Weight Loss Information

Is Losing Weight The Same As Losing Fat?


Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the indicator of a weight problem - the actual percentage of body fat is the true indicator. You need to know what percent of you is actually FAT. How are you going to monitor your weight loss if you do not know what percent of your body is fat, before you begin your program?

Let me give you an example on measuring body fat, this is important in understanding weight loss, or should I say FAT LOSS. This is actually what we are trying to lose, right? FAT!

Lets say someone weighs 200 pounds and when we measure their body fat we find out there body fat is 40%

This means that 40% of the members body is made of fat (80 lbs). The other 120 lbs is muscle, bones, organs, water, etc. (everything but fat).

Now any true weight loss program should include some form of strength training customized to their personal abilities (Another reason you need someone who truly understands the whole body and how it works). Because if you can gain some of that muscle mass that we lose with age, our bodies will burn more calories and therefore burn more FAT!

Now it's a few weeks into the program and this person steps on the scale and they now weigh 198 lbs. They are a little disappointed because they thought they were doing better. Their clothes fit better, they have more energy, and they are feeling better.

But they are still depressed because they only lost a lousy 2 pounds! Right? Are we sure???

We now check their body fat and it is now 36% not 40%. Let's do a little math.

200 lbs at 40% body fat means that 40% of them is fat, which equals 80 lbs of FAT, and 120 lbs are muscles and everything else (called the lean body mass).

198 lbs at 36% body fat means that 36% of them is fat which equals 71 lbs of FAT, and 125 lbs of lean body mass.

This person actually lost 9 pounds of FAT (the stuff we are trying to lose) and gained 5 pounds of lean body mass (mostly muscle mass, which is a good thing because this will allow their body to burn more calories!)

You need to measure and focus on PERCENT OF BODY FAT, AND NOT WEIGHT!

But don't worry, when your body fat goes down, as your body fat decreases so will the numbers on the scale!

Dr. Jeffrey Banas is a Chiropractic Sports Physician, practicing in Mesa; AZ. Dr. Banas personally lost 60 pounds in 2003 and now uses his experience to help others struggling with their weight problems. Dr. Banas can be reached at his office at 480-633-6837, or by visiting his web site at www.personal-weight-loss-help.com


MORE RESOURCES:

HealthNews18.com (blog)

Long-Term Weight Loss Difficult to Maintain
CalorieLab Calorie Counter News
Long-term weight loss is difficult to maintain, finds a new study from Penn State College of Medicine researchers, who find that only one in six American ...
Weight loss surgery helps diabetic's stop medicationHealthNews18.com (blog)
Americans struggle with long-term weight lossPenn State Live

all 14 news articles »


Reuters

Weight loss key as resurgent Mardy Fish moves on at US Open
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
Mark Kovacs, a staff trainer with the US Tennis Association, said that the ability to endure comes naturally with weight loss. Players can experience more ...
A fit fish at U.S. Open Tennis, how far can it swim?Examiner.com
NOTEBOOK: New York fans go wild with scuffle in the standsMonsters and Critics.com

all 138 news articles »


'Millionaire Matchmaker' talks Jill Zarin, weight loss and Labor Day dating
Zap2it.com (blog)
She's lost 20 pounds using the Sensa weight loss system (which works off of "smell-ology." Just watch this next video and you'll get more info on how to get ...

and more »



New York Daily News

'Housewife' Caroline Manzo Shows Off Weight Loss, New Hairdo (PHOTOS)
Huffington Post (blog)
'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Caroline Manzo showed off her youthful new look Wednesday night at a party for the opening night of 'My Big Gay Italian ...
'Housewife' Caroline Manzo Shows Off Weight Loss, New Hairdo (PHOTOS)One News Page

all 322 news articles »


In Weight-Loss Struggle, Americans Are Leery Of Pills
NPR (blog)
A student weighs in at Wellspring Academy, a special school in Reedley, Calif., that incorporates weight loss with academic studies. ...

and more »



Zap2it.com (blog)

Matthew McConaughey's shocking weight loss: Fad diet or Photoshop?
Zap2it.com (blog)
From the looks of Matthew McConaughey's new Dolce & Gabbana fragrance ad, he's dropped a few kilos. The usually beach-buff and ...

and more »


The Link Between Weight Loss and Breastfeeding
Huffington Post (blog)
Note to new moms: If you breastfeed now, you'll be more likely to slip back into those skinny jeans for years to come. In a new study, researchers at the ...

and more »


Johnson's weight loss gains him a starting job with Longhorns
FS Southwest
Cody Johnson rubs his temples, looks at the floor and seems to take as many physical shots as he typically deals out as the Longhorns' power running back. ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
©EmptyNestNow.com 2006