difference

[Invader3K]

I'm not sure of where you are getting you info; but I have never heard being able to help burn fat as a significant benefit of using Omega. It may have a very small effect, but nothing too statistically noticeable, from what I've read. It's more for general health purposes than anything. You can't spot lose fat either, so don't buy into that myth (targeting the fat around your abs, etc). Omega is a pretty safe supplement to take no matter what your goals are, though.

[dadofandrew]

I think it might help your overall health, heart and joints, but caffeine and chromium will help with some minor weight loss. Cinnamon is also a natural appetite suppressant.

[owbc]

As with any vitamin, it works best when you get it in natural foods instead of as a supplement or additive. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in all vegetables (especially dark green ones), so if you eat your veggies, you shouldn't have a problem getting enough.

[LouisEly]

First, congratulations on your dedication to health and fitness - keep it up!

 

As for the abs... here's the truth that the supplement and fitness business does not want you to know. Diet and exercise will only get you to a certain point. Beyond that you need to have above-average testosterone/hormone levels if you want "six-pack" abs over the age of 25. Yes, some people can do it (but not many). No, not everyone can do it, no matter what they do or how hard they try. You have to be genetically predisposed (or have help from pharmaceuticals) if you want to have those type of abs over the age of 25 - there is a stronger correlation between a "washboard stomach" and genetics than diet/exercise. Testosterone and hormones regulate the body's natural amount of body fat (excluding overindulgence and lack of exercise), so you need to have high amounts if you want low body fat.

 

The reality is that one man can have 3-4 times the testosterone as another man and both be considered in the "normal" range. So what I'm saying is don't spend tons of money on supplements thinking that they will work - generally they are not worth it. Your best bet is to eliminate simple carbohydrates/sugars, any/all types of bread, and eliminate alcohol and eat exclusively fresh lean meat (get your Omega-3s from fish - salmon, etc.), nuts (almonds, walnuts are also good sources of Omega-3s; avoid peanuts, cashews as they are not nuts) and fresh vegetables & fruit. If you can do that, God bless you - I enjoy beer and ice cream too much, so I'll settle for relatively flat with a little padding.

[thebruce44]

First, congratulations on your dedication to health and fitness - keep it up!

 

As for the abs... here's the truth that the supplement and fitness business does not want you to know. Diet and exercise will only get you to a certain point. Beyond that you need to have above-average testosterone/hormone levels if you want "six-pack" abs over the age of 25. Yes, some people can do it (but not many). No, not everyone can do it, no matter what they do or how hard they try. You have to be genetically predisposed (or have help from pharmaceuticals) if you want to have those type of abs over the age of 25 - there is a stronger correlation between a "washboard stomach" and genetics than diet/exercise. Testosterone and hormones regulate the body's natural amount of body fat (excluding overindulgence and lack of exercise), so you need to have high amounts if you want low body fat.

 

The reality is that one man can have 3-4 times the testosterone as another man and both be considered in the "normal" range. So what I'm saying is don't spend tons of money on supplements thinking that they will work - generally they are not worth it. Your best bet is to eliminate simple carbohydrates/sugars, any/all types of bread, and eliminate alcohol and eat exclusively fresh lean meat (get your Omega-3s from fish - salmon, etc.), nuts (almonds, walnuts are also good sources of Omega-3s; avoid peanuts, cashews as they are not nuts) and fresh vegetables & fruit. If you can do that, God bless you - I enjoy beer and ice cream too much, so I'll settle for relatively flat with a little padding.

I really disagree with this. With proper diet and training (mostly diet) I think pretty much every one can have a six pack. Some people just have to work much harder at it than others.

 

[LouisEly]

Bruce, just because you can do something doesn't mean that everyone else can. You know what it's like to be you, but you don't know what it's like to be someone else.

 

Adipose tissue is a secondary producer of hormones. For people who have below-average amounts of hormones, the body will react to produce more hormones by adding body fat. The body recognizes that it needs the hormones so additional exercise will result in burning muscle instead of fat. When you give someone testosterone or any other hormone (HGH, steroids, Winstrol, etc.), they lose body fat. This is because the body reacts to the additional hormones - they burn the fat off essentially; the body knows it does not need the excess hormones so it reacts by not storing fat. The reverse is true - when hormones are low the body works to store fat to produce more hormones. There is a direct correlation between hormones and body fat - I read years ago that men with high testosterone levels are 75% less likely to be obese than men with low testosterone levels. While it hasn't been proven (yet), I would be willing to bet there is a correlation between hormones and appetite.

 

I work for a company that makes hormones. I know how they act with the body, and the body reacts to them. I know lots of people in the fitness and nutrition industry, including a guy who owns several world records for weightlifting. He works for a big nutrition company and even he admitted to me that if you have low testosterone levels it is extremely difficult to have a lean physique. And that guy makes his living selling supplements - he has a vested interest to tell people that it's possible. Most people who go from pudgy to lean/ripped got pudgy because they are/were lazy. But there are always people at the gym - look around and you'll see them - who are there religiously and always sweating profusely doing everything right, but always have this layer of fat on them. They are losing the hormone battle.

[thebruce44]

Bruce, just because you can do something doesn't mean that everyone else can. You know what it's like to be you, but you don't know what it's like to be someone else.

Exactly, so why are you telling people that the majority can't do it? I certainly am not genetically predisposed, but for the last 2 months I have been eating right and working out and for the first time in my life am getting a real six pack (drinking a lot less has helped too).

 

He works for a big nutrition company and even he admitted to me that if

you have low testosterone levels it is extremely difficult to have a

lean physique.

 

You said most people can't do it. You said you have to have above average test levels. Your friend here seems to be saying it is difficult if you have low test levels. Thats a lot different than saying most people can't every do it (and even then they could still raise test levels by natural or unnatural methods).

 

I agree with your friend. I am simply saying that I think most people can get any body they want if they really dedicate themselves.

[PlayerHader]

First, congratulations on your dedication to health and fitness - keep it up!

 

As for the abs... here's the truth that the supplement and fitness business does not want you to know. Diet and exercise will only get you to a certain point. Beyond that you need to have above-average testosterone/hormone levels if you want "six-pack" abs over the age of 25. Yes, some people can do it (but not many). No, not everyone can do it, no matter what they do or how hard they try. You have to be genetically predisposed (or have help from pharmaceuticals) if you want to have those type of abs over the age of 25 - there is a stronger correlation between a "washboard stomach" and genetics than diet/exercise. Testosterone and hormones regulate the body's natural amount of body fat (excluding overindulgence and lack of exercise), so you need to have high amounts if you want low body fat.

 

The reality is that one man can have 3-4 times the testosterone as another man and both be considered in the "normal" range. So what I'm saying is don't spend tons of money on supplements thinking that they will work - generally they are not worth it. Your best bet is to eliminate simple carbohydrates/sugars, any/all types of bread, and eliminate alcohol and eat exclusively fresh lean meat (get your Omega-3s from fish - salmon, etc.), nuts (almonds, walnuts are also good sources of Omega-3s; avoid peanuts, cashews as they are not nuts) and fresh vegetables & fruit. If you can do that, God bless you - I enjoy beer and ice cream too much, so I'll settle for relatively flat with a little padding.

I guess I'd like to see the science behind this. I have my doubts that it is impossible for certain people to ever have a six pack. Maybe so after they've ballooned to 300+ lbs at 30 years old, but that would be due to deterioration of the skin and gross (and unnatural) accumulation of fat cells. Not because it is/was genetically impossible for them to do so.

I do agree it is a more difficult task for some than others.

 

[Invader3K]

Well, the thing is, everyone has abs. It's just very difficult for certain people to lower their body fat percentage enough to actually see them. I don't think it's impossible for anyone, but just very hard, especially as you get older.

[thebruce44]

Invader3K[/b]]Well, the thing is, everyone has abs. It's just very difficult for certain people to lower their body fat percentage enough to actually see them. I don't think it's impossible for anyone, but just very hard, especially as you get older.

 

This is what I was getting at. I am sure there is a small segment of the population that it is impossible for. I am sure there is another large segment of the population that it is impossible for them, meaning they don't have the dedication to accomplish it. There is nothing wrong with that. I was and still mostly am one of those guys LouisEly spoke of who is at the gym religiously but was platoed for years. The problem (and this is just me specifically) wasn't that I had reached my peak due to test levels. The problem was that I would drink and eat as much as I wanted every weekend and wasn't getting enough protein. And I was fine with that (still am) since I am youngish and like to have fun with my friends.

 

I am sure there is some truth to what LouisEly is saying, he is in the business so he knows more about it than the rest of us as far as I can tell, but I think he accidentally overestimated things. I would guess there is an extremely small segment of the population that has actually reached their genetic limit. For nearly everyone who thinks they have reached that limit, they could probably work out more effectively, eat more protein, or eliminate a cheat meal and have more success.

 

Back to the original topic though, I don't think Fish Oil in and of itself will do much of anything for fat loss. You should take it to be healthy though. If I wanted to lose some weight, I would work out at least 3 times a week (cardio and weights), eat as much veggies and meat as I could but still at a caloric deficiency, and supplement with just whey protein. Most people will probably also say Omega 3s and a multivitamin as well and they are probably right.

[Invader3K]

As an aside, while I haven't heard this about Omega supplements, I have heard that flax seed oil (another popular supplement) can have negative effects for men.

[LouisEly]

I will agree that most people 25 and under can have any type of physique that they put their minds do. My contention is that over the age of 25 that isn't possible for as many people as those 25 and under.

 

If you think that just about everyone can have a great physique if they dedicate themselves to it, I ask you this - do you think that everyone can score >1500 on their SATs? I think the scoring has changed now and 1600 is no longer a "perfect" score, but that's beside the point. Do you think that everyone can score that high if they just put their mind to it and study harder? Or is it possible that some people just don't have the capacity to think as fast, read/comprehend as fast, or remember as much as others? Why are some people born with defective vision and need glasses in kindergarten (like I did), others have vision that deteriorates quickly in their teens/20's, and others have perfect vision into their 40's? There are things about us that we just can't control, no matter how much we try, and vary significantly from person to person.

 

The truth is that our physical makeup is not an exact science. It's not as simple as what you eat and how much you exercise. The whole "calorie" thing is far from gospel - that is easily disproved, as it is not what you eat/drink as much as it is how much of what you eat and drink is absorbed.

 

I encourage you all to read a book called "Live Right 4 Your Type" by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. It is the only book I've read that acknowledges that not everyone can be successful living by the same lifestyle and diet. I was absolutely amazed when I read the section on people with Type O blood at how accurate they were at describing me simply based on my blood type.

[Gobias Industries]

I'd say getting your abs to show is about 70% diet and 30% exercise. If your weekday schedule allows it, eat 6 small meals a day.

 

Here's my diet Monday thru Friday (I take the weekends off. I don't binge, but do like to go out or have the occasional brat and burger)

 

Breakfast: 4 hardboiled eggs, oatmeal with fresh bluberries and raisins. 2 glasses of green tea.

 

Pre Workout: EAS Myoplex and banana.

 

Post Workout: Protein bar or Myoplex and banana.

 

Lunch: Grillled chicken breast, whole wheat rice, celerey/green beans and a couple of slices of avocado.

 

Mid afternoon snack: turkey or tuna in wholewheat pita bread.

 

Dinner: Salmon or tuna steak, wholewheat rice, greens and avocado.

 

Before Bed: Low Fat cottage cheese. (slow release protein)

 

Keep drinking tons of water. I also like the Sobe 0 cal lifewaters. No soda. Limit your juice intake as well. Save boozing for the weekends.

 

At night, I take a daily multivitamin, omega 3, vitamin d, korean ginseng, saw palmetto.

 

Good Luck!