Understanding the Claim: Burning Fat as Fuel The argument typically goes like this: by restricting carbohydrates, your body shifts gears and starts burning fat for fuel. It’s often pitched as the key to enhanced fat-burning, leading to a leaner physique. And yes, it's true that you can train your body to burn more fat by going low-carb. However, like most things in fitness, the reality is more nuanced. Yes, your body can adapt to burning more fat when you cut carbs, but this shift isn't as magical as it seems—especially if you’re engaging in high-intensity workouts. Here’s why. Fat Isn’t Ideal for High-Intensity Workouts While your body can burn fat for fuel, it’s important to understand that fat is not the ideal energy source for high-intensity exercise. High-intensity activities—like sprinting, lifting heavy weights, or even a fast-paced workout—require quick, readily available energy. During these activities, your body primarily relies on carbohydrates, not fat. Why? Because your muscles need fast energy during high-intensity exercise, and fat doesn’t provide that. The energy system that powers these movements—glycolysis—depends heavily on carbohydrates since they can be broken down more quickly than fats. So, while your body can burn fat, it’s not the best option when aiming for peak performance. The Race Car Analogy: Fuel Matters Think of it this way: you could modify a race car to run on regular gasoline instead of high-octane racing fuel. It would work, but the car would perform worse on the track. Similarly, your body can adapt to burn fat for fuel during high-intensity exercise, but it won’t perform as well as it would if you were fueling it with carbs. This is why athletes and bodybuilders don’t typically rely on fat for fuel during training or competition. Instead, they use carbs strategically because carbs help maintain performance, muscle retention, and energy levels. The low-carb approach might allow you to get through a workout, but if you’re aiming for peak performance, carbohydrates are essential.