The Importance of Body Composition
Let’s dive into a topic that I know has confused us all at one point or another: the difference between weight loss and fat loss.
First of all, let’s take a step back and talk about the scale. We’ve all been there, standing on that little platform of doom, anxiously awaiting the verdict. And sometimes the verdict is not in our favor, so we think. The typical scale only tells you one part of the story, your overall weight. It does not tell you what that weight represents.
This is where the difference between weight loss and fat loss comes in. Weight loss refers to a decrease in your overall weight, this can include a loss of muscle, fat, water, or even bone mass. On the other hand, fat loss refers specifically to a decrease in your body fat percentage.
The Benefits of Focusing on Fat Loss
So, why is it important to focus on fat loss over weight loss? Well, for starters, muscle is denser than fat. So, if you’re losing weight but not body fat, you may actually be losing valuable muscle mass instead. Not only does muscle help boost your metabolism, but it also helps you look toned and defined. Imagine losing 5 pounds of muscle versus 5 pounds of fat. In terms of overall appearance, 5 pounds of fat loss will make a much bigger difference than 5 pounds of muscle loss.
But, let’s say you’re not a muscle-bound fitness fanatic, and you just want to feel good in your own skin. Reducing your body fat percentage will do just that. By decreasing the amount of fat you carry, you’ll feel lighter and more confident, and your clothes will fit better too! Imagine putting on your favorite pair of jeans that once felt tight and uncomfortable, only to find that they now fit like a glove. That, my friends, is the power of fat loss.
It’s also worth mentioning that excess body fat is associated with a number of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. By reducing your body fat percentage, you’re not only improving your appearance, but you’re also reducing your risk for these and other health problems.
How to Monitor Progress with an Inbody Machine
So, how can we monitor our progress and track our fat loss? One tool that can be incredibly helpful that we utilize at Rugged Terrain CrossFit is an Inbody machine. This machine is a type of body composition analysis tool that uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure various aspects of your body composition. It includes your total body weight, lean body mass, and body fat percentage. The Inbody scan is quick and easy. Within minutes, you’ll have a detailed report of your body composition, including your body fat percentage, lean body mass, and more.
By regularly tracking your body composition with this method, you can get a more accurate picture of your progress and see if you’re actually losing body fat, or if you’re just losing water weight or worse muscle mass. At Rugged Terrain CrossFit we use information to make adjustments to your nutrition and exercise program and fine-tune your fat loss strategy.
Remember, weight loss is just a number, but fat loss is where the real transformation happens. Start focusing on reducing body fat percentage and watch as your overall health and body composition improves.
Book a Discovery call to learn if our holistic approach to fat loss is the right fit for you.
