Weight Loss v/s Fat Loss

To most of us both these terms might sound exactly the same. How can they be different and how much difference could it really make to the body?

Weight loss and fat loss are surely inter related but are certainly NOT the same thing. When you lose weight it does not mean you have lost fat and likewise when you lose fat it need not mean you have lost weight. Achieving weight loss is way simpler than achieving fat loss. You reduce your calorie consumption, eat less and what you will see on the weighing scale is weight loss not fat loss. Many unsuccessful weight loss programs result in reduction of lean body mass, which is essentially muscle. Loss of lean body mass drives your metabolism down and reduces your capacity of physical work and calorie burn. A successful fat loss program will concentrate on fat loss without any disruption to your metabolic rate or energy levels and thus healthy fat loss along with weight loss.

When someone comes to me to lose weight what they actually mean is they want to lose the excess flab and fat they have to achieve an attractive figure. But unfortunately during a course of time they tend to forget it and only concentrate on the weighing scale. Patience is the first thing that flies out of the window. All they end up asking is how much more time to reach my goal.

I’ve come across a lot of unhealthy weight loss programs which do not concentrate on your existing or target fat percentage. Clients don’t know what their current fat levels are and what they should actually be. All they worry about is showing results on the weighing scale which makes the client happy. Who has that much time to spare on healthy and permanent weight loss? Who cares about the fat percentage when you are getting the shape and figure you want? And all this starts with one unhealthy, unrealistic goal, a deadline to meet either for a wedding or a party which directly reflects on the exercise or diet program. Suddenly the weight loss program shifts from slow, steady and permanent to fast, unhealthy and temporary. So many times I have come across people bragging about their weight loss, inch loss, but as I ask them about their fat percentage. They are clueless and show no interest.

Losing weight is good, inch loss is great but losing fat is equally important. And losing all of that correctly is most important. You have achieved your ideal weight on the scale but have you really lost the excess FAT? So the next time you visit your dietician or your gym, make sure you demand on learning about your current and target fat levels and work on those lines too.

Trust me; it’s as easy as it sounds.