Body Fat

jessie1542

I weight about 114.4 lbs at 5'. My body fat is about 18%, is it a lot? My goal is to lose about 10 pounds before my wedding which is in less than 6 months. How much is weigh would I lose if I want to lose 8% of fat?
My wedding dress is size two and my size is 2.5, they only had 2 or 3. So, I want to fit in my dress soon!

EllieB_5

My only advice is to not worry about the bf% and focus on the 10 pounds. K.I.S.S (Gawd I hope you've heard of that, I am totally not coming on to you :laugh: )



Edit:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/737101-relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner

kgeyser

So we're clear, your goal is to look like the woman in the 10-12% picture in less than six months, correct? And you currently look like the woman in the 15-17% range, or at least close to it?

EllieB_5

So we're clear, your goal is to look like the woman in the 10-12% picture in less than six months, correct? And you currently look like the woman in the 15-17% range, or at least close to it?

Does height matter in this? Or would a 5'0 and a 5'9 female both look pretty much the same as the one in the pic?

PikaKnight

How did you figure your body fat %?

18% would be more in the athletic range. Have you considered working on body composition rather than trying to lose more weight?

kgeyser

So we're clear, your goal is to look like the woman in the 10-12% picture in less than six months, correct? And you currently look like the woman in the 15-17% range, or at least close to it?

Does height matter in this? Or would a 5'0 and a 5'9 female both look pretty much the same as the one in the pic?

Body fat percentage is the percentage of fat vs lean body mass, height shouldn't matter. I was asking to clarify that these percentages were indeed what she was talking about, as getting down to 10% body fat is a heck of an ordeal for anyone and the way go about achieving that look is going to differ from simply creating a deficit and losing a few pounds.

itsfatum

Let me answer you considering your measurements are correct:

If you are actually at 18% as a woman, you barely have any fat on your body. Damn, I barely have any and I'm a dude. Girls have 6-8% more by default.

Don't think you are gonna fit into your dress by losing 8% body fat. You won't even lose a size.

For what I've seen, 90% of women who are at such a low body fat percentage do NOT maintain it for longer than a few days/weeks. It is unhealthy for women to be below 18%, just like below 10% for men. There is a reason why elite athletes (other than bodybuilders close to a competition date) never ever go below them.

If your measurements are right and you are actually at 18%, take into account that going below that might halt your menstruation cycle. I'm not a woman, but that doesn't sound healthy to me.
http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/


Now, in case they are incorrect:

If you have the money, take a % fat test. They are extremely expensive, but they are the most accurate measurement.
If you don't have that much money, buy a good quality caliper and learn to use it correctly. Use it for as long as possible regularly. Come back with those numbers you get and reconsider your weight goals meanwhile.


I don't want to sound confrontational, but your goals sound completely obnoxious for a woman who is not considering serious high level bodybuilding competitions. A difference as little as 5% can mean a VAST difference when you are already in a healthy weight range.

JesterMFP

Apart from the BF% measurement issue - on your profile it says that you're not sure if it's your stomach or your ribs that is the problem fitting into your dress. I think you need to find that out before trying to diet down to a basically impossible size. If the size of your ribcage is going to prevent you fitting into that dress properly, then you're going to need a bigger dress. Feeling "disgusting" because of your natural frame isn't going to make for a very happy wedding day.

sentaruu

25% is perfect. I drooled a little, not gonna lie.

Kevalicious99

Honestly .. at 18% you are in a very very good spot already. 10% on a woman .. and only my opinion, but sorry looks absolutely terrible, unless you really want that body builder look . The pics above .. show you what it may look like.

Good luck.

skylark94

Tell the idiots who ordered too small of a dress to exchange it immediately and get you the right size. Morons. It is not easier to shrink a bride into a dress than it is to shrink a dress to fit a bride.

If you are truly at 18%, that is already very low for your average female. Don't set yourself up for misery and failure. Stop obsessing about your weight and get a dress that fits.

drew06

Let me answer you considering your measurements are correct:

If you are actually at 18% as a woman, you barely have any fat on your body. Damn, I barely have any and I'm a dude. Girls have 6-8% more by default.

Don't think you are gonna fit into your dress by losing 8% body fat. You won't even lose a size.

For what I've seen, 90% of women who are at such a low body fat percentage do NOT maintain it for longer than a few days/weeks. It is unhealthy for women to be below 18%, just like below 10% for men. There is a reason why elite athletes (other than bodybuilders close to a competition date) never ever go below them.

If your measurements are right and you are actually at 18%, take into account that going below that might halt your menstruation cycle. I'm not a woman, but that doesn't sound healthy to me.
http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/


Now, in case they are incorrect:

If you have the money, take a % fat test. They are extremely expensive, but they are the most accurate measurement.
If you don't have that much money, buy a good quality caliper and learn to use it correctly. Use it for as long as possible regularly. Come back with those numbers you get and reconsider your weight goals meanwhile.


I don't want to sound confrontational, but your goals sound completely obnoxious for a woman who is not considering serious high level bodybuilding competitions. A difference as little as 5% can mean a VAST difference when you are already in a healthy weight range.

below 10% for men and below 18% for women is achievable by normal means and is no way in fact unhealthy. It does take determination to stay below those levels because this would mean that that person is super lean, but by no means is 5-9% for a guy or 10-15% for a women is unealthy.

greenmonstergirl

Honestly .. at 18% you are in a very very good spot already. 10% on a woman .. and only my opinion, but sorry looks absolutely terrible, unless you really want that body builder look . The pics above .. show you what it may look like.

Good luck.

I was going to say this as well.

If you are skin and bones you won't look very good at 8% and you may lose you hair/periods...

3laine75

I'd rethink your goals if your bf% is accurate. 10% bf is not healthy for a woman.

debr1126

Should've gone with the size 3 and had it taken in--that sounds a lot easier. Can you exchange it?

Graelwyn75

Also of note is that two people with the same bodyfat %, can appear very different visually.

veganbaum

You've been given good advice. It's unfortunate you didn't get the dress larger so it could be taken in, but this is where you are now. I also read your profile, and as someone else noted if your ribcage is the issue, your dress isn't going to fit. But, it seems like you would have noticed that before. Did you try it on when you first got it and it fit?

I must add that I don't think it's healthy for any woman to want to get back to her high school weight when that high school weight was that of a gangly teenager. (Getting back into great shape is different, but you also said you want to be the same weight, and I'm assuming here that you were likely somewhat of a gangly teenager given your size now. If my assumptions are wrong, the rest doesn't apply.) I have heard so many thin AND fit young women in their mid-twenties complaining about getting back to their high school size. Granted, I don't know what their health was like (and when I've heard it, they usually seemed concerned only about the number on the scale), but they sure looked fit and healthy, and definitely not even a bit overweight. Perspective. The bodies we have when we're teenagers change as we continue to develop. A lot of us shouldn't be the weight we were in high school because our bodies have changed and it would no longer be healthy. I'd suggest aiming for something that's not so arbitrary - a healthy body fat percentage range.

Kevalicious99

#25% for the win. That is very attractive for a woman. ;-)

Samby_v1

25% is great if the fat is evenly distributed - not if you carry it all on your belly!

*cries - slams door*

Aaron_K123

Also of note is that two people with the same bodyfat %, can appear very different visually.

This. If you are female and at 18% bodyfat you have already eliminated most of the non-essential fat on your body. 18% for a woman is athletic. That said if you are at 18% and you don't have a leaned toned look you want it probably has more to do with not having much muscle underneath versus pictures of women in bikini's that tend to grace magazine covers. Of course if you endevored to put on muscle you might look leaner and have a trimmer looking stomach but you probably wouldn't change a dress size.

Tiff1124

See I never understood this. My trainer when he took my body fat analysis I was at 37%! Which of course I freaked out but he told me that most women are around 35-36 so I was a little over. Still, that made me feel horrible. So you at your 18% I don't think you have anything to worry about

Graelwyn75

See I never understood this. My trainer when he took my body fat analysis I was at 37%! Which of course I freaked out but he told me that most women are around 35-36 so I was a little over. Still, that made me feel horrible. So you at your 18% I don't think you have anything to worry about

Most women are at 35-36%? Not heard that before.
I was tested and came out at 12%.
And I agree, 18% is great, I was that prior to hitting weights and boxing.

BinaryPulsar

Tell the idiots who ordered too small of a dress to exchange it immediately and get you the right size. Morons. It is not easier to shrink a bride into a dress than it is to shrink a dress to fit a bride.

If you are truly at 18%, that is already very low for your average female. Don't set yourself up for misery and failure. Stop obsessing about your weight and get a dress that fits.

Yeah, this and what everyone else is saying. At that amount your measurements will not reduce significantly, you will just have more visible muscle definition if you drop body fat. If you drop 8% you will be at 10%. I don't think that is the look you are going for at your wedding. That is what people do to prepare for a competition and even then many do not even go that low. And if you don't do it right, you could lose hair or have other unforeseen consequences.

greypilgrimess

How did you find your BF%?

I recently bought some bathroom scales that supposedly measure body fat (among other things). They tried to tell me I'm 21% but I'd put money on the fact that I'm 30-35%. I know they are not accurate.

I've heard that apart from the really expensive professional ways to measure bf%, calipers give the best result.

If you are really 18%, trying to go lower will a) be difficult, b) not likely get you into the dress and c) possibly have health consequences on your body, as mentioned by others.

Hadabetter

Why don't you just buy clothes that fit you, instead of adding deadlines and stress to your life?

macchiatto

I agree with the others; if the 18% measurement is correct, trying to go lower to fit into a dress is not the best idea. I agree with seeing if you can exchange for a size 3 and have it taken in a little. Having the size 2 let out a little to fit better might also be an option. If you're already that lean, I would look more at adjusting the dress rather than adjusting your body, and just trying to stay fit and healthy.

Also, if you're not sure about your BF %, Sara and Sidesteel on the Eat, Train, Progress group are great at giving estimated BF% if you provide the requested pics.

Natmarie73

25% is perfect. I drooled a little, not gonna lie.

I agree, and I'd even be stoked if I looked like Ms 30% as long as I had enough muscle tone to pull it off.

JesterMFP

25% is perfect. I drooled a little, not gonna lie.

I agree, and I'd even be stoked if I looked like Ms 30% as long as I had enough muscle tone to pull it off.

I would have liked to have looked like that at 30%. It also helps to have a certain natural body shape. :ohwell:

daviddowns1968

Height doesn't matter. 18% of someone 5ft tall, is 18% of a 5ft person. 18% of someone 6ft tall is 18% of a 6ft person. I would stick to your percentage, as it's healthy place to be. For now, you would probably focus on losing the couple of pounds, but were did you get that target from? Sometimes we arbitrarily pick a goal weight to head for, but it might actually be too light and so make you underweight.

jessie1542

I think I look like more like 25 and 30% pictures.. I used a BMI machine at my school.. it may be wrong. I'll try to use it again. I am pretty curvy..