I have an upcoming photo shoot and need some information on how safe Aldactone is.

Aldactone is a diuretic and belongs to the subgroup of potassium--sparing diuretics. Understanding fluid balance is an important topic to all athletes. Sodium and potassium are classified as electrolytes and provide conductivity functions for fluid passage (osmosis) through cellular membranes. Aldactone is an aldosterone antagonist. It influences the body's production of the hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone accelerates the excretion of potassium and reduces the excretion of sodium and water. The higher the aldosterone level, the more water is stored in the body. The use of Aldactone results in a significant reduction in the aldosterone levels. This results in an increased excretion of sodium and water, while, potassium is being reabsorbed. We do NOT recommend the use of Aldactone it may cause gynecomastia, possible impotence, low blood pressure, muscle spasms, dizziness, gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, irregular pulse rate, and fatigue. In addition, those who do take Aldactone must strictly observe their potassium intake. If additional potassium is taken, a life-threatening increase in the serum potassium level may result. This is not intended as medical advice and should not replace the advice of a qualified physician.

I have read that in order to burn the most bodyfat I need to eliminate all carbohydrates from my diet, is this true, and why?

The only way to reduce or eliminate stored bodyfat is by burning it off as energy. For this to occur, an individual must consume fewer calories than are needed to meet daily physical and metabolic demands. Diets that exclude carbohydrates as a means of caloric restriction promote the breakdown of lean body tissue which provide the glucose fragment needed for energy, as well as causing ketosis. Fat cells respond to lowered energy needs by breaking down stored triglycerides and releasing them into the blood. These free fatty acids circulate in the other body tissues. The body’s cells that are in need of energy will break down these fatty acids and combine a lipid fragment with a glucose fragment to burn energy. Without the glucose fragment, the fat will not break down completely, and the unused lipid products, known as ketones, will be excreted into the blood and urine. This chemical imbalance is known as ketosis. The bottom line is that some carbohydrates are needed in order to burn stored body fat. Thus, diets that exclude carbohydrates can be very dangerous because they promote the breakdown of lean body tissue not the reduction of stored bodyfat.

Some of the other trainers where I work have an opinion that I don’t agree with and I need some insight. They say that longer, less intense aerobics are better for fat burning than shorter, higher intensity intervals. Are they correct?

They are correct for two reasons:

1. Lower intensity aerobic exercise is more "aerobic". Aerobic exercise, meaning "with oxygen", is the body's only way of generating energy from fat. Higher intensity exercise is fueled to a greater degree by the anaerobic energy system. This system is unable to use fat and relies on carbohydrate fuel. It is for this reason that lower intensity exercise relies on body fat for fuel more than higher intensity exercise.
   
2. The longer the duration of aerobic exercise, then progressively more and more body fat, as opposed to carbohydrates, will contribute to the aerobic production of energy for that exercise. At the beginning of exercise, fat contributes little to the production of energy. As the duration of exercise continues, fat contributes more and more to the activity until it becomes the dominating energy source. The intensity of exercise and physical condition of the athlete will affect how soon and to what degree this shift occurs. It is for this reason that longer duration exercise will rely on body fat to a greater degree than shorter duration exercise.

I work out very intensely three days a week, but I am still having a difficult time diminishing the fat on my legs and hips. Why is this the case?

The activity of the fat promoting enzyme lipoprotein lipase is very high in the thighs and hips of women resulting in a higher percentage of fat deposition in these areas. Women actually need these stores to prepare for pregnancy and lactation. In addition the dimpling which is associated with cellulite is due to the deposit of fat and fibrous tissue. While an increase in overall bodyfat does play a role it is also due to genetics. Deep massaging every night to break up the deposits of fat and fibrous tissue can help to temporarily decrease the appearance of the dimpling. The skin consists of two main layers, the outer epidermis and an inner dermis. Below the dermis lies the subcutaneous layer, which attaches the skin to the underlying tissues. This layer consists of loose connective tissue and a lot of adipose (fat) tissue. The dermis consists of dense connective tissue composed mainly of collagen fibers. Collagen is responsible for the mechanical strength of skin. Imagine the epidermis as a pair of panty-hose. Now imagine a pair of support panty-hose as the layer of a normal dermis. Imagine fishnets as a layer of the dermis of an individual with cellulite. If you were to take a gallon of cottage cheese (likened to the subcutaneous fat layer) and use the panty-hose (likened to the epidermis) and support panty-hose (likened to the dermis) and tightly wrap the cottage cheese you would have a relatively smooth surface. This would be the example of normal skin. But if you took this same example and wrapped the cottage cheese (example of subcutaneous layer) and wrapped it with the panty-hose (epidermis) and the fishnets (likened to the dermis of an individual with cellulite) the result would be a dimpling effect of some of the cottage cheese pushing through the openings of the fishnets and being trapped under the regular panty-hose. This would be an example of the skin of an individual with cellulite. Individuals who have cellulite have a dermis layer that has areas of less density, which results in the appearance of the dimpling. Regardless, you can still decrease the fat in your thighs and hips through a comprehensive, rational and personalized nutritional and exercise program coupled with consistent, and diligent work as recommended by ISSA.