“The difference between weight loss and fat loss and how relying on the scales may be detrimental to your progress”
Training to lose bodyfat % vs losing weight
The myth or common misconception with first time gym goers is thinking they need to lose a heap of weight, sometimes this is true, but more often than not you can lose bodyfat whilst changing your body shape and actually remain at a similar weight to what you previously were.
The fact is, if you eat a lot less than you are exerting then you will lose weight, unfortunately, the weight you lose will be both muscle and fat. The goal to successful fat loss is to preserve as much muscle as possible, or possibly even gain some, while at the same time lose as much body fat as possible.
Muscle is vital to your success for losing fat but you will need to rely on the mirror or skin folds for progress, the scale is not a great indicator as sometimes your weight can remain similar to what you were but you will be in far better shape.
Lets look at this more in depth with some of the key aspects to look at when trying to lose bodyfat %:
- Simple, eat less then you are exerting
- If you are in a caloric deficit you will lose bodyfat and muscle, the way you lose bodyfat is by incorporating a caloric deficit with a macro-nutrient breakdown suited to your goals, lifestyle and activity level.
- Don’t worry so much about the timing of the meals as long as there is a deficit and you are getting enough protein.
A good mix of cardio and weight training:
The amount is specific to your goal and lifestyle.
If you are very active and on your feet all day then you are more likely to need a solid weight training program with less cardio to aid your fat loss journey.
If you are an office worker who is in front of a computer all day you will need a good mix of weights and cardio to aid your fat loss journey.
Above is a basic overview, in the next segment we will explain a little more about nutrient timing and the benefits of this.
If you need to get your fat loss journey on track, contact the Temple team and book your free consultation with one of our experts
(07) 5562 0715
