When an individual ventures out on a weight loss quest, there are many areas that have to be considered when determining success. The body can be very fickle, and there are many factors that affect the actual weight as shown on a scale at any given moment. Elite level athletes do their best to try and manipulate there weight, and yet they even struggle. Taking this into consideration, it is important to understand that the bio-chemistry that goes into weight management is very complicated and takes more than just looking at a scale to truly know what’s going on with your body. The purpose of this article is to help individuals start to understand just what it means to actually positively change body composition, and how to lose fat and not just “weight.” This is the key to improving body composition and causing positive body adaptations for the long run.

One key concept that needs to be understood in order to properly monitor fat loss is the fact that body weight fluctuates all day based on variables such as water, glycogen, electrolytes, and regularity, just to name a few. As mentioned above, even elite athletes have trouble finding the balance between all of these variables to optimize their body composition and performance. If you are trying to lose fat, understand that no matter what your weight is at this very moment, there is a sliding scale that extends below and above your weight that has nothing to do with short term fat loss. In fact, most fad diet plans do nothing but tinker around with this sliding scale of weight without actually positively affecting one’s body composition. It is easy to “lose 6 lbs. in a week” by manipulating water and glycogen, however, doing that short term does not actually make you are leaner. The goal for most people is to actually look and feel better, not just change the number on the scale with tricks.

There is a sliding scale of roughly 3-5% that fluctuates daily for most people without even trying. When trying, it is relatively easy to manipulate body weight 5-10%, or even more for individuals that really have it mastered. So and why does this matter to you and your weight management?

Part II of this article will explain to you just why it matters, and how to use that knowledge to help with your weight management goals.