Is weight loss really what you want? Well, of course! How much more blunt could you be? However, you might want to think a little harder on that question. When you step on the scale, you get a one-number answer. What does that number actually tell you? Not much.
The number on the scale includes more than excess fat. So, how can you be sure that your weight loss plan is actually reducing fat and not targeting muscle mass or water weight instead?
We asked our experts in weight loss in DTC at The Longevity Lab this very question. Here’s what they had to say on the difference between weight loss and fat loss.
What makes up your weight?
Body composition is essential to understand when you are trying to lose weight. The three main categories that make up your weight are water, muscle, and fat.
Your weight itself is not static; it fluctuates throughout the day. Most of this fluctuation has to do with water weight. Water weight makes up 60% of your overall weight. Over the course of a day, this weight can fluctuate by up to 5%! So, when you weigh yourself on the scale, this portion of your weight is not a reliable measurement.
Another source of your weight comes from muscle mass. This is the kind of weight you don’t want to lose. Muscle mass is particularly vulnerable to medical weight loss treatments. Maintaining muscle mass is essential to your health.
The third kind of weight is fat. This is the weight you actually want to reduce.
How to Focus on Losing Fat
To focus on losing fat, you will want to think less about the scale and how much you’re eating, and instead pay greater attention to what you are eating and how you are exercising. To shed fat, it is important to have a protein-rich diet to build and retain muscle mass. It is also important to exercise regularly. Be sure to fit in both cardio and muscle strengthening activities.
Weight Loss in DTC at The Longevity Lab
Weight loss at The Longevity Lab is about more than just dropping pounds. At The Longevity Lab, we have a strong focus on metabolic health. When you focus on your metabolic health, you are approaching weight loss not as a reductive measure, but as a way to advance the health of your body.
Learn more about our treatments for weight loss and what metabolic weight loss could look like for you. Schedule a consultation with us today.
