This may be a silly question but I'm new to all of this... If our body only starts burning fat once the glucose stores are depleted would this not mean that my blood glucose levels would have to be really low? Would this not make me hypo or then have to consume some carbs to get back to normal but then my body would just be burning off those extra carbs?... Not sure if that makes any sense, sorry :/ x
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Sorry should have clarified that it is glucose from muscle glycogen stores that is depleted first. In a nondiabetic blood glucose levels will stay in a tightly regulated narrow range even during exercise and fat burning. You are correct that if you consume more carbs the body will use these first for energy before fat stores.
Are you Type 1? The challenge is to find the right insulin and carbs levels that will keep BG levels as optimal as possible but not so many carbs that the insulin is promoting fat creation from any "extra" glucose. Some suggestion that insulin also directly inhibits fat burning.
This is extremely difficult (speaking from personal experience!). Traditional advice is to simply match your insulin to your carb intake, but this doesn't take into account how much fat the insulin will create from any excess carbs. But if you want to lose weight and increase fat burning then reducing carbs has 2 effects - lowers insulin requirements (needs frequently testing to track esp at beginning) and also adapts muscle to fat burning cycle. But best results with truly low carb no more than 50g, preferably less than 30g a day. Can take some time to change diet to these levels - google low carb flu.
IF you like chemistry this site is amazing but very detailed and rather technical.
http://eatingacademy.com/
This Swedish doctor is a bit easier to follow - mostly talking to Type 2s but great info generally on LCHF
http://www.dietdoctor.com/
This video by a doctor who became Type 1 may be interesting
Hope thats a bit clearer! It is very complicated but worth persevering.