How does the body process carbs,fat, and protein?

[RL19]

This is a newbie question, I am aware...

When you are exercising and your body requires energy, what energy source does it look to burn first? how is getting energy from carbs like rice and bread different from getting energy from simple sugars? if you have a sufficient amount of fat and carbs in your system, how come protein is still used as an energy source? Someone told me that your body will break down muscle for energy, even if you are eating a lot of carbs. is this true?

[supergarr]

yes. heres the order in a muscle contraction.

creatine, then to ATP, then to glycogen, and then muscle protein.

when atp breaks down your body uses glycogen. When thats all used up (which isnt really good cause you get a nice painful burning feeling), then your body resorts to protein for energy. It can get that from muscles or from protein that you just ingested.

Even if you eat a lot of carbs its true. If you workout too much that is == over training.

[midian]

Originally posted by supergarr
yes. heres the order in a muscle contraction.

creatine, then to ATP, then to glycogen, and then muscle protein.

when atp breaks down your body uses glycogen. When thats all used up (which isnt really good cause you get a nice painful burning feeling), then your body resorts to protein for energy. It can get that from muscles or from protein that you just ingested.

Even if you eat a lot of carbs its true. If you workout too much that is == over training.

actually overtrain is a fatigue from the CNS

but your spot on, you don't wan't to train to long, or you start using protein has an energy source