Can you believe that almost 31% of Americans are classified as being overweight?
Weight management is about more than looking good. It’s also a great way to live your best and healthiest life. When you look good, you feel good, too.
However, it’s possible to lose weight and still not feel like you’ve made much progress. This can end up being demoralizing.
Are you struggling to get rid of pesky fat and reach your healthiest weight? Keep reading to learn all about whether weight loss always equals fat loss.
Does Weight Loss Equal Fat Loss?
It’s an unfortunate fact that weight loss doesn’t always mean you’re losing fat. For instance, did you know that the average male body is made up of 60% water?
By losing a significant amount of water, you’ll lose weight, but you could still retain that pesky fat. While seeing the numbers on the scale go down can be great for your morale, it can also cause you to lose hope later on. This is due to the fact that water weight can fluctuate on a day-to-day basis.
Eating and going to the restroom can also affect your weight. For instance, you could see a dramatic change if you weigh yourself after a big meal and then weigh yourself the next day after using the bathroom.
Instead of feeling like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster each time you weigh yourself and see a different number, it’s crucial to learn how to get the most accurate measurements possible.
How Can I Get an Accurate Weight Measurement?
If you want to strategize your method of losing weight, then you’ll need accurate measurements. Without these, there’s no way of telling if you’ve lost fat, water weight, or something else. For starters, you should try measuring your weight at around the same time each day.
It’s also important to invest in a scale that you know is reliable. The good news is that digital scales have come a long way and can end up being impressively accurate. You should read online reviews of the top scales before making a final decision.
Either way, you should avoid measuring yourself at home one day and at the gym the other day because sometimes scales are calibrated quite differently. Whatever you choose, you should stick with it for the foreseeable future.
Aside from using a scale, there are also ways to measure your body fat, in particular. One of the most common ways of measuring body fat involves skin calipers. By measuring the thickness of fat at three to seven different locations, you can estimate the total percentage of body fat.
What Are the Other Ways of Measuring Body Fat?
If skin calipers aren’t your preference, then you can rely on some other tried-and-true methods instead. For example, you can measure your body circumference using a measuring tape at home. Aside from the circumference measurements, you’ll also need to figure in your height and age.
It’s recommended that women include the circumference around their hips for the most accurate results.
One of the easiest ways to measure your body fat percentage is by investing in a digital body fat analyzer. This is a modern device that you only have to hold outward. It uses a signal and can determine your body fat percentage by clocking the signal’s speed after it travels through your body.
A slower speed suggests a higher percentage of body fat. Keep in mind that the accuracy of these devices can vary. The cheaper the device, the less reliable the results.
Aside from the methods that you can do at home, there are always other ones you can use at a doctor’s office. These include dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, hydrostatic weighing, air displacement plethysmography, and bioimpedance spectroscopy, among others. It’s worth asking your medical professional which options are readily available to you.
What’s the Best Way to Target Fat?
While it’s important for your health to have a well-rounded workout, there are exercises that can target fat better than others. There are three main types of exercises that are known for their fat-burning benefits, including cardiovascular exercise, whole-body exercises, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training).
Cardio is great because it uses plenty of muscle groups and burns through calories at a high rate. Some popular cardio options include jogging, cycling, and swimming.
As the name suggests, whole-body exercises incorporate all or most of your muscles instead of targeting only a few. Burpees are a perfect example of this and are something you should incorporate into your gym routine.
Instead of steady-state cardio, HIIT exercises can burn through body fat with more effectiveness than most other exercise types. The main concept of HIIT involves intense activity in short bursts followed by a period of rest.
Combining these three main types of fat-burning exercises can also help you reach your fitness goals like never before. Don’t forget to couple your exercise regimen with a healthy diet. If you don’t make the right food choices, then you can end up sabotaging all of your hard work.
Are You Ready to Focus on Fat Loss?
Now that you’ve learned all about whether weight loss always equals fat loss, you can make a reliable game plan. If you’re serious about losing weight, then you’ll need a well-rounded exercise regimen.
We have your back. Instead of striving for unrealistic ideas of perfection, we can help you become the best version of yourself. In addition to a well-stocked gym, we offer personal training, group training, and more.
Once you try out our welcoming environment, you’ll never want to go back to your old routine. Feel free to contact us with questions or sign up.
