Is my body fat % too low?

PhoenixEve

Okay, so my trainer at the gym was telling me yesterday that my body fat % is too low, and that i need to put on some weight.

Here are my stats:

33 (almost 34) yr old female
130 lbs (small frame)
5'8"
neck 12"
bicep 10.5"
Chest 36"
Waist 26"
Abdomen 31"
Hip 36"
Thigh 20"

Military BF calculator says i'm 19.2% body fat
My scale at home says i'm 21% body fat
And the handheld at the gym said i was only 16.5% body fat

So my trainer looked at me... very concerned and worried... and told me that i need to put on some more weight and fat. I told her that i just recently increased my calories because i'm trying to maintain and/or gain some muscle instead of losing fat now. I asked her how much she thought i should be eating. She said 1500 calories. I said that i'm aiming for 1700-1800 so that should be enough right? She said that maybe i'm not eating the right kind of calories then. I said my macros are 45% carbs, 30% fat 25% protein. I asked what other kind of calories i should be eating and she looked at me funny and suggested i try to fit some ensure shakes into my diet between meals. And that maybe i should eat 2000 calories until i put on some more weight . My fitbit says i burn around 1700 per day on average (sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on activity level) and i think it's pretty accurate.

She also told me that with my weight and body fat this low that my immune system is compromised? I'm not sure why she would say that... because my husband has had the flu for a few weeks, and my co-workers have been sick and throwing up at work, and i haven't caught anything... i'm pretty sure my immunity is just fine.

Maybe she's just worried because i have lost a lot of weight in the last 5 months... but i told her that i've upped my calories, i'm no longer on a deficit, and i want to put on some more muscle mass... but i don't think i need any more fat. Is she right? Is my body fat % really too low?

Help please. I thought i knew what i was doing here, but her level of concern for me has got me wondering now.

jasonp_ritzert

Speak to your doctor if you are that concerned, but ranging from 16.5 - 21% BF for a woman is completely healthy if you look at various BMI calculators, etc. unless you are starting to show signs that women show regarding low BF (menstrual problems, etc.) I wouldn't be concerned about it, but check with your doctor.

DaddieCat

For an idea of extreme... 8-12% is not unheard of in some women. *-12 is generally considered as low as you can go and still survive. Anything less than that and it's damaging to your body. I've known women who were perfectly happy and healthy in teh 12-15% range, albeit a bit lean in my opinion. Optimal for women is generally considered to be the 15-25% range.


http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/

michybeans

To me it sounds like you are doing everything right... I am not an expert in this at all though. But if you are concerned, make an appointment with your doctor and ask him/her. I would trust your doctor's opinion before your personal trainer.

dieselbyte

Drop the trainer and find another one. Unless your trainer is also a doctor that has performed blood work and other tests on you, it is impossible to "look" at someone and diagnose them medically. This trainer obviously has no idea about nutrition or the body, and to blindly throw out how many calories you should consume, scare you, and tell you to drink Ensure between meals is just dumb and unprofessional. This "trainer" probably took an online course, paid $50 and got a certificate printed on the spot.

My suggestion: Always consult a physician before starting a weight training or exercise program. After that, do some research on beginner lifting and strength gaining programs. Determine your optimal caloric and macro goals based on your fitness, health and strength goals. Seek help from other's IN THE KNOW and learn from them, while also understanding that you will need to encounter trial and error before you start to feel comfortable with your results. Don't waste your time or money with fake guru trainers spouting nonsense.

mjrkearney

From what I can tell, you're in a healthy weight range but you're edging towards the lower end. I don't know about body fat since that can only be accurately calculated with more extensive medical equipment than is going to be in your average gym. Your scale would have no idea how much lean body mass you have and the calipers would not be able to gauge distribution.

Basically, if you're worried abut it, talk to your doctor.

husseycd

From you BMI to body fat, you seem to be in a healthy range to me. Your BMI doesn't put you underweight and your body fat % is in the "lean" range. In fact, we're almost identical in everything except I'm a little shorter and a few lbs lighter, but measurements, BF%, etc. are pretty much the same.

I'm not worried about my BF. In fact, I'd like to get it to 18%...

PhoenixEve

Thanks for the replies I feel healthy, but the way she was looking at me and talking to me made me feel like i look like i have an eating disorder or something. That is not my goal. I want to be healthy and strong.

djeffreys10

In short, your trainer is a kook. Those bf calculators are notoriously inaccurate. One of the handhelds once told me I was around 8%. I was sitting at about 14%. Looking at your pics, you look in the neighborhood of 25%. I think you should concentrate on building muscle. But you don't even have abs. No way is your body fat too low.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

In short, your trainer is a kook. Those bf calculators are notoriously inaccurate. One of the handhelds once told me I was around 8%. I was sitting at about 14%. Looking at your pics, you look in the neighborhood of 25%. I think you should concentrate on building muscle. But you don't even have abs. No way is your body fat too low.

I had one of those measure me at 33% one day and 17% the next. They're complete crap.

sobriquet84

first of all, those bf calculators are not reliable and are notoriously inaccurate. but even so, 19-22% isn't too low unless you perhaps have a medical condition that encourages you to try to increase your body fat-- like cancer treatment.

your trainer sounds like a whack. if you aren't having any side effects from low bf (ex: your menstrual cycle is being affected) i wouldn't worry about it. but if you do happen to become worried, talk to a doctor, not some trainer at the gym.

rainbowbow

I have a feeling like others have said that the bf% in completely innacurate. Matter of fact i can pretty much tell you from the 26-31 inch waist that you aren't in that range. Judging form the pictures in your profile i'd say you are closer to 24-25%.


I wouldn't worry about it until you get down to 15-16% (you will have visible abs at this point mind you) and it starts affecting hormones.

wilsoje74

130 sounds fine for your height.

nikkohli

I find it amusing she said you should be eating 1500 cals and when you said you eat closer to 1700-1800, she then said 2,000. Where is she pulling these arbitrary numbers from? Does she usually discuss diet with you?
I agree with the other posters-if you are concerned, see a doctor. And if you keep losing weight and don't want to, eat a little more. Good luck!

wsuduce

I agree with dieselbyte. Kick the "trainer" to the curb. You sound like you have a better understanding then your trainer does. Keep up the good work.

westcoastgrl21

As a woman, if your bodyfat % gets un-healthfully low, you will stop getting your period. It's that simple to know if you've dropped too low.

bacitracin

Drop the trainer and find another one. Unless your trainer is also a doctor that has performed blood work and other tests on you, it is impossible to "look" at someone and diagnose them medically. This trainer obviously has no idea about nutrition or the body, and to blindly throw out how many calories you should consume, scare you, and tell you to drink Ensure between meals is just dumb and unprofessional. This "trainer" probably took an online course, paid $50 and got a certificate printed on the spot.

My guess is that the "trainer" is a hobo that wandered in off the street and stole a uniform.

JulesAlloggio

LOL I think your trainer is on crack!

Thats like a perfect BF% for a woman. Don't listen to him

NeverCatchYourBreath

The actual percent sounds fine. Your measurement are almost exactly mine though and I'm 5'1'' huge height difference haha.

mag131

Has your period stopped? If not, your weight isn't too low.

With so many people being overweight and obese nowadays I think people have a distorted view of what is healthy versus what is underweight. People of normal, slender weights seem too thin to most people now since the societal norm has shifted.

deksgrl

Your body fat % is fine.

How much you need to eat to maintain would be determined by your TDEE. If you want to gain muscle, consider increasing your protein.

aetzkorn14

15-18% is my goal and I have spoke to two trainers who say that is fine as long as it is done right, but your stats look fine to me.

QuietBloom

In short, your trainer is a kook. Those bf calculators are notoriously inaccurate. One of the handhelds once told me I was around 8%. I was sitting at about 14%. Looking at your pics, you look in the neighborhood of 25%. I think you should concentrate on building muscle. But you don't even have abs. No way is your body fat too low.

Did you look at her before pics, or her after pics? There is NO way she is 25% now.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Those last pictures in the shorts are current? Yeah, that's not 16%. I'd guess around 20-23%. You are fine. Those handheld things are very inaccurate and for your trainer to not know that is scary. And she's also throwing out numbers that are wrong further indicating she doesn't know what she is doing.

However, while I don't think you need to gain weight, be aware that 1800 might not be enough for you to maintain. Try it. If you keep losing go up 100-200 calories.

jwdieter

In short, your trainer is a kook. Those bf calculators are notoriously inaccurate. One of the handhelds once told me I was around 8%. I was sitting at about 14%. Looking at your pics, you look in the neighborhood of 25%. I think you should concentrate on building muscle. But you don't even have abs. No way is your body fat too low.

Did you look at her before pics, or her after pics? There is NO way she is 25% now.

It's possible she's around 25%. Can look great at that level, and women carry their fat so differently. Talking 6 pounds between 25% and 20% for her. Would be interesting to see a more reliable test result.

Anyway, she's obviously not in danger of being underweight and the trainer is nuts.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

In short, your trainer is a kook. Those bf calculators are notoriously inaccurate. One of the handhelds once told me I was around 8%. I was sitting at about 14%. Looking at your pics, you look in the neighborhood of 25%. I think you should concentrate on building muscle. But you don't even have abs. No way is your body fat too low.

Did you look at her before pics, or her after pics? There is NO way she is 25% now.

The problem with those pictures is that the women above 22% have very little muscle, while the women below it have a lot. What does a muscular woman at 25% look like? How about a non-muscular woman at 22% (I'd guess the OP)?


It's possible she's around 25%. Can look great at that level, and women carry their fat so differently. Talking 6 pounds between 25% and 20% for her. Would be interesting to see a more reliable test result.

Anyway, she's obviously not in danger of being underweight and the trainer is nuts.

The problem with those pictures is that they lean women have much more muscles than the others. What does a non-muscular woman look like at 20%? Or what does a woman with muscles look like at 25%?

g04fit_girl

I disagree with the pictures. My BF is around 10-11% and i dont look like those pics !!!! No crazy six pack either... It's about YOU and how you feel.

geekyjock76

I'll add that unless your personal trainer happens to be a licensed and registered dietician, she really shouldn't be recommending a specific caloric intake since doing so is more or less viewed legally as writing a prescription - which is outside her professional boundaries. Doctors who "dabble" in nutrition are in the same boat. From her questionable replies and directions, it doesn't seem like she is.

Regarding your body fat, choose one method of assessment and reevaluate every three months to get a more accurate estimate on your current percentage. Testing too frequently, using various methods, and doing so under different and less than ideal conditions will only lead to very inconsistent readings.

RoadsterGirlie

Your stats are very close to mine. I have been checked out by a doctor numerous times, and was told I'm very healthy. My blood work was fabulous.

I say drop the trainer and find a new one who doesn't try to diagnose you by looking at you.

KathleenMurry

Any chance you ended up getting hotter than your trainer and she is now jealous?

Any chance you have taught yourself so much about weight loss, fitness and diet over the past few months that she now feels her credibility is threatened?

It sounds fishy that a trainer would say you're too low and need to eat more. From your pics, you look fit and healthy and I'd peg you around 21-23% body fat (not that I'm a pro, just from experience).

It's time for a new trainer or to just strike out on your own.

o2bADyer

Unless you FEEL like something is wrong (which it doesn't sound like it until this "trainer" started throwing up negative crap), keep doing what you're doing. If you want to make sure just to be on the safe side, your physician would be the next stop...not another trainer.

Keep up the good work! :happy: