Weight Loss vs Fat Loss

It seems like losing weight has become one of the hottest and most important topics in the world. Everyone is on some kind of diet regime or is embracing a healthy lifestyle, eating specific meals and taking part in grueling, intense workouts.

What most people do not know or often confuse is the difference between losing weight and losing fat.

Those who want to become healthier and gain their ideal body must be more informed when it comes to this topic, because only then will they be able to concentrate on their goal and achieve the results they want.

Weight Loss Vs Fat Loss – What is the Difference Between the Two?

First, here are brief definitions of the two phrases.

Fat loss: Fat loss is the lowering of body fat. This is usually the goal for most people who go on a diet, because too much fat is what leads to being overweight, obese, and also leads to all the issues tied to being overweight.

Weight loss: This is something entirely different from fat loss. This term refers to the general lowering of weight, which means it could be due to losing muscle, bone density, water weight, and fat.

Weight loss is often considered unhealthy, while fat loss is considered a good thing.

Most people want to lose weight and will state that their main goal is weight loss, not fat loss, which is a big mistake.

If someone wants to lose as much weight as possible, as fast as possible in short period of time, they are probably talking about weight loss, and not fat loss.

This is often seen in people such as actors and athletes who must lose weight in a short amount of time.

Athletes might need to lose weight because they have competition and actors for a movie role.

But these people aren’t setting a good example and you mustn’t look up to them when it comes to losing weight too fast.

The focus in dropping pounds and getting healthy should be on your body fat, not on your body weight.

It should be noted that weighing in, like on a scale, to measure the number of pounds lost is not a reliable way to track fat loss.

Not only do scales only show weight lost, they also don’t take several things into consideration.

Weight can fluctuate all the time, being influenced by many factors, such as stomach content, muscle gain or loss, and losing water.

This is why it’s more important to measure the body mass index, or BMI. This looks at the fat on a person in regards to their weight and height and determines from these factors if the persons weight is healthy.

If you want to lose your fat, and not weight, then you should definitely start with gaining muscle. Muscle helps get rid of body fat by burning it more effectively.

Muscle burns more calories than fat, so by adding muscle to the body, you’re turning it into a fat burning machine. You can start with smaller weights and move up to heavier ones as you progress.

Combining weight training with cardio is one of the most efficient ways to lose weight.

How to Measure Fat Loss

When losing fat, weighing in can be deceptive, especially if you’re gaining muscle, which is notoriously heavier than fat. Because of this, you may weigh the same, even if you’ve lost a lot of fat.

One way to get around this obstacle is to measure yourself. You can either do this in an official capacity, by taking your measurement in inches and centimeters and re-measuring every week to compare, or you can use unofficial options.

Some favorite ways to track fat loss is through taking pictures and trying on clothes.

Before and After Photos: Before you start your fat loss resolution, take a Before picture of yourself from every angle. Make sure you get a side view and even a back view.

Every one or two weeks, repeat the process, taking the same pictures. This is best done wearing the same outfit. You can see by comparing these Before and After pictures how well you’re dropping fat and toning.

Old Tight Dresses: Another option is to keep an item of clothing that is a bit tight on you. Try it on every few weeks to see how it feels. As you lose fat, you’ll notice the clothes are becoming looser.

This isn’t just a great way of keeping track of your progress, but it will also encourage you to keep going.

Final Thoughts

Remember that losing fat, or even weight, too fast is extremely unhealthy. Fast weight loss is usually a sign that something is wrong.

Most people who go through magical transformations over a short period of time are unable to keep the weight off, because they’re unable to keep up their strict diet or brutal exercise routine.

The best way to lose fat is slowly, by gaining muscle, doing cardio, and eating whole, unprocessed foods.