Body fat analysis blew my goals out of the water

Mkleder
Mkleder Posts: 289
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Tonight I was given a body fat analysis by my trainer. The result showed me at 30% body fat, with 143.4 lbs of lean mass and 61.6 lbs of fat. (The analysis confirmed my own BMI calculation of 33%).

Now, the goal weight I set for myself is 155 lbs. However, if I calculate an additional 20% onto my lean body mass figure, I come up with a healthy weight in the 170 ballpark. What the heck?

Now the reading was taken on my right bicep, yet I carry my weight in my hips. Could that explain such a high lean body mass figure or are these body fat calculations on the money?

I'm confused -- THRILLED to think that I'm closer to my real health goal that I ever imagined -- but confused.

Has anyone else had experience with this? I will also ask my trainer the next time I see him.

Replies

  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    I'm getting the same result, around 179. This seems high to me, but maybe I'm mislead by television and magazines. I guess the best way to figure it out is when you achieve 179 (175, 180, whatever :smile:) see how you feel, maybe take another trainer analysis... hopefully you will know then if you are at your goal fitness or not!

    Very awesome job so far :D
  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    I'm confused. Does that mean you were shooting for 10% bf?? I'd stay with the original 155 personally..
  • Newfiedan
    Newfiedan Posts: 1,517 Member
    it is possible but base it off how strong you feel. If you can lift more than most of your peers then it is a pretty good chance that you do have a higher lean body mass, how many measurements did he take to get that percentage? The more he takes usually the more accurate it is.
  • johnthefatman
    johnthefatman Posts: 205
    Never had a body fat analysis but I thought you had to have it done on different sites on the body - ask your trainer to d a more thorough job! Was it the callipers or some fancy technology?
  • Heatherbelle_87
    Heatherbelle_87 Posts: 1,078 Member
    I tought a body fat analysis took measurements from atleast 4 points on the body.....?????
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,340 Member
    There are several lines of thought on this. If the person testing you is experienced more measurements from different locations will be more accurate, but if not it will lead to more errors. Generally multiple spots are the standard, and using one they usually use the superilliac (sp?)
  • jenomaha
    jenomaha Posts: 631 Member
    Measurements should have been taken at the bicep, tricep, subscaplar (under shoulder blade) and suprailiac (right above hip bone and in and inch) to be most accurate if he was using calipers.
  • Mkleder
    Mkleder Posts: 289
    Measurements should have been taken at the bicep, tricep, subscaplar (under shoulder blade) and suprailiac (right above hip bone and in and inch) to be most accurate if he was using calipers.

    Thank you so much! There could be many reasons why the measurements were taken the way they were, but at least I know now that while yes, I do have more muscle mass than most of the other women in the class...and a couple of the guys, it's still just a guide.

    At least I have another tool that will show progress in losing fat and gaining muscle. I'll think of it in those terms exclusively.

    The good news is that 170 is on the road to 155, so I'll know when I get there.
  • Pawsntails
    Pawsntails Posts: 67 Member
    As you lose weight you will also lose lean mass unless your doing serious muscle work as far as I'm aware so when u get to 179 you won't be at 20% bf. I'm not an expert so could be wrong tho just trying to be helpful :-) eitherway you could find you don't need to drop to 150
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