Why is my body fat increasing?

mattylevan

Not quite sure where to ask this. About 6 months ago I started training with a trainer at the gym and he recommended I track body fat percentage instead of weight. Which I can do using a machine in the gym.

I think I've been doing the right things- lifting weights in my gym sessions, and exceeding the target he suggested for protein and keeping calories steady but my percentage body fat is rising not falling.

What am I missing?

I'm not expecting miracles but it doesn't feel right that I'm doing what I was told would help and it's having the opposite effect.

Dev574

I had some problems. Most suggested diets or typical eating guidance, will not work for me. Bottom line, if you are eating too many calories you will gain weight. If you are trying to consume 1g of protein per body weight pound, you are probably eating too much. Do not pay attention to the suggested calories for your size, or gender… I maintain 200 pounds on 1500-2000 calories a day eating only during a 4 hour window each day, 1 time. One meal spread out through the eating window. However, even with that few calories, if I eat anything that didn’t grow out of the ground or once breathed life - my insulin response to the food, even the minimum of eating sin, will make it impossible to lose that fat for me. I’m a solid fat and protein consumer and I can control my weight and body fat with just calorie counting - as long as I stay 50g or less than with my carbs - doesn’t matter the carbs. Just what works for me.

Lietchi

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10937146/why-is-my-body-fat-increasing

What is your weight doing? If you're losing weight or staying stable, it's highly likely that the machine 'measuring' your bodyfat is just wrong. Those machines are notoriously unreliable: they don't measure anything, but rather guess your bodyfat percentage based on a small electrical current they send through your body.

I would never use them as the only source of data for making decisions: track your weight as well and measure yourself/ use some non stretchy but form-fitting clothes to judge if your body is changing in size.

cmriverside

Yeah, what Lietchi said.

Whatever body fat measuring device you're using is not going to be accurate - unless you're paying hundreds of dollars for a Dexa scan, which I'd bet isn't what you're doing.

Body weight home scales that "measure" body fat are not reliable, they're a marketing scam.

Just do the right things (eat within calories) and exercise and your body fat will decrease.

mattylevan

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48573873#Comment_48573873

Thank you, my weight has decreased so maybe you are right. It still seems odd the same machine is measuring less weight but a higher percentage fat.

cmriverside

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48574212#Comment_48574212

Those step-on body weight/body fat machines work on electrical impedance. If you are more or less hydrated or bloated from ingesting more salt your readings will be affected.