Lose Weight Or Lose Body Fat? The Similarities. The Differences. The Challenges.

How to lose weight fast? How to lose belly fat only? How to lose weight without exercise?   These are 3 of the most popular searches on the Google search engine, when we browse our data. And let’s not forget to mention the ubiquitous “Before & After photos”; “Weight Loss Transformations/Challenges”; and “Weight Loss/Burn Belly Fat Diets” that proliferate the fitness & dietary space, across the various media channels in the industry(s) locally & internationally. But why is the desire for weight loss, or body fat loss, so great? Why is it, that there exists many consumers across the industry, who find it so hard to lose their desired weight, and keep it off?

Read Blog: The Call of Fatherhood

  In this post, we hope to open your mind towards having a basic understanding (at the least):

1. The concepts of ‘weight loss’ & ‘body fat loss’.
2. The similarities & differences of ‘losing weight’ & ‘losing body fat’.
3.  Some considerations/challenges while on your journey, towards experiencing ‘weight loss’ or ‘body fat loss’.

Weight Loss & Body Fat Loss As Concepts As concepts, both weight loss & body fat loss is the riddance of matter that would’ve been present in the human body. This matter can be removed through:

• Respiration.
• Egestion.
• Excretion.
• Operation/Surgery.

  *Respiration Matter (example): Carbon Dioxide & Water. *Egestion Matter (example): Feces. *Excretion Matter (example): Urine. *Operation/Surgery Matter (example): Bodyfat Tissue Removal.   Weight Loss & Bodyfat Loss Similarities & Difference While losing weight & losing bodyfat both involve the loss of matter–of which can both be reflected in a change of digits on a scale, the primary distinguishing factor, is that loss of bodyweight (weight loss) can include the riddance of bodyfat, as well as other matter (water, nitrogenous compounds, feces, mineral salts, etc.); while bodyfat loss is just the primary extraction (surgical & non-surgical), and/or shrinkage (through metabolizing processes within the human body) of body fat tissue. This primary difference can have a differing reflection of the human body, to the naked eye.

Chiefly, body fat loss reflects a reduction in body size, as well as gain in sculpting/toning. Weight loss, can reflect a reduction in scale numbers, but does not have to reflect any change in the size, shape or tone of the human body.  

example of body fat loss.   Weight Loss & Bodyfat Loss Considerations For You While On Your Journey Losing weight & losing bodyfat are both very complex & dynamic phenomena physiologically, and socio-biologically–on both population & individual scales. While it’s beyond the scope of this blog post to delve into the deeper science of these phenomena, here are two key pointers:

1. The loss of weight & bodyfat, without external means (eg, surgery) takes place as a result of metabolic (respiratory) processes. These metabolic processes (in terms of capacity–speed, function…) are dependent on bio-factors such as age, gender, hormonal state, medical conditions, intrinsic motivators, stress & stressors…; geo-bio-factors such physical activity stimulants, micro-macro economics, food culture, medication…
2. It’s because of the highlighted considerations in point 1 above, why the “Yo-Yo Effect”  & ‘Relapse” is so dominant amongst those on, or who would’ve been, on the journey of weight & body fat loss.

 

To be successful on your journey of losing weight & body fat, for both the short & long term, requires your deeper understanding of the forces biologically and external to your body (environmentally), that influence your overall weight/body composition.

And this deeper understanding, is a daily, ever-growing process. “Your Sustainable Fitness Partner”.  

About The Author

Oshane Bryant: BSc Geology, Geography Minor; ACE CPT since 2012; Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) Accelerator Graduate-2018 cohort; KUKIBO Martial Arts & Self Defense, Senior Instructor; OB Fitness Founder & Managing Director.