Fat Loss Is Like an Onion: Why Your Body Changes in Layers (Not Spots)

Welcome to another hilariously insightful episode of Nacho Fitness Coach! If you're new here, we're Sarah (your resident heavy lifter and challenge-lover) and Caleigh (running strictly for survival, not sport). And while we don’t take ourselves too seriously, we do take our snacks—and our metaphors—very seriously.

This week’s fitness revelation? Fat loss is like peeling an onion. 🧅 Yep. Let’s break it down (without the tears).

🎙️ English Lessons & Mirror Mishaps

Before diving into body fat, we detoured into our latest obsessions—like Bobby Finn on Instagram teaching how absurd the English language is. Who knew "health" could be misread as "heels"? We also tackled how Americans and Brits spell things differently: gray vs. grey, canceled vs. cancelled. (Spoiler: Caleigh once misspelled "canceled" on a very public post and didn’t realize until COVID made the word a global headline.)

But what does all this have to do with fitness? Turns out, just like language, your perception of your body can get confusing too.

🧅 Fat Loss Works in Layers (Not Spots)

Let’s get into the meat of the episode: why your "problem areas" seem to hang on for dear life even when you’re doing everything right. Here's the truth:

Fat doesn’t disappear in specific spots—it melts away in layers. Like an onion.

You can’t target where the fat goes first. And often, the areas we obsess over (hello, lower belly pooch or love handles) just have more layers to work through. That’s not a sign that nothing’s working—it’s just biology doing its thing.

🤳 The Power of Progress Photos

Most of us hyper-focus on one spot in the mirror and completely miss the big picture. But progress photos? Those show what the mirror won’t.

• They reveal change from all angles—especially your back, which you never see.
• When you’re comparing front, side, and back over time, it’s easier to appreciate the results (like a disappearing roll or shrinking thighs).
• Bonus tip: Make sure your camera angles and distance stay consistent so you can track accurately!

Even Caleigh, after starting the carnivore diet, took her first set of progress pics in secret (while her husband was out buying gym mirrors). Because seeing your body objectively is uncomfortable—but necessary.

🧠 Your Body Has a Purpose—So Does Fat

Here’s something we all need to hear:

Fat isn’t the enemy. It’s protection, it's hormone regulation, it's health.

That stubborn lower back fat? It’s shielding your kidneys. That belly pooch? It might be helping with hormonal balance or fertility.

Especially for women, fat plays a major role in menstrual health and pregnancy. And guess what? Being too lean can actually hurt your chances of conceiving. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do isn’t to lose fat—but to gain a little back.

🪞 Why Mirrors Lie & Videos Tell the Truth

If you’ve ever cringed watching yourself in a video, you’re not alone. Seeing yourself from the side—or candidly on camera—can be a harsh reality check. But it also offers something mirrors can’t: perspective.

• Mirrors only show one angle.
• Photos and videos show what others actually see.
• Most importantly: what you’re fixating on is probably not what anyone else notices.

Sarah even shares how pregnancy and aging changed her view of her body—and how taking a step back to see it as data (not judgment) made all the difference.

💬 Final Takeaway: Grace + Consistency = Progress

Your body is complex, wise, and constantly working with you, not against you. Whether you’re trying to lose fat, build strength, or simply understand your reflection, the journey is layered—literally and figuratively.

So next time you're frustrated by that one stubborn spot, remember:

• Fat loss happens everywhere.
• Your body holds on to fat in certain places for a reason.
• You’re peeling back the layers, not chiseling out one slice.

Be patient. Be consistent. Be kind.

And maybe go watch Shrek again—because, in the words of Donkey:
"Ogres are like onions."
And so is your fat loss journey.



📸 Pro Tip: Start a private folder with your progress pictures. Keep them for you. Track the changes without judgment. Because those little shifts? They’re the proof that you’re peeling that onion, one layer at a time.