Trainer's goal for me - ok?

servilia

I had an orientation at my new gym. Unfortunately they used a scale to measure body composition (I was hoping for callipers) and their scale, a Tanita brand, said I have 32.5% bf. this was after 2 cups of fluids. The next morning I used my home scale and it says 25%. I don't know what to think. Anyways, the trainer made my goal bf to be 20%, which would put me at 124lbs. She's assuming I can lose just fat and not lose any lean mass. That would give me a bmi of 18.7, just above underweight. Does that sound ok or nuts? I'm 5'9" and fluctuate between 145-147 at the moment.
FWIW I have been 130 in the past, prior to my pregnancy, and it took a lot of focused work to get there from my usual 140-145.
Thanks.

Indiri13

I wouldn't put any faith in the measurement from their scale. When I'm tested at the gym she does the calipers and the hand held thing. The hand held always gives a measurement around 30-31% even though the calipers were showing it dropping from 27% to under 24%. The slightest variation in dehydration will screw with the scale/hand held devices and cause inaccurate results.

SideSteel

This answer may be of no help, but I think the answer is "it depends".

For some people that's a perfectly reasonable goal. For others, it could be unreasonable.

It may also depend on the deadline, if there is any.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I'm also 5'9". 124 would NOT be ok for me. I'm currently 160. I'd have issues with a trainer that based my goal on something as in-accurate as a Tanita body fat scale.

MakePeasNotWar

It really depends on your frame. I am 5'9" and I look and feel terrible anywhere under 130. On the other hand, one of my teammates fought a girl in New York who was 5'9" and managed to make weight at 105. Extreme example, obviously, but just illustrates that what is reasonable varies. A lot.

I would just focus on progress and not worry about a goal weight yet. You'll know it when you feel it.