Body fat %

sr2000

This site really helped me understand bosy fat percentages and how they are related to weight loss and over all health of the body.

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/bodyfat.htm

"....Knowing your body fat percentage can also help you determine if your weight loss goals are realistic. Remember, weight loss doesn't always mean fat loss. For example:

Let's say you're a 130# woman with 23% body fat, and you goal is to "lose 20 pounds":

Initial body fat: 130# x 0.23 fat = 30 # body fat

Lean body mass: 130# total - 30# fat = 100# lean body mass (bones, organs and all else)

Goal: 130# - 20# = 110 pounds

As you can see, the goal of losing 20 pounds is not realistic or healthy. At 110 pounds, this woman still requires 100# of lean body mass (bones, organs, etc.), but would only be carrying 10#, or only 9% body fat. From the chart above, you can see that this is a dangerously low percentage.

A better goal might be for the woman to reduce her body fat from 23% to 18%. In this case:

130# x 0.18 = 23 # body fat

100# lean body mass + 23 # = 123# goal weight

So, for this individual to achieve a lean, but healthy 18% fat, she would need to lose only 7 pounds of fat, reducing her weight from her current 130 pounds to 123 pounds. Losing more than 7 pounds means losing lean body mass (usually metabolically-active muscle tissue), which is clearly not desirable.

So before you decide that you need to "lose weight", remember to consider that "weight" consists of both lean body mass and body fat. Try to keep your weight loss goals realistic, and remember, keep the calorie-burning muscle, and lose only the fat...."

sr2000

This site really helped me understand bosy fat percentages and how they are related to weight loss and over all health of the body.

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/bodyfat.htm

"....Knowing your body fat percentage can also help you determine if your weight loss goals are realistic. Remember, weight loss doesn't always mean fat loss. For example:

Let's say you're a 130# woman with 23% body fat, and you goal is to "lose 20 pounds":

Initial body fat: 130# x 0.23 fat = 30 # body fat

Lean body mass: 130# total - 30# fat = 100# lean body mass (bones, organs and all else)

Goal: 130# - 20# = 110 pounds

As you can see, the goal of losing 20 pounds is not realistic or healthy. At 110 pounds, this woman still requires 100# of lean body mass (bones, organs, etc.), but would only be carrying 10#, or only 9% body fat. From the chart above, you can see that this is a dangerously low percentage.

A better goal might be for the woman to reduce her body fat from 23% to 18%. In this case:

130# x 0.18 = 23 # body fat

100# lean body mass + 23 # = 123# goal weight

So, for this individual to achieve a lean, but healthy 18% fat, she would need to lose only 7 pounds of fat, reducing her weight from her current 130 pounds to 123 pounds. Losing more than 7 pounds means losing lean body mass (usually metabolically-active muscle tissue), which is clearly not desirable.

So before you decide that you need to "lose weight", remember to consider that "weight" consists of both lean body mass and body fat. Try to keep your weight loss goals realistic, and remember, keep the calorie-burning muscle, and lose only the fat...."

Families_R_Forever

Thanks for the information!!!

sr2000

A suggested body fat test site from SharonB. Thanks!
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

ellelit

i'm more than 50% fat. yuck!

cp005e

I wish I knew what to believe! :frown:

My scale says: 33.8%
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html says: 35.76%
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html says: 25.3%

I guess I'll see what they tell me at the Y.

banks1850

I wish I knew what to believe! :frown:

My scale says: 33.8%
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html says: 35.76%
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html says: 25.3%

I guess I'll see what they tell me at the Y.

unfortunately many tests have high margins for error. There are body scans that some clinics do that have a very low margin, but (like everything) they cost a bit. Might be worth it to get an accurate measurement though, at least once.

sr2000

I wish I knew what to believe! :frown:

My scale says: 33.8%
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html says: 35.76%
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html says: 25.3%

I guess I'll see what they tell me at the Y.

I just got two answers from the websites as well 23.5% and 25.25%. Not as big of difference as your numbers though. Let us know what the number at the Y is. I don't expect that these are super accurate online, but a rough estimate. I suppose if you want a truer number you might have to pay more for it. Maybe when I get closer (within 15 lbs) to my current goal size/weight then I'll go in and have a more accurate (expensive) test done. And that will help me in setting and reaching a more resonable and realistic health and fitness goal.

dshandt

thanks for this thread SRB....I had been meaning to check on mine and just hadn't yet!

chiefiron

I know i am loosing fat and gaining muscle just by looking in the mirrow but i like to check so i weigh myself, measure various body parts and check my body fat with both my scale and a tape method.

i have found about a 5% or 6% difference between the two. To be fair i average them. i could drink lots of water then get on my scale and skew the results but i dont. Averaging them at least gives me a place to measure from. I think once i get to a good point (where no belly roll exists) i may go and have it checked more professionally.

Thats my 2cents.

Tim

timisw

You should also include gaining muscle mass into your equation as well!

Makes it a little more complicated, but you can actually be gaining muscle and losing fat (with organs and bones remaining constant), not losing ANY weight at all, but doing your body a LOT of good!

For example

Weight = Fat + Muscles + Bones + Organs(etc)

200 = 40 (20%) + 60(30%) + 25(12.5%) + 75 (38.5%)
200 = 30 (15%) + 70( 35%) + 25(12.5%) + 75 (38.5%)

This person may be frustrated that they havent lost weight that month with their excellent cardio and weight lifting and better eating regime... However, he/she has LOST fat and GAINED Muscle and thus are healthier, higher metabolism, stronger, and longer endurance than they were before! Gaining / Increasing muscle also throws off basic BMI calculators as well. I have seen some decent scales that were used for "local" body for life" challenges. I always gaged the ones with the most accuracy as having the ability to weigh peoples bone the same each time (as that shouldnt change). These machines also measure fat percentage, muscle, water and bone mass.

Also of note, 50 to 60% of our body has water spread thru all of the above (except maybe bone). If we are hydrated like we should be (or not hydrated), we may see a swing of 5 to 10lbs in water weight alone! That why those instant diets down work so well as they really only see immediate savings in water weight (which we gain right back). Additionally, men are more towards 60% and women are more towards 55% (Fat carries less water). Hence, why men can seem to loss so much weight so fast (though its really artificial).

Tim

timisw

.

LonelyPilgrim

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

this website I find to be useless. I gain my weight in my belly and breasts and upper arms. So it has me measure my thighs, calves, hips, wrist? those aren't big on me at all.

it says I Have 22.5% body fat. ha!

I have almost 30% according to my scale.