When your weight is 180 pounds, it does not mean that you are fat. Your bone, muscle and even blood are part of the weight. What is more important is to find out about your body fat. Here is another article explaining Why Measuring Body Fat Is More Important Than Body Weight?
Here are some of the interesting facts about body fat you may want to know:
1) Types of Fat
We have fat (adipose tissue) all over the body. Two types of fat storage, one is subcutaneous fat (beneath the skin) and the other one is internal fat (also known as visceral fat) in the body cavity to protect internal organs. The former contributes as much as 80% of the entire body fat.
Not everyone is the same. Some of us have more subcutaneous fat to lose and others have more internal fat to lose:
- Men tend to lose more internal fat while obese women lose more subcutaneous fat. source.
- Regardless of gender, diet alone results in more internal fat loss (and less surface fat loss). Exercise seems to result in more subcutaneous fat loss. source. Therefore, diet plan and exercise are both needed for one to lose body fat. But, exercise is a must since 80% of the fat is subcutaneous fat.
2) Fat Storage
When comes to fat storage, women generally gain fat around the buttock and thighs - pear shaped; Men normally store fat around the abdomen - apple shaped.
3) Burning Fat
The fat normally go first from the most recent place it appeared. For instance, if the last place you see fat is your chest, then it will be the first to go when you burn fat. So, if your buttock started gain first, then it will be the last place for the fat to disappear from.
So, it is common that a guy (like me) may complain of getting thin in the face and yet still have spare tire around the waist. Lady may complain of a smaller bust and yet the hips measurement may stay the same.
4) We Do Not Absorb All Fat from Food
When you eat oily food, that fat is not completely absorbed into body. About 5% is eliminated in the feces (I mean, shit). However, this does not mean that you should simply eat oily food.
Now, those basic facts give you a better idea what body fat is and how you can lose body fat - but not necessarily have any immediate change in appearance. Doing sit up or crunches alone just to get rid of the fat at tummy is so difficult. In other words, spot reduction is almost impossible. Instead, you should just imagine the subcutaneous fat as layers of onion. We need to get the layer off, one layer by later from the whole body.
I know that it can be very frustrating. Be patient and stay committed to your training and nutrition. Never be influenced by the weight loss product commercials show perfectly proportioned sexy bodies. Most are just scams. Learn the facts and and set realistic goals accordingly.
Want to find out how to measure your body fat, check out 4 Ways To Measure Body Fat.
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sherrina // Aug 7, 2007 at 1:37 am
Getting the fat is much easier than getting rid of it…huhu…
Angie Tan // Aug 8, 2007 at 1:42 pm
burn the fat…. burn… :)
any tips on diet + exercise regime to burn the fats more?
Elvina // Oct 25, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Hi Mun, thanks for this informative article. But I always wonder … between eating sugary food and oily food, which one will burn off faster when we work out? =p