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Is Losing Weight Any Different Than Reducing Your Body Fat?

It seems everyone in the Western world wants to lose weight. We seem to believe we just need to drop that last 10 (or 20 or 30) pounds and we’ll be fit and sexy. But we’re fooling ourselves. How much you weigh is only a very approximate measure of how healthy you are, and dropping weight won’t necessarily make you fitter.

Losing Weight Isn’t The Answer

Even health care professionals blur the distinction between weighing too much and carrying too much fat. Imagine that you and your identical twin go to the doctor for a physical. The doctor tells you both that you need to lose 20 pounds. Your twin decides to concentrate on losing weight as fast as possible by going on one of the popular quick weight loss diets.

You on the other hand, know that there’s a major difference between losing weight and losing fat. So you do something different. Instead of going on a weight loss diet, you start eating healthy, filling meals. You also get serious about that workout program you’ve been saying you were going to start, and begin lifting weights and running regularly. Since you know the difference between losing weight and losing fat, you’ve decided to concentrate on reducing your body fat percentage, rather than obsessing about your exact weight.

After six months, the two of you go back for a follow-up visit. They do all the usual medical stuff to you, then sit you down to talk about the results. Your twin is confident that they’ve finally outdone you at something, having lost the weight the doctor ordered and then some. You’ve only lost a few pounds, so things are looking bleak for you. However, the news the doctor gives you seems surprising. The doctor congratulates your twin on losing 20+ pounds, but tells them that they still need to lose another 10 pounds. The doctor points out that you didn’t lose the 20 you were supposed to, but your test results are now excellent and you are at an ideal weight. What’s up with that?

Fat Loss, Not Weight Loss, Is What Matters

The doctor gives you and your twin different instructions now because the numbers on the scale aren’t the most important thing. Your twin has been on an extreme weight loss diet for six months. They’ve lost a good bit of body fat. But they’ve also lost a good amount of muscle, along with a lot of water weight. Their body fat percentage (the ratio of fat to lean tissue in their body) is almost unchanged. Their dieting also took a toll on them. Just look at them. They look thinner than before, but they’re not toned. They’re also low on energy and generally don’t look so good.

Your situation is totally different. Sure, you didn’t come close to losing the amount of weight the doctor recommended. But all the exercise and good eating you’ve been doing has given you more muscle and left you in much better condition. And even though the number on the scale hasn’t changed much, you can somehow fit into those old jeans that were too tight just a few months ago. You also don’t look flabby anymore. You look toned and fit.

Now look at you. You’ve only lost a few pounds. But you’ve added some muscle to your frame and lost a good bit of body fat. Your body fat percentage has improved a lot. And you don’t look flabby anymore. Plus you’re full of energy.

Don’t Forget The Difference

You need to get this one right. Concentrating on weight loss instead of fat loss is a big mistake and a big reason why people remain fat and unhealthy. Find a fitness program that suits your life and stick with it. Soon you’ll be losing fat and getting fit instead of obsessing about your weight. You’ll see and feel the results and no one will care about the number you see on the scale.

Tags: body fat percentage, fat loss, get fit at last, weight loss

Know Which Acne Skin Care Product Is The Best

Noticing acne on your face is never a pleasant experience and it is especially so in the case of young teenagers that are most prone to acne breakouts. Teens, in particular, need to understand what proper acne skin care is and how it can help stop the breakouts.

To begin with, for proper acne skin care it is recommended that you use a mild agent to cleanse the face, wash away any impurities and dust and unwanted oil from the skin on your face. Regular cleansing also helps in preventing further lesions on the face.

Proper acne skin care also means that you remember that you never try and scrub your face too hard because that can worsen the problem. Also be careful when shampooing your hair because excess oil from the hair can easily get into the skin and thus aggravate your acne problem.

Another acne skin care option is using oils including lavender oil, bergamot oil, tea tree oil, rosewood and clove oil. Of course, you have to first dilute these oils and then apply the combination topically wherever acne is noticed on the skin. To get the maximum benefits also remember to add some drops of grape seed oil along with essential oils.

You can also succeed with acne skin care by improving your diet and by including only healthy foods. If you avoid eating junk foods and deep-fried foods and also high calorie foods you will be able to improve your skin condition and prevent acne from erupting.

There is also a lot to be said regarding consuming green, leafy vegetables and fresh fruits that are proven to be effective in preventing and even combating acne. Such an acne skin care measure will actually ensure the health of your skin and make it glow as well. In addition, doctors also recommend another tip for acne skin care and that is to drink copious quantities of water on a daily basis, as this is a simple yet highly effective means of expelling toxins from the system and it also helps in improving the health of the skin as well.

The bottom line is that by checking out various acne skin care products, and by testing each of them, sooner or later you should be able to identify a product that works best for your particular kind of acne problem.

Tags: acne, acne skin care, acne skin care products

Does Weight Watchers Really Work?

Weight Watchers diet, already one of the most popular fat loss programs, has revamped the program for its users. They have made changes in order to make the program more inclusive.

Overview

Weight Watchers is based on the POINTS® system. Every time a food is eaten, points are then deducted. Participants start off with a number of points and they subtract points when they eat.

Besides using the point system, dieters are also able to go to the program meetings that are held on a weekly basis. Part of the meeting is used to weigh dieters, and the rest of the meeting is to speak with other dieters and get advice from leaders.

Drawbacks

When someone is retaining water due to different reasons or is having trouble losing weight, they can become discouraged during the weigh in.

Additional Points

There is a charge for the meetings. With the fee comes full access to meetings and the support of the online tools. Many people benefit from this part of the program. They can use the meetings in order to get the help and support they need for weight loss.

Extra Choices

Weight Watchers has added new choices to the plan, including chocolate, cereal, bread and frozen meals, as well as others. With these choices, more people are expected to sign up for the plan. It is more inclusive than it used to be.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve been searching for recommendations from fat loss program reviews, here is our honest opinion. This plan has managed to help a large number of people lose weight. Those who follow the point values can take off extra pounds, but it is important for people to realize they still need to exercise and eat healthy. In addition, certain foods will help the exercise process along, and dieters need to take that into consideration when planning meals. It works when people use everything the program gives them.

Tags: weight watchers diet, weight watchers review