Often when people talk about weight loss, they often actually mean fat loss. Everybody is different – that’s what makes us all so unique. There are women out there trying to gain weight, lose weight, get stronger, get faster, lift heavier, and switch off from their chaotic lives for just a moment. Everyone has different goals, and that’s why everybody will look so different.
If your goal is focused on ‘losing weight’, it’s important to discuss weight loss versus fat loss.
What is the difference between fat loss and weight loss?
Losing weight means a reduction in overall weight, which can come from body fat, muscle or water weight, while fat loss is the decrease of overall body fat mass in the body. The goal for a successful and effective weight loss is to lose body fat while preserving muscle mass. Your muscles are the ones that help boost your metabolism, so the more muscle mass, the higher the fat burning capacity of your body.
There are multiple factors that can affect your weight such as:
- Diet
- Macro intake
- Exercise program
- Resistance and strength training
- Sleep patterns
- Stress
- Hormones
Basing your weight loss progress on what the regular scale shows can be frustrating sometimes because it just shows your overall weight. It doesn’t show you how your clothes fit better, your overall body composition or how much stronger your body feels than before. Knowing your body fat composition is the smarter way to track your progress.
We cover these topics in detail in our Food & Mood program, aimed at focusing on sustainable and healthy long-term results. Find out more about Food & Mood here.
The important thing is to look for ways to feel more comfortable, confident and content with your own body, and focus on improving your overall health and wellbeing in a sustainable way.
Want to chat to a nutritionist or nutrition coach about how to track body composition and manage your weight or fat loss? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
