Body Fat Percentage.

girlsaint

I downloaded the Runkeeper Pro for my iPhone, and there is a spot on there for body fat percentage. I really didn't know mine, so searched the forums here to figure out how to find mine. I calculated it using an online calculator based on a formula that the US Navy uses. Mine came out to be 31.76. Juuust below the obese range, and this morning my weigh-in put me just below obese on the BMI scale.

How do I figure out how many pounds I have to lose to effect my body fat percentage?
I would love to be in the 21-24% range.

ahbach2005

If you are really into body fat percentage use a method that takes your body measurements into accoount.

Different methods give you different numbers.

This will drive a realistic goal.

I am a large framed person so the calculators don't work well for me.

erickirb

These are just rough calculations:

Assuming your weight loss will be 90% from fat (most people will lose muscle as they lose weight as well, I'm not sure what the "normal" % weight loss from fat is) So if you are say 200 pounds at 31.76% body fat meaning you have 63.5 lbs of fat and 136.5 non fat. If you lose 25lbs you would be 175 and assuming 90% of the weight loss came from fat would leave you at 23.4% fat (41 lbs of fat, down from 63.5, down 22.5lbs of fat)

Everyone is different so you may lose 95% of your weight in fat or as little as 70% so, my guess is that you would have to lose 20-35 lbs to reach you goal body fat % assuming you are 200 lbs, more weight at a higher starting weight.

00trayn

I have a Conair Weight Watchers scale that measures it for me, it was $30 at Bed Bath and Beyond. It's more accurate than an online calculator, but not as accurate as using a caliper or a bodypod or one of those fancy methods. It gave me 30.7% body fat this morning, and that's about 1% higher than the handheld device that my gym uses that's more accurate. So a scale will at least give you something close to what your body fat % really is.

girlsaint

That is what this calculator does. I am 5'11", so I understand what you mean when you say the regular calculators don't work so well... I am interested in body fat percentage, because in my younger years, I was able to "pull off" 180-190 pounds no problem, and the last time I was that weight, my clothing size was considerably larger, so I'm thinking that when I weighed that in my 20's, I may have had a lower body fat percentage (more muscle).

00trayn

These are just rough calculations:

Assuming your weight loss will be 90% from fat (most people will lose muscle as they lose weight as well) So if you are say 200 pounds at 31.76% body fat meaning you have 63.5 lbs of fat and 136.5 non fat. If you lose 25lbs you would be 175 and assuming 90% of the weight loss came from fat would leave you at 23.4% fat (41 lbs of fat, down from 63.5, down 22.5lbs of fat)

Everyone is different so you may lose 95% of your weight in fat or as little as 70% so, my guess is that you would have to lose 20-35 lbs to reach you goal body fat % assuming you are 200 lbs, more weight at a higher starting weight.

This is really useful! Thanks! Even if it's just a rough estimate, i was really curious how much weight loss it would take to get from my 29.5% body fat now to the 25% that my personal trainer has set as a goal for April. Based on my calculations (I'm 150 lbs right now), I need to lose 10 pounds to get to about 25%, assuming I lost 90% fat (I'm strength training too so I shouldn't lose too much muscle mass). That's encouraging! I was scared it was a lot more weight loss than that. If I got to 135 I'd be awesome!

SHBoss1673

Guys, using an online calculator (any online calculator) or a bio-electrical impedance home scale (what was listed on here) are going to give you very very inaccurate results. If you really want to know your BF% call your doctor and ask for locations for either hydrostatic testing or Air Displacement Plethysmograph (go to bodpod.com for more info, and no, I have no vested interest in them). Or better yet, if you can afford it, DEXA (about 100 bucks, but very very accurate).

A good caliper test can get a good result as well. The problem with caliper tests isn't in the device, it's in the administrator of the test. It takes a lot of practice to do caliper tests right, and it's really easy to screw it up giving whacked out results. Plus, no two test givers will measure the exact same way, so once you find someone, you need to stick with them. Still caliper tests are better than bio-electrical impedance because this method depends heavily on the person's hydration levels. if you are over hydrated or dehydrated, the numbers can be wildly inaccurate, and taking difference measurements can be difficult because there's no easy way to tell your exact hydration levels, therefore no easy way to match those levels the next time you test.

girlsaint

Thank you so much! My weight right now is 214, so it is a little more that I have to lose, but that is OK
It is no where near the 70 pounds I set as a goal for myself at the start of this.(In fact my goal weight is probably 20 pounds lower than it should be) I may need to get one of those scales and re-evaluate my weight loss goals once I get closer to a healthy body fat percentage.

girlsaint

Guys, using an online calculator (any online calculator) or a bio-electrical impedance home scale (what was listed on here) are going to give you very very inaccurate results. If you really want to know your BF% call your doctor and ask for locations for either hydrostatic testing or Air Displacement Plethysmograph (go to bodpod.com for more info, and no, I have no vested interest in them). Or better yet, if you can afford it, DEXA (about 100 bucks, but very very accurate).

A good caliper test can get a good result as well. The problem with caliper tests isn't in the device, it's in the administrator of the test. It takes a lot of practice to do caliper tests right, and it's really easy to screw it up giving whacked out results. Plus, no two test givers will measure the exact same way, so once you find someone, you need to stick with them. Still caliper tests are better than bio-electrical impedance because this method depends heavily on the person's hydration levels. if you are over hydrated or dehydrated, the numbers can be wildly inaccurate, and taking difference measurements can be difficult because there's no easy way to tell your exact hydration levels, therefore no easy way to match those levels the next time you test.

Something else to keep in mind. I live in a pretty rural area, so maybe I will check with my doc to see where I could go to get this done. Either way, it will be awhile before I get to the point that I think I need to check and see if I'm in the healthy range.. :0
Thanks for the info!