How do you know it's fat loss?

sluedu09
sluedu09 Posts: 107 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just wondering how you know that the weight you are losing is due to fat loss? I work out regularly and pay close attention to my diet. I lose anywhere between .5 to 1.8 pounds a week. How do I know I'm losing fat? Just by measuring myself?

Replies

  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    Try one of the online calculators - it may not be 100% accurate, but if you use the same one every time you will be consistent.

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/

    keep an eye on whether your lean mass is going down.
  • BetsyC23
    BetsyC23 Posts: 7
    We purchased a scale from the company Withings which uses electrical current to measure your body fat percentage. I also had it measured at the gym to compare and the two were not far off from each other. It was a little pricey, but since fat loss was the main goal in our house we decided it was worth it.
  • catpow2
    catpow2 Posts: 206 Member
    Gradual weight loss is good. Also incorporate strength training and make sure you're eating enough protein to sustain your muscle mass or build (if that's one of your goals). If your clothes start feeling looser but you haven't lost much weight, that's also a good sign you've lost fat.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Calipers are nice!

    Another way is not with measuring but with progress with weights.
    If you are lifting in a 3-5 rep range and you are losing weight but your weight on the bar keeps going up....
    Thats lean muscle!
    =D
  • thistimeismytime
    thistimeismytime Posts: 711 Member
    It's probably not ALL going to be fat loss, for any of us. You can MINIMIZE muscle loss by strength training and eating plenty of protein (as well as healthy fats and carbs), and by not trying to lose too fast. If you're doing those things, you can be pretty sure that the majority of your weight loss will be from fat. Slow and steady keeps the LBM.
  • sluedu09
    sluedu09 Posts: 107 Member
    Okay, thanks. I've been losing at a pretty slow consistent pace, which I'm really happy with. I run at least 3 times a week and started going to the gym on some off days. I was just curious how you guys were keeping up with it. My clothes are fitting much looser and soon I'm going to have to go shopping!

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