body fat %. Where are you and what do you want to be?

vintagedream

I was by GNC and they got this new matchine that measures your weigh and body fat %. I was like "OH COOL! SOMEONE GIVE ME A DOLLAR!" and i got my results.
:grumble:

i mean i knew i would be bad but 39% bad? YIKES!

im 5foot5inches and at 205-209. Where should i be?

I think i am going to go back every month.

bizco

I've read that for women it should be less than 28%. I'll have to check out a GNC store, I've never had a body fat test.

cacrat

I'm somewhere around 13-14%. I'm headed for sub 10%. Women should be in the low 20% for normal.

kdao

I am at 24.1 right now and when I reach my goal weight I will be between 22.9 - 21.9

aflane

Why are you going to GNC to calculate it (and pay for that service)? MFP has a BMI calculator. It also tells you the healthy range. Look under the "TOOLS" tab.

xraychick77

24. i want to be 20. lean and muscular like jillian michaels


ps..GYMS usually have that electrical resistance body fat tester. and its free. i use the one at the Y.
and body fat is way different than BMI..BMI is a useful tool in some ways, but is really pointless, as someone who is fit and muscular can have a higher bmi, indicating they are overweight/fat when in reality they are fit. its really a horrible thing we need to move away from, since many people who are bodybuilder types are denied health insurance because of it. we should go on body fat % instead.

Lyadeia

I am also 5'5". Right now I weigh 138 pounds. My body fat was last calculated at 26%, but I think it is actually lower than that now, I just haven't re-tested lately. In my profile picture, I was at 128 pounds and 20% body fat. My goal weight is actually 125 pounds, and I would LOVE to have about a 26-27" inch waist at that point. My calculator that I use for body fat has that goal at around 18%.

I want to have a sleek, muscular, athletic and toned look. Obviously if you don't want that, if you simply want to be lose weight, then your goal will be higher. The calculator I use states that "lean" is under 18%, "ideal/healthy" is 18-26%, average is 26-32%, and 33% and up is overweight. This is for females between 30-39 years old. All charts and calculators vary slightly, though.

Lyadeia

Why are you going to GNC to calculate it (and pay for that service)? MFP has a BMI calculator. It also tells you the healthy range. Look under the "TOOLS" tab.

BMI and body fat % are 2 different calculations. I don't trust BMI at all. The Rock, as gorgeous as that muscular man is, is OBESE according to BMI, but very lean according to body fat calculations.

cacrat

BMI and body fat are not the same thing. According to BMI I am also overweight.


EDIT: she ^^^ beat me to it

LJCannon

Curves has a hand held do-hickey that measures your BMI and Body Fat. I don't know if it is the same thing you used.
For the first 3 months that I was at Curves (they do your Weight & Measurements once a month) the machine would not even register my Body Fat. Finally on the 4th month it read 49.3%
:drinker: In October 2011 my BMI registered at 28.7. I will take it!!

cacrat

Electrical impedance, the hand held Curves doo hickey, is the cheapest and easiest way to do it. They have them at nearly every gym.

dancer77

I've been using the US Navy formula for calculating my BF % (haven't made it to a gym) and I'm at 27%. My goal is 13%. Very low for a girl i know

melaniecheeks

My scale measures body fat and water %. Mine was 34% this morning. I'd like to get it under 30. (The water one was fine, high 40s)

lk227

According to my scale (I wish that it would be totally inaccurate..lol) I have 38.9% body fat. I am 5' 7" and weigh 193lbs. I would like to be around 24%.

GiGi76

Right now i weigh 122lbs, im 5'3" and my body fat per my scale is 19% and per my calipers 18% i would like to be about 16%!!!

briarashley

24. i want to be 20. lean and muscular like jillian michaels


ps..GYMS usually have that electrical resistance body fat tester. and its free. i use the one at the Y.
and body fat is way different than BMI..BMI is a useful tool in some ways, but is really pointless, as someone who is fit and muscular can have a higher bmi, indicating they are overweight/fat when in reality they are fit. its really a horrible thing we need to move away from, since many people who are bodybuilder types are denied health insurance because of it. we should go on body fat % instead.

I agree, bmi told me im overweight

NitaCB

Dancer77- I think 13% is too low a goal to aim for, as a female. I know it sounds great, and I can completely understand where you're coming from cos I was in the dance world too, but it's unhealthily low. Once you start getting down to the low teens in body fat, for a female, you start actually creating problems for yourself because we're not designed to get that low. Not unless you want a miserable life eating egg whites, chicken breasts and broccoli for the rest of your dancing career. You want to be a strong, healthy dancer who can dance well, not one confined to the corps because she's not actually strong enough to do what she loves. Please just be sensible and realistic.