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!
About The Author
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.
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More
One of the worst things you can hear in life... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #4) Eat More ProteinYes, it's important to... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
A diet may be a fad diet or a healthy... Read More
There's nothing more fun then being creative with food and... Read More
While it would be ideal to make all of our... Read More
The percentage of Americans who are overweight and obese is... Read More
If you are into herbs and natural cures, you've undoubtedly... Read More
Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight,... Read More
I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for... Read More
Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
Dealing with your sweet-tooth can be one of the greatest... Read More
New gastric bypass patients say they miss food, they grieve... Read More
There are many subscriber programs available both online and in... Read More
Losing weight is a tough and demanding task for most... Read More
Gastric bypass patients face a great task in the following... Read More
Lipoxinol Weight Loss Review: Does Lipoxinol Live Up To All... Read More
Losing weight doesn't have to be boring when you focus... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Going away for your holidays will also bring with it... Read More
Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More
Reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. needs to be a... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Recently, I won a family cruise on the Regis and... Read More
Although liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic... Read More
Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass... Read More
Do you struggle to maintain or lose weight? If so,... Read More
Weight Watchers inspired me to change my eating habits, lose... Read More
In the last 12 months or so, low carbohydrate diets... Read More
Dietitians just plain don't like low-carb or high-protein diets.Whether it's... Read More
The Dr Atkins Diet has been around for ages, but... Read More
A Little Help With Some Difficult terms ------------------------------------------ Aerobic... Read More
From driving up your blood pressure and cholesterol, to increasing... Read More
Changing our eating behaviour is one of the critical lifestyle... Read More
Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More
When obesity gets out of hand, unresponsive to dietary, lifestyle... Read More
Now I know you're always asking yourself questions.You know the... Read More
Obesity, especially in children, is a matter of rapidly growing... Read More
Are you working hard in the gym 3 times a... Read More
Understanding the theory of adaptation (see previous article, Adaptation I)... Read More
The human body is designed to run best on a... Read More
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
Who'd have thought healthy eating could be so controversial? Lunching... Read More
The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst... Read More
There are certain eating habits that can make you gain... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
1. Include in your diet things that contain more water... Read More
There's a two hundred year history of people prescribing both... Read More
Weight Loss |