Ideal Bod Fat %?????

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holly3585
holly3585 Posts: 282 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so I hit a bit of a plateau on my last 5-7 lbs. and began focusing on my body fat % a few weeks ago. It was WONDERFUL motivation b/c I have already seen a difference…and that’s a GREAT NSV! I am a bit confused as to what my ideal BF % should be! I have done at least 3-4 calculators and they all recommend something different. I am 5’- 116 lbs. right now. Last week my BF % was 18.5!!! One site told me that for a woman my age that was UNDER where I should be (but given my personal physique I KNOW that can’t be the case) and the second I looked at said that 15-19% was an ideal ‘athletic’ %. Anyone have a better clue than me where my % should be? Or at least maybe the MOST accurate site you all use to determine this….I used the fat2fat, as well as three other calculators last night, and I just want to make sure my goals are accurate. Thanks in advance for any advice :~)

Replies

  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
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    How are you testing your BF?
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
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    Here's some charts: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/

    Did all the calculators you used agree on body fat? Given you're already pretty close to goal you might want to get it professionally tested, because at your low weight small changes in weight can lead to large shifts in bodyfat.

    Same site has an overview of different types of bodyfat testing here: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/07/13/5-ways-to-measure-body-fat-percentage/
  • holly3585
    holly3585 Posts: 282 Member
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    How are you testing your BF?

    I think most sites requested the same things- wieght, heights, age, measuring neck, waist, hips.....
  • holly3585
    holly3585 Posts: 282 Member
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    Here's some charts: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/

    Did all the calculators you used agree on body fat? Given you're already pretty close to goal you might want to get it professionally tested, because at your low weight small changes in weight can lead to large shifts in bodyfat.

    Same site has an overview of different types of bodyfat testing here: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/07/13/5-ways-to-measure-body-fat-percentage/

    Thanks I will look at those sites! Yeah I was thinking about the fact that at my low weight, and being pretty toned already even a lbs. or two lost would drastically change my % even without measurment change. Yes- the sites were also all pretty similar in the % they gave me- their 'ideal' BF% for women in my range was just quite a bit different on each one!
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
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    I've been on the sites and I'm honestly considering buying a body fat caliber, because I too am trying to focus on body fat % now that I've got 5lbs left to lose. My problem with the web calculations is this, I am 5'5" 132lbs and there is a difference of 10in between my waist and hips (pear shaped)....Ive had websites tell me I have anywhere between 33-26% body fat, Im probably close...not arguing with that! Well I have a step son who is 5'7" and 265lbs (my husband wanted me to check his because we are concerned for him), he is not muscular....with that said, same formula I used said his body fat % was 20!!! It also told me that to become my desired body fat I would have to get down to 120lbs...which means I would need to lose another 12lbs, which for me is skin and bones look!! :)
  • strikerjb007
    strikerjb007 Posts: 443 Member
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    How are you testing your BF?

    I think most sites requested the same things- wieght, heights, age, measuring neck, waist, hips.....

    That's not always very accurate. Get a set of calipers. I wrote about this a while back. Copy and paste these links:

    http://bit.ly/IJVThP

    also read this:

    http://bit.ly/IG6PjD

    Oh and the ideal BF% is whatever you want it to be. Forget about these guidelines.

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