Weight loss vs. Bodyfat loss

People tend to be obsessed with how much they weigh. Some avoid getting on the scale like the plague. What people tend to misunderstand is bodyfat percentage is far more important than actual body weight and here's why. Depending on your body mass index (BMI) what you weigh has less to do with your overall health status than the amount of bodyfat you carry. Knowing your bodyfat percentage and having it checked regularly is the key to helping you reach your fitness goals and staying healthy.

There are several types of bodyfat:

*White fat

*Brown fat

*Visceral fat

*Subcutaneous fat

*Belly fat

Fat controls your metabolism. It also stores excess calories. The more fat you have the more calories you store. Brown fat is considered friendly fat. People with more brown fat tend to store less calories and burn more calories because they also tend to have more lean muscle mass. Subcutaneous fat is directly under the skin. Visceral fat is vital to your survival. It covers your organs. But too much makes you susceptible to disease. Belly fat is both visceral and subcutaneous. This naturally accumulates with age but can be controlled by a sound diet and exercise program. Alcohol is stored in belly fat.

Women who carry more fat in their hips and thighs are considered better off but this could be a sign of a hormone imbalance, especially if it becomes stubborn to lose it.

If your waist circumference is greater than 35 inches this puts both males and females at a health risk for diabetes and heart disease. There are several ways to test bodyfat. Using a caliper pinch is easiest and most cost effective. Hydrostatic weighing is said to be more accurate but all forms of testing depends on the timing and the person doing the testing. Below is a list of bodyfat composition standards for males and females over 21 years of age:

High - 35% and over

Moderately high - 28-34%

Optimal range - 11-27%

Low - 6-10

Dangerously low - 3-5%

Most quick weight loss programs are simply based on water weight. Get your bodyfat tested prior to starting your weight loss program. Keep track of the reduction in the specific skinfold areas. Ask yourself do you want to be healthy or look healthy, or both? Let the answer to those questions guide your plan of attack against fat.