Are you ashamed of your weight? Do you have a goal weight that you want to reach through weight loss? I'd say so, it's been pushed into our brains many times over and over again that "weight loss" is what we want to accomplish. There are weight loss guides, weight loss supplements, and many other things that push "weight loss". Many people even set their goals to be at a certain weight. Additionally, the medical community has developed an "ideal weight" chart, which can further add to the confusion about weight loss.
Now, let me ask you a question. Is your goal really weight loss? Unless you are trying to make a weight class for wrestling or some other sport with weight classes, you may think that your goal is weight loss, but it really isn't. You are trying to lose that flubbery stuff attached to your body called FAT. Correct?
So then, why do we measure our progress by how much we weigh? Why do we step on the bathroom scale and hope that those numbers will be lower than before? You see, our weight is affected by more than just how much fat is on our body. Some other factors include water, muscle, glycogen, and obviously if we have eaten anything earlier or used the bathroom lately.
Our water weight fluctuates constantly. For instance, when we exhale water vapor comes out. When we sweat, we are sweating out water. There are also many more factors that can affect the amount of water in our body. Water is what usually causes those random gains or losses of a pound or two in weight that can make you happy or sad. It is almost physiologically impossible to lose a pound of fat in one day.
One reason the low-carb or no-carb (also called ketogenic) diets are so attractive is because of the large initial loss of weight. However, this weight is not necessarily fat. When carbohydrates are restricted the body has a backup store of them located in the liver and muscles in the form of something called glycogen. The human body can store approximately 400 grams of glycogen. In larger individuals this number can increase. In addition to this, for each gram of glycogen stored in the human body, 3 grams of water are also stored. If you figure it out, this would equate to about 1600 grams (3.5 pounds) of glycogen and water.
When you stop or limit your consumption of carbohydrates, your body starts using its glycogen stores. After a couple of days that 1600 grams (3.5 pounds) of glycogen and water are gone. Also, as an adaptation to the restriction of carbohydrates, your body produces these things called ketones. Ketones also appear to have a diuretic effect, which would mean an even greater loss of water.
In addition to water, if you have been working out lately to speed along your "weight loss" (you mean fat loss, right?) progress you probably have gained some muscle doing so. This gain in muscle can also affect the numbers you see on the scale. Muscle is also more dense than fat.
You may be wondering how you are going to measure your progress now that the scale doesn't mean as much as it used to. Well, there are several methods to measure your body fat percentage. None of these methods are 100% accurate, but they will be much more useful than the use of a scale.
One of the simplest ways is to use a caliper. You can usually find these at your local sporting goods/fitness shop. If you can't find them locally, you can order them off the internet. Calipers measure the thickness of a skin fold on your triceps. Then there are directions that come with the caliper that show you how to use the number you get to derive your body fat %.
If you don't want to go out and buy some calipers, there is a body fat % calculator on my website. The calculator uses the circumference of several parts of your body and then plugs them into a formula developed by the U.S. Navy to derive an approximation of your body fat %.
You can find this calculator here: http://www.weight-loss-resources.com/calculators/bodyfat.html
There are also much more accurate ways to measure your body fat % like buoyancy testing or the use of special lasers.
If you insist on knowing your progress by weight loss and want to use a scale, try to weigh yourself at the same time everyday. Probably the best time would be right when you wake up in the morning and before you do anything.
So, your new goal should be to shoot for fat loss and not weight loss. Don't necessarily trust the scale all the time as it can be deceiving - your weight is affected by more than just how much fat you have gained or lost. In addition, it is almost physiologically impossible to gain or lose a pound of fat in one day.
Nathan Latvaitis runs a website at http://www.weight-loss-resources.com/calculators/bodyfat.html where you can find even more fitness/weight loss articles, product reviews, book reviews, calculators, a message board, and more.
efficient cleaning crew Lake Forest ..In theory, if you're starving, exercising less helps conserve energy.... Read More
Have you ever just felt like you were doing everything... Read More
The purpose of this article is not to scrutinize, vilify,... Read More
Flip through a magazine, scan a newspaper, or channel surf... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
Burn fat while you sleep! Eat whatever you want and... Read More
You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
Are you ashamed of your weight? Do you have a... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More
If you're thinking of going on a diet to lose... Read More
Believe it or not, losing a little or a lot... Read More
I want to talk to you about cows and what... Read More
Maybe you losing weight comes down to the simple question,... Read More
Today you have a good chance of getting diabetes or... Read More
Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food... Read More
If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing... Read More
America is getting more obese every year. Even our children... Read More
Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people... Read More
Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More
Diet Pills are the fastest growing segment of the dietary... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
Foods that are high in fiber and protein are the... Read More
green cleaning service Deerfield ..The overweight and obesity epidemic is a worldwide problem. There... Read More
Speculating on the scientifically proven memory unreliability, the memory specialist... Read More
Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight,... Read More
To begin this article I must start with it's conclusion.The... Read More
There are as many reasons you've given yourself to eat... Read More
You've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
This little known secret has been used by bodybuilders for... Read More
With obesity and disease increasing dramatically, many fitness experts are... Read More
Fighting obesity has become one of the most important issues... Read More
Why was the FDA trying to hide the facts about... Read More
Axiom Number One - Nourish your body.Probably the most important... Read More
The 3 day diet mixes certain types of foods that... Read More
Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make... Read More
It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More
If I Want to Lose Weight, What Can I Do... Read More
If you are overweight and suffer from pain in your... Read More
Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More
Obesity in America is at an epidemic level. It is... Read More
Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably... Read More
A little information if often a dangerous thing... and many... Read More
The diary is an essential help in reaching your weight... Read More
Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat... Read More
More likely than not a diet with end up a... Read More
Water is an essential component of the human body and... Read More
Weight Loss |