body fat estimate please?

tindy5799

I got a body fat test done and was shocked to find out I'm at 30% body fat. I couldn't believe it was true so I went and got another test at a different gym 2 days later and same results. Admittedly, we were using those handheld devices but both times I got the same result.

I knew I was a little chubby (148 lbs at 5'6.5") but not borderline overweight. I weight lifted a lot previously, still do but far less. Do I look like 30% bodyfat?

tindy5799

the pictures are huge now that I finally got them to show up

maobubu

30% looks about right.
I'm also 30% body fat (measured by my electronic balance), i'm 5'7 and 130lb so weight doesn't matter so much.
and my fat deposits look kinda like yours

CollieFit

Yup, probably spot on.

I'm 5'6" and down to 148lb now with a similar physique to you and I'm at just scraping under 30% now.

dsimmons107

If I had to guess from the pics I would say about 25 - 28% but you are not fat by any stretch of the imagination.

tindy5799

I guess I must just have a very skewed perception of body fat. Well now I know where to focus my efforts. I definitely want to get down to 20% body fat.

Sorry the pictures are so hard to see cause they're huge.

lacaro1

I would put you at 27 to 29 percent, but that is just an estimate considering I do not know how much muscle you have. But keep in mind that those handheld devices are really inaccurate and measure predominantely the upper bodyhalf, which can be quite unfavorable for some bodytypes

cwolfman13

Just with the pictures I'd guestimate 28% - 30%...which really isn't huge for a woman.

CollieFit

30% is actually smack in the middle of the normal BF range for a 5'6" woman. 20% is considered low.

When I was 19% BF I was A LOT leaner than I am now. There is a million miles between 20 and 30%

SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish

I wouldnt worry about it. Bodyfat % measures vary so much they are close to useless. I always knew they were inaccurate, but ever since I heard the story from someone who decided to test several different measures on the same day and got numbers up to 10-20% points different, I would never waste the time or money on them. He used three of the standard "reliable" measures too, not the "online tests" and they also disagreed with each other: Bioelectric, calipers and hydrostatic. Pretty much useless anyways unless you are a high level sports competitor.

Achrya

Seems about right. Your body looks fairly similar to my own, which is at around 30% body fat. (5'3", 145 ish at my last progress photos)

30% is perfectly normal.

Boogage

I'd have said more like 25% but I'm not expert

tindy5799

there are so few pictures out there of what people look like at different body fat percentages that 30% sounded really huge to me. Either way, I'm hoping to get down to 130 lbs and so my body fat should decrease on the way there

melaniecheeks

There's your problem. You think 30% body fat for a female is huge. It's not.

tindy5799

this website was what I was using to compare myself to: http://www.blogilates.com/best-of/5427378002

I LOOK more like the 20% picture than the 30% picture so I was confused. I'm probably more like 23-24% based on those pictures.

Achrya

there are so few pictures out there of what people look like at different body fat percentages that 30% sounded really huge to me. Either way, I'm hoping to get down to 130 lbs and so my body fat should decrease on the way there

Edit to add: This is me. Around 30% body fat.

MityMax96

I would also say 25 - 30%
Achrya posted the pic I was gonna post.....so that should give you a good idea.

MityMax96

women carry fat very different from men.....

So a woman can start seeing her abs around 15 - 18%
While on a guy he needs to be ~12% or less.

tindy5799

thanks!

yarwell

So you would be 129.5 lb at 20% fat. Seems credible.

tindy5799

you look great! I'm not as concerned anymore, I need to work on my skinnyfat though. healthy > skinny anyday.

Mokey41

I wouldnt worry about it. Bodyfat % measures vary so much they are close to useless. I always knew they were inaccurate, but ever since I heard the story from someone who decided to test several different measures on the same day and got numbers up to 10-20% points different, I would never waste the time or money on them. He used three of the standard "reliable" measures too, not the "online tests" and they also disagreed with each other: Bioelectric, calipers and hydrostatic. Pretty much useless anyways unless you are a high level sports competitor.

Bio electric is pretty useless, calipers is not bad if you have someone that really knows how to use them and you won't get more accurate than hydrostatic so that isn't useless. Measuring body fat is far more useful of a number to know than weight or BMI. You don't have to be "fat" to have a high BF%. Lots of skinny people carry a lot of body fat and no muscle.

If you want to bring your BF% down you need to start building muscle to replace the fat. Get on a good strength training program.

MityMax96

you look great! I'm not as concerned anymore, I need to work on my skinnyfat though. healthy > skinny anyday.

start pushing some iron.

MityMax96

building muscle to replace the fat.

You don't really "replace" it per say, right?

You use up the stored energy it is holding, and then it shrinks.....right?

Muscle and Fat aren't the same thing.

randomtai

30% is nothing.. you are good I am about 30% myself.

tindy5799

I need to work on the diet component first and bring down my body fat % first, then add more muscle. I'm still continuing to weight lift while loosing but it's hard to make substantial muscle gains while losing weight.

MityMax96

scratch that....

I missed the last part of your post.

Just keep working out with the free weights.....and get your diet right.

Achrya

building muscle to replace the fat.

You don't really "replace" it per say, right?

You use up the stored energy it is holding, and then it shrinks.....right?

Muscle and Fat aren't the same thing.

Yep. Once the fat cells exist they don't become something else. At the same time you are (hopefully) lifting heavy weights in order to keep your muscle from shrinking along with the fat.

It not about muscle gains (As gaining muscle while cutting isn't something most women should expect to happen at an appreciable level) but about preserving what you have. When you lose weight your body can take the energy your burning from fat and muscle, so lifting progressively heavier weights while taking in enough protein helps you maintain the muscle you have, which is far easier than trying to build muscle later.

NovemberJune

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1112543-your-body-fat-percentage-your-feelings-about-it

That's a great post ^

I was going to guess around 26% and honestly I think you look great.

MityMax96

When you lose weight your body can take the energy your burning from fat and muscle, so lifting progressively heavier weights while taking in enough protein helps you maintain the muscle you have,

agreed.

Mokey41

building muscle to replace the fat.

You don't really "replace" it per say, right?

You use up the stored energy it is holding, and then it shrinks.....right?

Muscle and Fat aren't the same thing.

Semantics. Yes deflate the fat and build the muscle.