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If you are burning fat and losing inches from your body, your weight loss program is working. So, the question I hear many times is, “How much weight did I lose this week?” If my answer is, “You lost 2 pounds and 10 inches of fat,” then don’t despair. Your exercise program is working.
Quick weight loss programs are thriving in a society that wants everything yesterday. Burning fat and changing your body’s composition to lean and toned takes longer than quickly losing 20 pounds in two weeks.
Advertisers make billions every year selling quick weight loss programs. If quick weight loss is what you want, I guess you get what was advertised. If you want to change your body’s composition, you have to commit to more hard work over a longer period of time.
Wouldn’t you rather drop dress sizes and pant sizes for the long haul? Wouldn’t you rather be forced to go shopping for smaller sized clothes? I’m guessing the answer to both questions is yes. Then, commit to burning fat and losing inches.
To do so, you must commit to eating right and exercising regularly for the long term. You must be willing to value a lower body fat percentage over just losing weight. The beauty of achieving fat loss is that you will also get the weight loss you want—eventually!
Advertisements such as, "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" sends a message that has a short-term solution to your weight problem. Weight lost that quickly (without regular exercise) will be mainly lost muscle mass instead of fat mass (this will slow down your metabolism). You also might be very ill after losing that much weight in such a short period of time.
Quick weight loss motivation focuses on pounds lost instead of body fat burned and inches lost. Fat loss is more important than weight loss.
So, commit to being the biggest fat loser! Losing large amounts of weight can be gained back quickly if you don't build muscle mass. Build muscle, burn fat, speed up your metabolism and lose weight (and keep it off)!
Your motivation needs to be long-term fat loss and weight loss. You do this by decreasing your body fat and increasing your muscle mass. If you use healthy meal plans and regular exercise, you won't have to worry about regaining the weight (no yo-yo weight gain effect).
Periodically check your body fat percentage. You could be losing inches. You could be burning body fat and losing inches while your weight remains constant. This is a good thing because your body is changing to lean and toned.
If you continue to try every new fad diet that hits the market, you will continue to see your weight yo-yo and your health worsen. Make the commitment to fat loss with regular weight training and cardio exercise! In time, this will burn fat, give you a lean body and good health!
Mark Dilworth, BA, PES, CPT is a Certified Personal Trainer and former NCAA Division I athlete. Mark’s Fat Blaster Athletic Training System has been proven to give his clients the fit, sculpted and athletic-type bodies they want. Visit Mark’s sites:
My Fitness Hut http://myfitnesshut.blogspot.com
Her Fitness Hut http://herfitnesshut.com
Sports Fitness Hut http://sportsfitnesshut.blogspot.com
Add a Comment4 Comments
It is happy to see your posting. Yes really informative article. I will tell this information again to my friend, oh yes I suggest you to check my blog on http://weight-loss-blogs.blogspot.com/ , I hope the article on my blog will be usefull for you… and we can share each other. thank you… ;-)
April 15, 2010 - 12:41pmThis Comment
Thanks so much for your article. I'm now into week 7 of a real step up in my exercise routine - I'm doing cardio for an hour 5 times a week (NIA, Spinning classes, elliptical and training for a 5K). I'm also doing some weights 2x a week in addition. I've been tracking calories and usually stay within the recommended range but have only lost 2 pounds! Now, I've lost a LOT of inches (6 1/2 off my waist alone) but I've been pretty discouraged that I haven't seen any significant weight loss yet. Your article gives me hope that maybe it will still happen! Thanks!
April 7, 2010 - 2:33pmThis Comment
I agree that short term weight loss may sound attractive but it is never permanent.
Besides it is no use just to watch the weight of body go down, since it varies everyday based on water stored in our body. (Which increases when we eat more salt.)
Hard work is the key to reduce fat.
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March 31, 2010 - 11:46pmThis Comment
I like the approach of not looking for quick weight loss. If it is lost quickly, it is typically regained quickly. With my clients I use a slow and steady method, focusing on internal hunger and fullness cues. I've found this works best.
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March 31, 2010 - 9:40pmThis Comment