Methodology
Lost Weight but Still Look Soft, Why?
Francesco Zen, founder of ZTraining · Last updated 20 June 2026
The quick test
Take 2 to 3 days off, on higher carbs
A short, deliberate reset rather than pushing through.
Check if density improves
If the soft look tightens up, recovery and cortisol were the issue.
If it doesn't improve
The problem is hormonal, nutritional, or both, and worth investigating further from there.
Why this happens
Water retention from stress and poor recovery, and reduced muscle tone, can mask real progress on the scale: the weight is genuinely down, but the visual result doesn't match it until recovery catches up.
Related: Waist to height ratio calculator · Stress, cortisol and belly fat, what's real · Why recovery matters more after 40 · Keep your muscle on weight loss jabs
He built Mr Z, an AI coach trained on his methodology to bring the same approach to a wider audience.