The Inches loss Vs Weight loss debate

Most people let out delighted squeals when they see their weight dipping on the scale little realizing that this could be good news or bad!

The human body is comprised of 2 elemental structures, LBM (lean body mass consisting of structural components like bones, tissues, organs, muscles) and fat. Adipose tissue is the fat underlying our skin, the excess of which is detrimental to body health and aesthetics. The breakdown of this fat in excess is what we need to target with a good diet and exercise routine.

When we measure weight, it is a total of all body components including muscle and fat. When we lose weight it could mean a loss of either or both!

So how does this matter?

Muscle is one of the most dynamic elements in our body. It constantly craves for energy & burns body fat too. So keep your musces active and you only stand to gain.....further dips in stored fat. Higher the muscle weight higher is your metabolic rate & higher is the rate of fat burn. So muscle weight we definitely dont want to lose.

Typically when we lose weight during starvation or highly calorie restricted diets we land up losing more muscle in the hope of losing fat, finally showing just a dip in the scale but insignificant differences in body size. This is because when the body recognizes a severe, unhealthy dip in food energy it responds by breaking down muscle for it's energy requirement. When you walk into a room full of people no one including you would want to know your weight record but will surely notice a difference in your body size. This is because when the body realizes a severe unhealthy dip in food energyit responds by breaking down muscle for energy required for daily body functions.

So the next time you want to analyse the effects of a new diet or your body or get depressed cause your weighing scale hasnt budged after a good exercise and diet routine. get count of your fat % which is the true benchmark to the amount of fat you've burnt & the inches you've lost.

Fat ranges in the human body

For men

14-17.9% - fitness

18-24.9-acceptable

>25%-obese

For women

21-24.9%-fitness

25-31.9%-acceptable

>31.9%-obese

And remember all thin looking peopleneed not necessarily have a low fat%. Petite people too could have higher fat%s than one may think possible. It could reflect in their poor body tone & low metabolic rates.

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