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Not losing fat

Bill sperry

Member
3881
 
Is there a way to tell between fat loss and muscle loss? I guess with muscle loss a person would be weaker? I mean, I know there weren’t inches and inches of muscle protruding from my waistline, but what about the rest of the body? Probably should have asked my dietitian if there’s a way to tell the difference lol
 
Body scans are the best method of viewing fat loss vs muscle loss. My bariatric physical therapist said that a ratio between 2:1 to 3:1 (or higher) fat loss to muscle loss is the range we should shoot for during the rapid weight loss phase (the first 6-9 months, give or take). Everyone loses muscle after surgery both because it is a source of energy and unless you are working in some resistance exercise, as your body weight lowers, you don't need the same amount of muscle to carry yourself. I was able to maintain about 3:1. My bariatric clinic does a body scan every time I have a follow up appointment.

If you get a scale like Withings or similar, that can give you an idea of you ratio, which you can track over time. Muscle mass is good to build as it helps keep your basal metabolism as high as possible.
 
It's pretty neat, it provides a lot of detail on how much fat and muscle you started with as well as the weight of all your organs, and body water. My scale at home does similar measurements, and while the numbers a slightly different that what I get at the hospital, it's been a good guide to watch trends, which end up matching the hospital readings.

It also compares your muscle mass to people of the same age range and sex, which I though was good info.

It actually influenced me to increase my weight training a bit after my 3 month appointment because my ratio was just under 2:1, so I worked to increase it and it seemed to pay off.
 
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