Many people start on a fitness journey with the sole purpose of losing weight and seeing the number on the scale get smaller. I always love to hear when people are making an honest go of it to improve their overall health, but setting out to solely lose weight is a misguided journey.
Let’s talk about the difference between fat loss and weight loss. Fat is the substance that your body uses to store excess calories found in all the foods you eat. Typically, when you lose excess fat, you also lose weight. Sometimes, though, you can maintain or even gain weight. The truth is that through strength training, you will build lean muscle while also shedding excess fat. The more muscle that you build, the more fat you can burn.
This should be a no-brainer, then, your weight should go down through exercise and strength training, right? Not necessarily. Muscle is more dense than fat, so my advice to you is not to get fixated on a number on the scale. It is not an accurate measurement of your overall health. If you’re truly setting out to improve your health and not just lose a few pounds here and there, then you should work on changing your overall body composition. Increasing your lean tissue-to-fat ratio indicates a more positive overall fitness level and optimal general health which is more important than the number on the scale. This is why Actualize members have access to the InBody270 at no cost to quantify if their training and nutrition are working together to actualize their goals.
There are a number of cardio and strength training activities that Actualize utilizes in tandem to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. But, your best bet would be to have a well thought out plan that not only involves energy system training and strength training, but also a nutritional overhaul. Get in touch with your assigned Actualize Coach to ensure your nutrition is coming alongside your training. We are here to help!
Coach Jenny
Not a member of Actualize Sports & Fitness?
Are you adult who is interested in transforming your health and fitness? Check out two entry level offerings at Actualize Fitness!
3-Month Transformation Challenge
Are you a competitive athlete who wants to increase performance while decreasing the likelihood of injury? Click below to learn more about Actualize Sports!
Actualize Sports & Fitness is North Central Washington’s premier performance enhancement training, health and nutrition, and mental achievement coaching center. We exist to educate, encourage and empower Actualize Sports (competitive athletes, teams & coaches) & Actualize Fitness (fitness enthusiasts of all ages & abilities) clients to actualize their unique purpose and potential in athletics, fitness and life.
Actualize Your Purpose & Potential