If... you're burning fat. Looking in the mirror is a more reliable sign. Many of us dislike staring at ourselves in the mirror, yet it's a strong predictor of your fat-burning abilities. As you improve your fat-burning abilities, you should see less fat accumulated around your stomach, hips, thighs, and shoulders. Also, consider looking for other signs such as improved mood, energy, mental clarity, and physical strength. There are several ways to tell if you are burning fat rather than storing it. The most obvious is through observation: If you look in the mirror and notice that your belly, thighs, or shoulder blades are getting smaller, you are doing something right. You can also check your blood tests. If there is less bad cholesterol, LDL, and more good cholesterol, HDL, then you are on the right track. Last, but not least, try to figure out what foods you are eating that are causing you to store fat and which ones you need to be eating more of that are helping you to burn fat all day long every day. There are many different types of fats in our diet that have different effects on our bodies when it comes to storage or loss of weight.