In our fitness journey we have all come across an area (or areas!) of our body that we would like to target for fat loss.
For many of us women it’s the abdominal area, arms and upper legs. Let’s talk about that today. Targeted fat loss, or what’s popularly known as “spot reduction.” It’s tempting to think we can focus solely on those spots. But let’s look into what is actually possible and focus our areas where we will get the best results!
The Reality of Fat Loss
Fat loss is a total body process. When you engage in exercise, your body doesn’t just burn fat from the area you’re strengthening or moving. It’s a more comprehensive approach, drawing energy from fat stores across your body. This means that your overall fitness routine plays a bigger role than doing specific exercises for certain body parts.
Strengthening vs. Slimming
Targeted exercises are fantastic for strengthening and toning muscles in specific areas, but they don’t directly burn the fat covering those specific areas. For instance, while leg lifts are great for sculpting your legs, they won’t specifically reduce thigh fat. The fat loss reduction comes from an all over approach of fitness and nutrition habits that increase fat burning.
An Effective Fat Loss Strategy
The key to effective fat loss includes a mix of cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and a balanced diet. This combination promotes overall fat burning and muscle building, which eventually leads to changes in those stubborn areas over time.
The more muscle you have the more toned your body will look as the fat drops. And the fat drops easier with more muscle because your muscle mass literally increases your metabolism.
Understanding these principles helps us set realistic goals and adopt a scientifically sound approach to fitness. It’s about focusing on overall health and fitness, rather than chasing the myth of spot reduction.
If you want to get started with a coach that will tell you the truth about what to do but also has grace and understanding that life will throw curveballs and help you navigate them – set up a 10 minute chat with us to get started. Take these 10 minutes and lean in to the process! We can’t wait to help!