Last week, I talked about how body weight is influenced by much more than individual choices – including genetics, working conditions, income, access to food and healthcare, stress and our environment.
But what about the actual physiology of weight loss?
At its simplest, losing weight requires a calorie deficit over time – meaning you’re using more energy than you’re taking in.
That doesn’t mean creating or maintaining a calorie deficit is always simple. The circumstances I discussed last week can influence how easy or difficult that is for each person.
There are also lots of different ways to achieve a calorie deficit, which is why different dietary approaches can work for different people.
But weight loss and body composition aren’t exactly the same thing.
When you lose weight, you can lose both fat and lean mass, including muscle. This is where resistance or strength training becomes really important.
Resistance training during weight loss helps you hold onto more lean mass, maintain or improve your strength, and increase how much of the weight you lose comes from body fat rather than lean tissue.
So, a simple way to think about it is:
Your calorie deficit drives weight loss. Resistance training helps shape what you lose.
Protein intake, sleep, general physical activity and choosing an approach you can actually stick to also matter.
If weight loss is your goal, it can be helpful to look beyond just the number on the scales – and consider your health, strength and body composition along the way.
If you need any help with this, feel free to reach out.
