Is it possible to lose fat, maintain weight?

Snow3y

Usually I would say immediately "No, fat = weight"

I've been training for about 4 years now, going through the classic bulk/cut/bulk phases.. And this is the second time I'm attempting a cut to get down to around 10% bodyfat, I'm sitting at around 15/16%..

I've gone into a sudden caloric deficit (doing a mini-aggressive cut here, with cardio once a week) for about 5 days now, and I FEEL and LOOK like I've lost some fat.. However, on the scale I'm the exact same weight.. How could this be?

I'll stick at the cut for another 3 weeks or less (depending on how my body reacts) and usually I'm not too concerned about 'weight' but rather measurements.. But for now, thoughts on any reasoning for the no weight loss, but still looking as if weight is lost?

ana3067

debloat? especially if you have dropped your cals too low, presumably lower carbs than normal. Otherwise scale fluctuations.

acogg

I think anything is possible. If you feel better and like the direction, why not continue? There is no point asking random people on the internet about your body fat content. 50% of them won't believe you anyway.

gmallan

To have lost fat but stayed the same on the scale you'd have to have gained something else; muscle, water, food weight. It's possible. Do you take measurements? That might give a better idea of progress

heybales

More cardio than normal, especially if intense - body responds by storing more muscle glycogen.
- So despite going in to a diet causes that to drop, your exercise has caused it to go back up.

That's one idea, and only covers maybe 1 to at most 2 lbs. Then again, if seeing fat from mainly 1 spot, but the water with glycogen is in whole leg muscles or wherever spread out, it may appear a lot bigger difference.

Snow3y

gmallan wrote: »

To have lost fat but stayed the same on the scale you'd have to have gained something else; muscle, water, food weight. It's possible. Do you take measurements? That might give a better idea of progress

Yep I've started with measurements about 2 months ago.. That's a good idea, should give good indications on what's actually happening.

ana3067 wrote: »

debloat? especially if you have dropped your cals too low

Didn't think of this to be honest.. Could be less bloating from dramatic carb reduction!

Snow3y

heybales wrote: »

More cardio than normal, especially if intense - body responds by storing more muscle glycogen.
- So despite going in to a diet causes that to drop, your exercise has caused it to go back up.

That's one idea, and only covers maybe 1 to at most 2 lbs. Then again, if seeing fat from mainly 1 spot, but the water with glycogen is in whole leg muscles or wherever spread out, it may appear a lot bigger difference.

mmm I see.. It could've been that too, It was both my re-feed day as well as the day of cardio.. So this actually makes some sense