Newbie question but weight loss means "body fat" loss, right?

Fatvaporizer

Hi, sorry for the newbie question but I just wanted to clear things up. When we lose weight, it's mostly "fat" that we're losing, and sometimes a bit of muscle, but it's mainly fat, right? There isn't anything else the body can lose besides fat and muscle...stupid question but can it lose regular 'flesh?'

Sued0nim

It's a mixture of water, fat and muscle and depends on rate of loss, and macro nutrient make up of diet and days into diet

Sued0nim

What do you think flesh is?

CattOfTheGarage

Your body is made up of bone, muscle, fat and gristle, basically, plus internal organs and skin. You can't lose much mass from your internal organs or skin. You can lose it from your bones, but you don't want to and if you eat a reasonable diet and take a minimum amount of exercise you shouldn't. The gristle (connective tissue) holds your joints etc. together and is pretty fixed. So yes, fat and muscle are what you lose. The trick is to lose more fat and less muscle.

Remember, though, that all the components of your body are mainly water, and the exact amount of water varies hour by hour as you drink, sweat and pee, so your weight will always fluctuate by a few pounds. That fluctuation can be large (as much as 6lb in my case) but it is not meaningful, it's just water.

KateTii

Stand on the scale. Go to the toilet and poop. Stand on the scale - it will now display a lower weight.

Stand on the scale. Go drink a big glass of water. Stand on the scale - it will now display a higher weight.

Ideally, actual weight loss would be 100% fat loss. Unfortunately, it's a mix of fat and muscle and is often masked by water retention as well as pee and poop.

courtneyfabulous

If you want to lose mostly fat and not as much muscle make sure to:
Eat plenty of protein
Exercise, preferably weight lifting
Be in a mild calorie deficit (no more than 20% below TDEE and preferably not below BMR)
Lose weight slowly

However if you do these things you may lose more muscle than fat (which is bad):
Eat very little protein
Not exercise or just do cardio
Be in a major calorie deficit below your BMR
Lose weight very quickly

trigden1991

courtneyfabulous wrote: »

Be in a mild calorie deficit (no more than 20% below TDEE and preferably not below BMR)

This is the only part I would disagree with.