The two main stages of weight loss are rapid weight loss and slow weight loss. In the first stage, you'll drop weight at a rapid rate. Most of the weight loss in this stage is from protein, carbs, and water. In the second stage, you'll lose weight more slowly, but most of the pounds you shed will come from fat.
The first stage of weight loss is when you tend to lose the most weight and begin to notice changes in your appearance and how your clothes fit. It usually happens within the first 4–6 weeks ( 1 ). Most of the weight loss in this stage comes from carb stores, protein, and water — and to a lesser extent, body fat.
The triglycerides release fat as carbon dioxide and water atoms during fat metabolism or oxidation. In other words, fat leaves the body as carbon dioxide when you exhale. The fat which becomes water mixes into your circulation until it's lost as urine, tears, sweat and other bodily fluids.
And while you will most likely lose weight, it might also change the way your sweat smells. When you burn fat, your body produces a chemical that can make your sweat smell either like nail polish remover or slightly fruity.
Coming to the point, you will first lose “hard fat” (visceral fat) that surrounds your organs like liver, kidneys and later, you will burn soft fat (belly fat, thigh fat, back fat, etc.). Women accumulate fat cells around their belly area, hips, thighs and these areas are usually the last from.
Your slower metabolism will slow your weight loss, even if you eat the same number of calories that helped you lose weight. When the calories you burn equal the calories you eat, you reach a plateau. To lose more weight, you need to either increase your physical activity or decrease the calories you eat.
As against areas such as legs, face and arms, our stomach and abdominal regions possess beta cells that makes it difficult to reduce the fats easily and lose weight in these areas. However, as per research, belly fat is the most difficult to lose as the fat there is so much harder to break down.
But do you really know what's realistic? Over the long term, it's smart to aim for losing 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week. Generally to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a lower calorie diet and regular physical activity.
It is believed that one's metabolism is at its peak during the teenage years when one can eat anything they want without the fear of gaining kilos. By the time they reach midlife around the 30s and 40s, it starts to decline, and it becomes difficult to keep the weight off.
While everyone loses weight differently, dropping as little as 3 to 5 pounds can show up on your face first, Eboli says.
Our Preoccupation with Motivation
So motivation is the number one perceived obstacle to weight loss. We've had countless conversations with clients who are frustrated, flustered and generally worn down by their lack of motivation — “It's my fault, I just can't seem to keep myself motivated,” they cry.
Belly fat! It's so easy to put on and so hard to get rid of. This fat causes so many health problems and it is something you should not ignore.
Visceral fat is actually easier to lose than subcutaneous fat. This is because it metabolizes quicker and your body can get rid of it as sweat or pee. If you start regularly exercising and eating a healthy diet, you should start to see results in two to three months.
One of the main reasons why burning calories through exercise may still not result in weight loss is due to overexertion, or inflammation of your body. If you exercise too hard on a daily basis, there is an excess of inflammation in your body. All the added up inflammation makes you gain more weight than lose.
If you're losing inches but maintaining your weight and you regularly strength train, you may actually be losing fat and gaining muscle. The process of gaining muscle and losing fat at the same time is called body recomposition. Most scales don't differentiate between the amounts of body fat and muscle you have.
Step 1: Make a commitment.
Making the decision to lose weight, change your lifestyle, and become healthier is a big step. Start by making a commitment to yourself.
Trimming the fat
To battle belly fat: Eat a healthy diet. Focus on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and choose lean sources of protein and low-fat dairy products. Limit added sugar and saturated fat, which is found in meat and high-fat dairy products, such as cheese and butter.
The Most Common Indicators That Your Body Is Burning Fat
Your urine will be lighter in color. This is because when your body burns fat, it releases water and glycogen into your urine. These substances make your urine more diluted and less concentrated. You will urinate more frequently.
Under normal circumstances, the color of urine ranges between yellowish-pale and a clear hue. What is this? However, if your body is going through a fat-burning process, the color often changes to bright or darker colors, which can also be associated with dehydration.
Some people believe that the whoosh effect happens when fat cells lose fat and fill with water. Researchers have not scientifically proven the whoosh effect, however. Noticeable weight loss can be due to losing water weight.