Ridiculous BF% Estimate

TheGymGypsy

Alright so I went to the gym and out of curiosity asked a trainer to take my bf% using calipers. At the end he gave me the number 26.5%. Needless to say, I was devastated. For my age, that would put me in the high fat category.

Over the past year and a half, I have lost 60 pounds. Most of this was through cardio but I implemented strength training regularly about 6 months ago. Not to mention I weight my food and eat at a modest deficit. I am 5'5 and weight 133 pounds. You can look at my profile picture and see what I look like before and after. I am wondering if maybe the reading was skewed because I lost a ton of weight in my arms, and maybe I have some loose skin? Do I really look like I have that much body fat?

I was planning on reducing my bf% anyway through weigh training, but I didn't think I was THAT far from my goal. If I truly am, I want to own up to it and fix what I have been doing wrong.

SideSteel

If you'd like, you can post in our thread here to get an estimate:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/826435-bodyfat-estimation-thread

For what it's worth I have two comments:

1) Regardless of what the number is, it doesn't change what you look like nor should it change your attitude about your progress. You're still the same you, regardless of what your actual bodyfat% is.

2) It's too hard to tell with your profile pics but if I had to make an estimate based on those, I think 26.5% is probably slightly high but not ridiculous by any means. Again though, it's very hard to estimate based on profile pics, which is why we have a thread designated for it with specific pic guidelines.

That being said, if you follow the guidelines of the thread, and post pics according to the thread rules, we can take more time on this and give you an estimation.

Sarauk2sf

Where are you getting that 26.5% is in the high fat category for your age?. It is average/normal and not high at all.

suziepoo1984

If you'd like, you can post in our thread here to get an estimate:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/826435-bodyfat-estimation-thread

For what it's worth I have two comments:

1) Regardless of what the number is, it doesn't change what you look like nor should it change your attitude about your progress. You're still the same you, regardless of what your actual bodyfat% is.

2) It's too hard to tell with your profile pics but if I had to make an estimate based on those, I think 26.5% is probably slightly high but not ridiculous by any means. Again though, it's very hard to estimate based on profile pics, which is why we have a thread designated for it with specific pic guidelines.

That being said, if you follow the guidelines of the thread, and post pics according to the thread rules, we can take more time on this and give you an estimation.

Love #1..So very well said

DopeItUp

I would have said around 25% but I'm not sure what you're upset at. 25% is healthy and it is looking good. What's the problem?

http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

NovemberJune

Where are you getting that 26.5% is in the high fat category for your age?. It is average/normal and not high at all.

QFT. Are you maybe looking at the ranges for males?

firstsip

26.5% is not unhealthy by most means for women; I'm surprised! Like SS said, don't let it define you. I had a hell of a time after I (foolishly, as a recovering-anorexic) did the body fat% and got a 31% even though calipers and calculators all put me as lower.

I felt devastated enough to dive into a bit of a starvation period, until I read the post linked to in this group about hydration issues and the error rate of body fat % (particularly when I have very lean legs, and this was a "hand held" type scale).

If it upsets you that much to hear any sort of number outside of your expectations, try holding off on any sort of measuring!