Are you watching calories as the temperatures rise? Be aware of the effects of diet on fat loss and don’t cut back on your calories too much. When calories are severely restricted without adding exercise, only 50% of the weight lost is fat. The remainder is lean tissue such as muscle. With moderate calorie restriction (500 – 1000 calories decreased per day), 75% of the weight lost is fat. The way to maximize fat loss, up to 97%, is to add exercise to a moderate reduction of calories.