how could i have that much body fat?
Replies
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Let's not dwell on Rosemary's baby!
LOL
it is a good film, by no, my son is not the spawn of Satan....lol0 -
Let's not dwell on Rosemary's baby!
Can we all repeat, 25-30% body fat is normal.
If you have had 'weight restoration treatment' before you need to take your persistence (obsession?) with this question as a hint to yourself that maybe, just maybe, you need to seek some advice from closer to home. Your doctor or counsellor, perhaps.
But you certainly need to stop dwelling on losing any more weight, fat, muscle bone or water.
Please!
It's normal, and not unhealthy, however 18% is also normal and not unhealthy.
@Rosemary, if you lost bone mass during a pregnancy, now would be a good time to start weight training, getting some weight bearing exercise, and eating a healthy diet that is very close to your maintenance level. You can sort out any body fat loss later. You need healthy bones, now and for the rest of your life. What does your doctor say about your bones?
P.S. Don't take online body fat calculators seriously.
by doctor doesn't say much to be honest. but I plan to start a fitness plan soon.0 -
The larger problem is that you are 96 pounds at almost 5'6".0
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25-30 percent body fat may be normal but there is nothing wrong with wanting to lower that a bit. However, it is HIGHLY unlikely that with your weight and height you are anywhere near that body fat percentage. Those online calculators are not reliable. If you are really interested in knowing, I would search online for a place near you that does hydrostatic or DEXA. Even the handheld devices that you can use are more reliable than those calculators. You can buy an Omron handheld, which I have at home, for about $30. It's not as accurate as DEXA but more accurate than the online calculators.
Another good measurement to know for health is your waist to height ratio. I entered it in for you with the stats you provided and yours is 36.4. A waist to height ratio under 50% is generally considered healthy. That calculator estimates your body fat percentage at about 15 percent so it just goes to show they differ greatly. The calculator I used was http://home.fuse.net/clymer/bmi/
Your weight seems pretty low for your height, I don't mean to be impolite or judge, but I hope you are eating enough, especially with a little one at home to take care of!0 -
I'm 115 at 5'2. I've been wondering that same thing about myself! At 97 lbs, you don't have anything to worry about as far as fat goes.0
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Another good measurement to know for health is your waist to height ratio. I entered it in for you with the stats you provided and yours is 36.4. A waist to height ratio under 50% is generally considered healthy. That calculator estimates your body fat percentage at about 15 percent so it just goes to show they differ greatly. The calculator I used was http://home.fuse.net/clymer/bmi/
Thank you for the link. That one give me a bf% of 15.3, much closer to where I thought I was:)0 -
I think you are confused about what that percentage means, exactly. Percentages are relative to the total, obviously. Since you are 97lbs, 25% of that is about 24lbs. So...you have 24lbs of fat on your body. That's really normal. The problem you have is the other 75% of your weight. The non-fat mass (lean body mass or LBM) is what you need to focus on here. 75% of your total weight is only 72lbs. That's your LBM. Chances are....at 97lbs right now, it's not a great idea to lower your total fat. Instead, what you should focus on is GAINING some LBM or muscle. the higher your LBM gets, the lower your total BF% will be even if you never lose a drop of fat. So...say you eat at a surplus and start lifting all the heavy things and put on 10lbs in the next year of muscle. That would put you at 107lbs total body weight. And let's just say, for arguments sake, you lose no fat in the process...still having 24lbs of body fat....you'd be at 22% body fat without dieting or losing a thing! Make sense??
For another comparison, I'm 5'5" and about 128lbs (give or take). I am about 19% body fat right now. Giving me......24lbs of fat on my body...the same as you! The difference is, I have about 104lbs of LBM on my body.
As for relative measurements.....last I checked:
Waist 25.5
Hips 35
Thigh 210 -
Wanting to add....
My point being...My measurements are only an inch bigger than you in the waist and a few inches in the hips (I do have a booty, but I can squat like a mo'fo') and I have 30lbs on you. So....yes, it is possible that your body fat % is that high with you being only 97lbs. It's that high because your Lean Mass is so LOW.0 -
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Just to add to the point that the body fat calculators based on measurements are wildly inaccurate: I once used one that pegged me at 0% body fat.0
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i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.
You lost bone by having a baby?
this is not far fetched at all, although it's more likely to happen while breastfeeding than during pregnancy, as the baby needs more calcium in infancy than while gestating (this is when the bones are being calcified). But if the mother isn't eating enough calcium, then the calcium needed for the baby will come from her bones. Ditto iron and blood, healthy fat and brain tissue and protein and muscles. Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy has health consequences for the mother long before it affects the baby.
The good news is that there is some evidence the mother's body actually goes to work replacing lost bone mass in the months following weaning, as long as there is adequate dietary calcium, so the OP can possible regain some of that (in fact, some breastfeeding mothers have gained more bone mass after weaning than they lost while nursing). Still, adequate calcium is important!! :happy:0 -
These calculators are very inaccurate. Calipers are inaccurate as well but less than a calculator.
If you really want to have the right BF% then you need a Dexa Scan or a BodPod.
Body fat % has nothing to do with height or weight.
Me and a friend had both a Dexa scan done. She is 5'6 and weights 115lbs. She was tested with 27.3% BF
I'm 5'2 and 130lbs. Mine came at 20.3%
It's called skinny fat
If you really want to have the accurate %, get a Dexa or Bodpod test
well, I don't doubt the possibility I am skinny fat. I am tiny boned and am not muscular. but still...I figured fat would be lost first, and I am underweight. I guess I just have a lot of fat to lose.
where do they do the Dexa scans?
No, you do not have a lot of fat to lose at that height and weight. Ignore those calculators, they are completely inaccurate for many people. Your BF% is kind of irrelevant - you are significantly underweight and should gain weight.0 -
And incidentally, it is impossible to calculate body fat with a measuring tape. The best ways are:
1) A scale that measures bodyfat (like Withings or Fitbit ARIA)
2) Calipers
3) Online calculators that estimate bodyfat
The best way is the water displacement test, and it requires special equipment.
Yep - the ones listed above can be extremely inaccurate.0 -
i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.
You lost bone by having a baby?
this is not far fetched at all, although it's more likely to happen while breastfeeding than during pregnancy, as the baby needs more calcium in infancy than while gestating (this is when the bones are being calcified). But if the mother isn't eating enough calcium, then the calcium needed for the baby will come from her bones. Ditto iron and blood, healthy fat and brain tissue and protein and muscles. Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy has health consequences for the mother long before it affects the baby.
The good news is that there is some evidence the mother's body actually goes to work replacing lost bone mass in the months following weaning, as long as there is adequate dietary calcium, so the OP can possible regain some of that (in fact, some breastfeeding mothers have gained more bone mass after weaning than they lost while nursing). Still, adequate calcium is important!! :happy:
yes absolutely it can be regained... however you need to do weight bearing exercise, calcium intake alone is not enough. You need both, and an adequate diet generally.
Also, adequate calcium intake during pregnancy and especially while breastfeeding can prevent this from happening. Some people assume that it will always happen. I made the point to highlight the importance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and as you point out, afterwards as well.
ETA: weight bearing exercise can be a whole lot more than just weight training... just thought I'd point that out because I know that stuff gets taken the wrong way on these forums... weight bearing exercise means anything that puts weight on the bones, including your own bodyweight, i.e. running, jumping, skipping, even pram pushing and carrying kids around.... lifting heavy weights is the best because it puts that much more weight on your bones, but if someone has really low bone mineral density most kinds of exercise would be enough, in combination with adequate calcium intake.0 -
I think you are confused about what that percentage means, exactly. Percentages are relative to the total, obviously. Since you are 97lbs, 25% of that is about 24lbs. So...you have 24lbs of fat on your body. That's really normal. The problem you have is the other 75% of your weight. The non-fat mass (lean body mass or LBM) is what you need to focus on here. 75% of your total weight is only 72lbs. That's your LBM. Chances are....at 97lbs right now, it's not a great idea to lower your total fat. Instead, what you should focus on is GAINING some LBM or muscle. the higher your LBM gets, the lower your total BF% will be even if you never lose a drop of fat. So...say you eat at a surplus and start lifting all the heavy things and put on 10lbs in the next year of muscle. That would put you at 107lbs total body weight. And let's just say, for arguments sake, you lose no fat in the process...still having 24lbs of body fat....you'd be at 22% body fat without dieting or losing a thing! Make sense??
For another comparison, I'm 5'5" and about 128lbs (give or take). I am about 19% body fat right now. Giving me......24lbs of fat on my body...the same as you! The difference is, I have about 104lbs of LBM on my body.
As for relative measurements.....last I checked:
Waist 25.5
Hips 35
Thigh 21
^^^^ this is a really good point, and very well explained0 -
There comes a point when the sheer size of bone in key places can throw off a calculator. Don't take those numbers seriously.0
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i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.
You lost bone by having a baby?
this is not far fetched at all, although it's more likely to happen while breastfeeding than during pregnancy, as the baby needs more calcium in infancy than while gestating (this is when the bones are being calcified). But if the mother isn't eating enough calcium, then the calcium needed for the baby will come from her bones. Ditto iron and blood, healthy fat and brain tissue and protein and muscles. Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy has health consequences for the mother long before it affects the baby.
The good news is that there is some evidence the mother's body actually goes to work replacing lost bone mass in the months following weaning, as long as there is adequate dietary calcium, so the OP can possible regain some of that (in fact, some breastfeeding mothers have gained more bone mass after weaning than they lost while nursing). Still, adequate calcium is important!! :happy:
yes absolutely it can be regained... however you need to do weight bearing exercise, calcium intake alone is not enough. You need both, and an adequate diet generally.
Also, adequate calcium intake during pregnancy and especially while breastfeeding can prevent this from happening. Some people assume that it will always happen. I made the point to highlight the importance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and as you point out, afterwards as well.
ETA: weight bearing exercise can be a whole lot more than just weight training... just thought I'd point that out because I know that stuff gets taken the wrong way on these forums... weight bearing exercise means anything that puts weight on the bones, including your own bodyweight, i.e. running, jumping, skipping, even pram pushing and carrying kids around.... lifting heavy weights is the best because it puts that much more weight on your bones, but if someone has really low bone mineral density most kinds of exercise would be enough, in combination with adequate calcium intake.
^^^
Very good points, thank you for clarifying what I stated poorly :flowerforyou:0 -
thank you all for your helpful (and non-judgmental) input. I just toured a fitness center and plan on joining--with a focus on some weight bearing exercises. I continue with my calcium intake and finding good protein sources. maybe my fitness trainer can do a more accurate bf measurement on me...or maybe I just won't work about bf for a while.0
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thank you all for your helpful (and non-judgmental) input. I just toured a fitness center and plan on joining--with a focus on some weight bearing exercises. I continue with my calcium intake and finding good protein sources. maybe my fitness trainer can do a more accurate bf measurement on me...or maybe I just won't work about bf for a while.
Sounds like a great plan! Your trainer should be able to steer you in the right direction. But...yes, I would not worry about your BF at this point and instead focus on increasing your LBM. Knowing that the scale will most likely go up....but that's a GOOD thing in your case!0 -
thanks/! scary but good.0
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25-30 percent body fat may be normal but there is nothing wrong with wanting to lower that a bit. However, it is HIGHLY unlikely that with your weight and height you are anywhere near that body fat percentage. Those online calculators are not reliable. If you are really interested in knowing, I would search online for a place near you that does hydrostatic or DEXA. Even the handheld devices that you can use are more reliable than those calculators. You can buy an Omron handheld, which I have at home, for about $30. It's not as accurate as DEXA but more accurate than the online calculators.
Another good measurement to know for health is your waist to height ratio. I entered it in for you with the stats you provided and yours is 36.4. A waist to height ratio under 50% is generally considered healthy. That calculator estimates your body fat percentage at about 15 percent so it just goes to show they differ greatly. The calculator I used was http://home.fuse.net/clymer/bmi/
Your weight seems pretty low for your height, I don't mean to be impolite or judge, but I hope you are eating enough, especially with a little one at home to take care of!
I think i missed this post earlier...but thank you for the advice and the calculator. it made me feel a lot better...even if online calculators aren't necessarily accurate.0 -
The larger problem is that you are 96 pounds at almost 5'6".
This!!!!! ^^^^^
:noway:0 -
I am not 96. on the day i posted this thread i was 97.2. currently i am 98.6. it fluctuates.0
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thanks/! scary but good.
It really shouldn't be that scary. In fact, gaining 20-30 lbs of lean body mass can end up giving you a much tighter body. Additionally, more lean body mass will make your body much stronger. Below is example. Not as extreme as your situation but none-the-less, a good example.
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/0 -
I am not 96. on the day i posted this thread i was 97.2. currently i am 98.6. it fluctuates.
Yeah...well, that's still not healthy. And at the range you have replied with, with 102 being your highest, I wonder why you are worried about your body fat. If it's true that you have a baby, then I suggest you seek the help of a professional for your body image issues, if not for yourself, at least for the sake of your child.0 -
Looks like you got some great advice.
I wish you the best!0 -
And incidentally, it is impossible to calculate body fat with a measuring tape. The best ways are:
1) A scale that measures bodyfat (like Withings or Fitbit ARIA)
2) Calipers
3) Online calculators that estimate bodyfat
Um, no. Actually the scales are the LEAST accurate method of measuring body fat, with a margin of error of well over 10%.
Best bet is a Dexa scan or hydrostatic weighing. In home, calipers are really the only accurate method.0 -
I am not 96. on the day i posted this thread i was 97.2. currently i am 98.6. it fluctuates.
Yeah...well, that's still not healthy. And at the range you have replied with, with 102 being your highest, I wonder why you are worried about your body fat. If it's true that you have a baby, then I suggest you seek the help of a professional for your body image issues, if not for yourself, at least for the sake of your child.
Honestly, BF never crossed my mind until I was reading about it here. I then took my measurements and was surprised. Again, not so much about body image, but about health issues. it sounds unhealthy to be carrying around 1/4th your body weight in fat. But as many have indicated, it isn't necessarily unhealthy...and my calculations could be wrong because measurements are not necessarily an accurate way to determine BF%.
I also take seriously the advice received from those about building muscle.
My question truly seemed like a logical inquiry for someone of any weight and height.0 -
thanks/! scary but good.
It really shouldn't be that scary. In fact, gaining 20-30 lbs of lean body mass can end up giving you a much tighter body. Additionally, more lean body mass will make your body much stronger. Below is example. Not as extreme as your situation but none-the-less, a good example.
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
cool site. thank you. she looks awesome. i meant scary in the sense i would be embarking on something i have never done before...workout...especially strength training. But it can also be exciting.0 -
Let's not dwell on Rosemary's baby!
Can we all repeat, 25-30% body fat is normal.
If you have had 'weight restoration treatment' before you need to take your persistence (obsession?) with this question as a hint to yourself that maybe, just maybe, you need to seek some advice from closer to home. Your doctor or counsellor, perhaps.
But you certainly need to stop dwelling on losing any more weight, fat, muscle bone or water.
Please!
TEEHEE...Rosemary's Baby :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0
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