Are there any other thin girls who have an insanely high BF%?
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I_Will_End_You wrote: »I highly doubt that at 5'5 110lbs you have a high body fat percentage, much less "insanely high".
@I_Will_End_You Why? If I don't have much muscle then it follows that I must have a disproportionate amount of fat. My body has to be made of up something, and it isn't muscle.
You may have more body fat/less muscle mass than the friends you talk about, but I suspect "insanely high" body fat is an exaggeration. You may carry most of your fat in your abdominal area (apple shaped). If you're unhappy with your body composition, I'd suggest eating at maintenance and looking into a full body weight lifting program. Strong Lifts 5x5, Starting Strength, New Rules of Lifting, Ice Cream Fitness 5x5......to name a few that are popular on the forum.0 -
If this is legit and there are no distorted body image issues involved, I'd suggest a recomp: eat at maintenance and lift heavy. Make sure you have enough protein in your diet. Try something like SL 5x5 or Starting Strength or NROL. Another, faster method would be to eat at a slight (10%?) surplus while lifting.0
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Even if it weren't, I could be 80 pounds and I'd have an insanely high Bf% if I did no exercise, ate next to no protein, and stuffed myself with carbs nightly. My weight really isn't that big a factor here
Not really, because even if you don't exercise, you bones, hair, organs, blood, and skeletal muscle will all weigh something. Unless you are bedridden, just moving results in some muscle. I am not at all doubting you have a higher than ideal body fat percent, but it is probably not as insanely high as you think. You can estimate it through both pictures and measurements. It only takes a couple minutes, and is a good enough ballpark that you know what you are working with. Check out this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/07/02/body-fat-percentage/
Your best bet is to eat at maintenance and lift heavy weights to build muscle
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@TavistockToad No, I'm not literally all fat, I was using literally figuratively for effect. I suppose there isn't much stock in my claims without a measurement, but I don't have one because I don't know how to use calipers and I'm far too self conscious to get measured at a gym. I suppose you'll have to take my word, I'm just going on what I look like really.
I've had week trials at women-only gyms like Get in Shape for Women and they measured my body fat. It was a pretty simple process.
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@I_Will_End_You It is an exaggeration at face value, but I'd venture to say that my body fat is pretty insanely high, obviously relative to my weight. I do carry most of my fat in my abdominal area, but my thighs and arms aren't much better. Thanks for that though, I'm definitely starting strength training, and as far as I know I'm eating at maintenance (only roughly counting calories, just to get an idea of my macros). I'm starting with body weight circuits though, I couldn't hold a plank for 60 seconds the other day without my arms giving in. Any recommendations of useful websites for beginners?0
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Timorous_Beastie wrote: »At your age, height and weight, I had very low lean mass, but I was still really tiny, because ... 5'5 and 110 pounds IS tiny.
Are you sure you're actually seeing yourself the way you really look?
This. I sense some body dysmorphia happening here.
I'm older, 5 ft 5, weigh 139 pounds, and not even my body fat is insanely high. It's just......
Average.
And, I've been weight lifting and running for years, heavy weight lifting these last couple of years.0 -
I recall someone else pretty small posting the same type of thread a few weeks ago--very low weight with perceptions of something like 40 percent body fat.0
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For the sake of argument, I'll take back my comment about it being insanely high. Instead I'll say that for my BMI, it is very high, and probably not healthy. I have no muscle, and lots of fat. I'm not saying that I am fat. I'm not saying that I look fat. I'm not saying that I feel fat. I'm not commenting on my feelings towards my body.
I'm saying that for a 20 year old woman who is five foot and five inches tall, who weighs one hundred and ten pounds, my body fat percentage is unusually high. Again, for the millionth time, relative to my weight.
The flood of comments concerning my alleged body image issues would not exist if I said I was 130 pounds. You're all assuming I've got BDD because I'm slightly underweight. I understand you're only speaking out of concern (and, in some cases, frustration), but it's getting condescending.0 -
Are you speaking figuratively again? Because it's not possible to have no muscle.0
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I recall someone else pretty small posting the same type of thread a few weeks ago--very low weight with perceptions of something like 40 percent body fat.
My weight isn't "very" low, I'm only 20 and it's not unusual for young women to be slightly underweight. I always have been. I do not think my body fat is 40%. If you were asking me to guess, I'd say 25%, which as far as I'm concerned, for a lass with my BMI, is definitely far too high.0 -
@maidentl Perhaps there's a generational gap here, but it's not uncommon for people to speak figuratively. There's a reason there's a word for it. Of course I don't think I have no muscle. I can speak and walk. Wow...
Well, you've been over the top this entire thread. If you don't want people to be condescending to you, try not to be so rude. There's a thought.
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Yes! I'm 5'10" and 122lbs but my stomach especially always looks huge compared to the rest of me. I feel like I could weigh 50lbs and my belly would still stick out. I totally get where you're coming from.0
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@maidentl I don't think speaking figuratively is being over the top to be honest. I think baseless assumptions are a little bit more OTT, really. I wasn't rude at all, with the exception of my last comment. Might I remind you that you're the one who sarcastically asked me if I was speaking figuratively?0
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@noaddedsugarx Thank you! I'm exactly the same. My mother has the same kind of body as me, too. You've made me feel a bit better. It does feel unfair but I suppose the extra work will at least benefit our health. Still rather eat my weight in carbs and have a flat stomach though... We'll get there!
We will get there! I don't know why you're getting such a hard time. I thought it was well known that certain people are genetically predisposed to storing body fat in certain spots. I know that there are people with a much worse diet and lifestyle than me who don't do any sort of exercise and don't look anywhere near as flabby as I do! even if I have a lower BMI and am technically lighter than them.0 -
In college I weighed 95 lbs and was very much squishy fat (my doctor's calipers figured me at around 30%). I had very little muscle tone and was pretty weak. Then I started eating more protein (I was basically an all-carb vegetarian before) and lifting heavy(ish) weights and I look so much better now (at 15+ lbs heavier) than I did then (see profile picture - more muscles, much leaner). I personally started with dumbbells at home and then moved to the bar at the gym when I had some of the basics down - but check out some programs like Lean and Lovely, Strong Curves or Strong Lifts - all the things people posted above. It sounds like you'll get what you're looking for if you just start building some good muscles 0
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Oh boy.
?
If your concern is alleged lack of muscle mass, why is your chosen solution trying out ketosis for a few months? Why not built muscle by lifting weights? I’m just a bit puzzled.
Justcat, yay for strength! That’s awesome.0 -
@noaddedsugarx Ah man I know :-(, and yeah I thought it was kind of common knowledge, it's not all too common but it's definitely a thing. It's so frustrating. Thanks for responding though, at least I know I'm some sort of genetic anomaly hahaha
@dietcoke281 i know!! it's the worst. Even when my weight is fluctuating my stomach fat remains there no matter what
at least we're not alone 0 -
justcat206 wrote: »In college I weighed 95 lbs and was very much squishy fat (my doctor's calipers figured me at around 30%). I had very little muscle tone and was pretty weak. Then I started eating more protein (I was basically an all-carb vegetarian before) and lifting heavy(ish) weights and I look so much better now (at 15+ lbs heavier) than I did then (see profile picture - more muscles, much leaner). I personally started with dumbbells at home and then moved to the bar at the gym when I had some of the basics down - but check out some programs like Lean and Lovely, Strong Curves or Strong Lifts - all the things people posted above. It sounds like you'll get what you're looking for if you just start building some good muscles
@justcat206 Ah I needed this. I suppose the upside is that with a bit of work it can be sorted out, it's just so frustrating that I have to put so much effort in. I don't even want to be lean really, I just don't want such a high body fat percentage. I'll look into those things thanks, they're getting bookmarked. And congratulations, you look amazing!0 -
Oh boy. ?
If your concern is alleged lack of muscle mass, why is your chosen solution trying out ketosis for a few months? Why not built muscle by lifting weights? I’m just a bit puzzled.
Justcat, yay for strength! That’s awesome.
@Emilia777 How is suggesting that I am genetically predisposed to store less muscle and/ or more fat than your average person on par with being a special snowflake? I've acknowledged that, of course, diet and exercise are a factor too, but you really think this is 0% nature and 100% nurture? You think that there is no genetic say in how lean a person is or is not?
And I must have said five or six times in this thread that I've started, and plan to continue, strength training. I'm considering doing ketosis alongside this. Is that alright with you, She Who Stores Tumblr GIFS on Her Computer?-1 -
I recall someone else pretty small posting the same type of thread a few weeks ago--very low weight with perceptions of something like 40 percent body fat.
My weight isn't "very" low, I'm only 20 and it's not unusual for young women to be slightly underweight. I always have been. I do not think my body fat is 40%. If you were asking me to guess, I'd say 25%, which as far as I'm concerned, for a lass with my BMI, is definitely far too high.
110 @ 5'5" is a very low weight. I've been 5'5" and 110. It's a low weight. And 25% body fat is completely healthy.0 -
@maidentl I don't think speaking figuratively is being over the top to be honest. I think baseless assumptions are a little bit more OTT, really. I wasn't rude at all, with the exception of my last comment. Might I remind you that you're the one who sarcastically asked me if I was speaking figuratively?
Well, for starters, I wasn't being sarcastic. We have had people come in here before insisting that they've "built" mass quantities of muscle because they lose enough fat to reveal that muscle. But they will insist that they had no muscles before, these are new! So, I was asking to be sure that wasn't the case. But I can see you're just here to be combative and argumentative with anyone who doesn't tell you what you want to hear, so please, carry on.0 -
@jemhh My BMI is 18.3, that's two points below the "healthy range". I eat what I want, when I want, I'm never hungry, I make no effort whatsoever to maintain my weight. I have always been this weight.
25% body fat might be healthy, fair enough, I'm no expert. It's not ideal though, and it's certainly unusually high for someone of my BMI.0 -
Oh boy. ?
If your concern is alleged lack of muscle mass, why is your chosen solution trying out ketosis for a few months? Why not built muscle by lifting weights? I’m just a bit puzzled.
Justcat, yay for strength! That’s awesome.
@Emilia777 How is suggesting that I am genetically predisposed to store less muscle and/ or more fat than your average person on par with being a special snowflake? I've acknowledged that, of course, diet and exercise are a factor too, but you really think this is 0% nature and 100% nurture? You think that there is no genetic say in how lean a person is or is not?
And I must have said five or six times in this thread that I've started, and plan to continue, strength training. I'm considering doing ketosis alongside this. Is that alright with you, She Who Stores Tumblr GIFS on Her Computer?
My point was that it’s not so unusual to have little muscle mass if someone isn’t strength training, and you’re probably overestimating the amount of body fat you think you have, so you can probably change your body composition more easily than you think. But you’re welcome to think whatever you like.
Edited to add a body fat chart commonly referred to:
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@maidentl I don't think speaking figuratively is being over the top to be honest. I think baseless assumptions are a little bit more OTT, really. I wasn't rude at all, with the exception of my last comment. Might I remind you that you're the one who sarcastically asked me if I was speaking figuratively?
Well, for starters, I wasn't being sarcastic. We have had people come in here before insisting that they've "built" mass quantities of muscle because they lose enough fat to reveal that muscle. But they will insist that they had no muscles before, these are new! So, I was asking to be sure that wasn't the case. But I can see you're just here to be combative and argumentative with anyone who doesn't tell you what you want to hear, so please, carry on.
In which case I'm sorry, I thought you were being sarcastic.
I'm not here to be argumentative, which is why I have been nice to everyone who's been nice to me, and even nice to some who haven't (with the exception of you, I was mistaken).0 -
@Emilia777 Yeah you're right, it's not so unusual to have little muscle mass if you're not strength training. What I'm saying is that mine seems to be a lot higher than even those who don't do any strength training, including friends who weigh more than me, are completely sedentary, and eat like *kitten*.
I probably can change my body composition more easily than I think. I'm being lazy and I haven't really tried.
That doesn't change the fact that even among those who do zero exercise and eat like *kitten*, my body fat percentage is very high relative to my lifestyle and BMI. It just is. I'm sure I can change it, but I will have to put more effort in even just to look """"normal""" for my height and weight.0 -
@Emilia777 Not sure about the legitimacy of the body fat chart but thanks for including it. If I'm not mistaken, though, aren't there wildly different criteria for men and women RE body fat percentages?0
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@Emilia777 Yeah you're right, it's not so unusual to have little muscle mass if you're not strength training. What I'm saying is that mine seems to be a lot higher than even those who don't do any strength training, including friends who weigh more than me, are completely sedentary, and eat like *kitten*.
I probably can change my body composition more easily than I think. I'm being lazy and I haven't really tried.
That doesn't change the fact that even among those who do zero exercise and eat like *kitten*, my body fat percentage is very high relative to my lifestyle and BMI. It just is. I'm sure I can change it, but I will have to put more effort in even just to look """"normal""" for my height and weight.
Well, I really can’t speak to the second part of that, as I don’t know what your body composition is, what your friends’ body composition is, or what you think is “normal”. I was actually trying to help, by the way. But anyway. Best of luck to you.
Edited to add: RE body fat chart, I’m not so sure about its legitimacy either, but it can still give you an idea. And yes, body fat for men is different, as women have around 10% essential body fat and men much less. I also look at these two resources (1, 2) for an idea of body fat, though they’re not exactly clinically approved either.0 -
I'm 20 years old, 110lbs (naturally - I've tried gaining weight and I do eat pretty healthily) and have an incredibly high BF%. I don't have the figures at hand, but I literally am all fat, there mustn't be a single pound of muscle on my body and I look at least 10lbs larger than I am because of it. My diet is probably disproportionately high in carbs and low in protein, and this is likely to be a huge contributor. There are, however, girls my age who binge drink 3 and 4 times a week, eat like *kitten*, and still have a lower BF% than me. I know what I need to do to reduce my BF% (more strength training, cardio, and protein), and I know that my BF% is exacerbated by my diet, but what I'm asking is are there any other thin girls on MFP who also have a naturally very high BF%? Just wanna know that I'm not alone...
I'm what you'd call "skinny fat" (muscle-less weed), and I've no doubt that with the right diet and exercise I can rectify this, but I'll definitely have to work harder than most to do so - my body just seems to love storing every last pound of my weight as fat. I'm considering a month or so of ketosis as an experiment.
YOu're saying you have roughly 50% body fat and you weigh 110lbs? So you have roughly 55lbs of fat?
@Pu_239 You've said that twice now. Where am I saying that I'm 50% fat? That's literally impossible... hahaha where are you getting that from?0 -
@Emilia777 They look like what most people of a healthy weight who don't do any exercise and eat like *kitten* look like. If I'm not mistaken, "special snowflake" is a pejorative term...0
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