To properly estimate your fat loss progress with you nutrition and exercise routine don’t use your scale. It is not going to give you an accurate measurement of fat loss. This is a big mistake most individuals make when trying to get in shape. Don’t be a slave to your scale; your body weight will vary a few pounds thought the day.
Another important thing to remember is that muscle weighs more than fat. So if you are doing a proper resistance training routine, you will initially be adding muscle mass to your body. This is a good thing since more muscle will burn more calories which will burn additional fat. More muscle will also increase your metabolism and make your body more efficient at burning fat. This is of course assuming that you aren’t escalating your food intake.
What we want to be doing is measuring the percent of body fat. For men, this will be in the 12-15% range, for woman you should be between 16-20%. All you need to do is go the local nutrition store and ask them for a personal body fat tester. You should be able to pick one up for between 10 to 20 dollars. Just check your results once a week. You are on the right track if your fat percentage is going down and you should just keep on doing what you are doing.
The next way to monitor your improvement is even easier. Just look in your bathroom mirror. You will be able to judge your progress. Do not expect to have the body on the latest fitness advertisement overnight. The manufactures of these products use these pictures to entice you to purchase their products. The individuals in the picture are usually genetically superior in this area. As you build more muscle and loose fat, you will see the shape of your body change. Just be realistic and keep in mind that it is going to require time to get to where you want to be.
You need to remember that we all have inherited physical characteristics from our parents. Some of us have additional muscle tissue while some of us have more fat tissue. We have different eye and hair colors and we are different heights. Please remember this and be realistic with your goals.
What you need to do is determine what your best body is sensibly. Next work with it to burn fat and build lean muscle. Feel good about yourself and the progress you are making.
I was just like your, trying to burn fat and get in shape. Change your mindeset about proper fat loss.