Weight Reduction vs. Fat Reduction
With the alarming and ever-inclining rate of obesity in the United States, a common thought that floods many people’s minds is; “I need to lose weight.” What the majority of these individuals don’t realize is that they should be saying, “I need to lose fat.” These are not interchangeable statements and there are significant differences between mere weight loss and specific fat reduction.
There are three significant areas where overall weight loss can come from:
· Body fat
· Muscle Mass
· Excess water retention
When you encounter the claims of people who’ve dropped large amounts of weight (more than 10 pounds) within a week, the majority of this weight loss, if not all, comes from water. The human body is comprised of approximately 70% water and there is continually a surplus of water either in the bladder, intestines, under the skin, etc. The foods you eat and the liquids you drink all have water in them also. These quick weight loss diets help drop this initial weight because calorie levels are drastically dropped, and in turn the overall water consumption is reduced also. Once your calorie levels go back to normal, so does your fluid level and you will more than likely gain this weight back.
Muscle loss, in my opinion, is not something people should strive for. Muscle burns calories. The more lean mass you have, the more calories your body burns, especially at rest. It is also simpler for your body to keep fat off when you have more muscle mass. Muscle also holds a form. If you can’t flex it, it’s fat! Muscle mass is what gives shoulders their nice rounded look, outlines shapely thighs and keeps your butt firm.
There are some simple ways to maintain the muscle mass you already have (as well as gain some new muscle):
· Weight training (or any kind of resistance training)
· increased protein intake
· Proper eating habits
· Additional nutritional supplements (such as glutamine, creatine, etc.)
Now if you work toward fat loss, your body will eventually appear drastically different (in a positive way) than if you had just opted for weight loss. Your stomach will begin to flatten, the jiggle of your upper arms will lessen, and your muscle definition will begin to stand out. Have you ever noticed those individuals who are thin, but not necessarily in shape? They may not be overweight, but they’re usually not the person you look at and say “I’d love to look like that.”
Besides being healthier for you to reduce fat, you will feel better while you’re doing it. There is no need for the starvation diets or the “all liquid” diets. Eating smaller meals more frequently is vital to this process. Starvation diets actually slow down your metabolic rate in the long run, making it more difficult for you to maintain weight loss.
When you eat one meal per day, your metabolism has only one opportunity to increase its calorie burning. Your body will then start to regulate itself because it recognizes that you are consuming fewer calories, so your metabolism slows to compensate for this.
When you eat smaller meals and have a constant influx of healthy calories, your body will compensate for this and increase your metabolism, turning you into a calorie-burning furnace!
You don’t have to go about fat reduction on your own. Some excellent products to aid your fat loss goals are Green Stinger by Schwartz Labs or Lipodrene by Hi-Tech. These ephedra diet pills will help keep your metabolism revved up so you’re burning up those unwanted calories.
If you opt for the non-stimulant route, Beverly International’s Lean Out and Energy Reserve are fantastic. If you really want to drop fat quickly, combine Green Stinger Ephedra with Energy Reserve and watch the fat melt off.
Focusing on fat loss will help to ensure that your body looks fabulous and you feel great also. It will give you the body you truly desire without sacrificing your diet and your health. So stop starving yourself and start starving your fat! The result will be a leaner, healthier, sexier you!
Copyright © 2008 Free Weight Loss Expert
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