Body Weight.

Many of us are quick to make the weighing scale our best friend without really understanding the science behind body weight.

1. Your body contains more than just fat.
2. Every organ and component of your body possess their own weight.
3. Your body is about 70percent water.
4. You have blood, muscles, bones and internal organs contributing to your body weight.
5. The only difference is that fat has more bulk (that is, takes up more space).

So when you starve yourself or fall critically ill, you might lose body weight, but it will be more of water and muscles than fats. This is why at the end of your starving/illness, you feel weaker and very malnourished.

Losing Fats the Wrong Way

We lose fats wrongly by doing any of the following:

 i. STARVING: You can’t cheat your body. The reason you are fat or have a big belly is not because you eat. It is because you eat wrongly.

Eating wrongly can vary from the following factors; Time of meal, quantity of meal, quantity of meal and suitability of meal.

Dieting is not starving. All living things must eat and eat well.

ii. WRONG DIETING: You shouldn’t copy everything you see on the internet and social media, especially foreign media.

Because you see a white or colored man eating only vegetables doesn’t mean you should do the same.
There are several types of diet that differs according to culture and body needs.
As a Nigerian/African, you should think about your weather, your culture, your standard of living, your stress level… All these, added up to your level of health, indicates the need for a personally customized diet plan.

iii. CHEAT MEALS, DRINKS, PILLS and EQUIPMENT:
I recently just passed across a neighbor wearing a Waist-trainer and just sitting down, receiving fresh air and looking pretty. In her mind, her belly is getting flat.

Please understand that your belly is not a tube of toothpaste that you can just compress and hope it stays that way. Your body is elastic.

I do get reports from my clients about how they once used slimming teas, magic pills/supplements and drinks, and what have you, in desperation to lose fat to no avail.

Do these cheat teas and pills work? Well, here’s the secret to the Sale

The truth is these products do not really lie when they say they will help you LOSE WEIGHT.
But Will They Help You LOSE FAT?

These products could help reduce your appetite for food or even dry up your system (of water).

Fat is to be burnt/used up. Because it is stored energy. You can’t sit at home, cross-legged with your slimming tea and expect results.
It is work that burns energy.

There is no magic pill to remove fats. Even a surgical operation will only help remove the excess fat by removing the fat cells itself. But without proper living, bad fats will still come back. Maybe even worse than before.

Losing Fats the Right Way.

i. BE INTENTIONAL. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LOSE? FATS OR MUSCLES?

Do you want to shrink or do you want to shred?

To shrink is to lose fats, muscles and water and become a smaller version of oneself.
This can be achieved through some types of low/no carbs and low/controlled protein diet. Mind you, you will not necessarily look healthy or strong, but you will most likely look younger. This is done mainly among overweight people who desire fast results (although not very advisable).

To shred is to become lean in muscle and to cut out major fat. This is achieved through strict dieting but should be mixed with endurance and resistance exercises to achieve a better result.

ii. DO THE PROCESS RIGHT:

Diet Right: Don’t compare yourself with other people. And it is very dangerous to follow another person’s diet plan. Your diet plan must be drawn by a specialist to suit your health diversity and body goal.
Intermittent fasting can be dangerous for you, without proper control. You need a fitness coach/dietician to help guide you before jumping in on any diet plan.

 Exercise Right: It is sad to see overweight/fat people only lifting weights in the gym. While it is a good thing to build on muscles, as it improves one metabolism, what is not spoken much about is how it also boosts an individual’s appetite. Without proper guidance, they end up spending months without visible results and fall into depression.
If you want to lose fats, don’t begin with just lifting weights, it is much advisable to begin mostly with aerobic activities to use up stored energy.

 iii. ASK FOR HELP

No man is an Island. Starting a fitness journey alone takes a lot of will power and if you are not educated enough on the subject, you might get depressed at your rate of progress.
Seek a fitness coach, participate in fitness programs, join a fitness community. Make fitness a priority.

Health is wealth

Finally.

Now that you have learned about body weight and the ambiguity that surrounds it,

Here’s a task for you to get in the right path.

1. Discard your slim teas and hide your waist trainers.
By doing so, you are making a promise to yourself to never follow the ‘Lazy way out’.

2. Take a picture of you in your complete sports wear. Send it to the Fitness Coach and indicate that you are ready to kick-start your fitness journey.

It is easier to receive help when you show readiness and determination to get better.

What is the longest distance you have ever ran/jogged? Find out and let me know in the comment section