Riddle me this...body fat %, need honesty

stephanie1133

I went to have my monthly fitness assessment done today, at my gym. It was just my 2nd one, my last one was May 8th, so exactly a month.

I lost 13.8 pounds, but my body fat was only down 1/2% (from 33.8% to 33.2%). This seems impossible to me.

Now, it was a different guy that did the fitness assessment, so my theory is that the 1st measurement wasn't exactly accurate. It's a 7 point caliper test, and the 1st guy took several of my measurements through my clothes, I felt like maybe he didn't get a hold of all the fat he could've.

At 203.6 lbs on May 8th I find it hard to believe my body fat was *only* 33.8%, I was expecting around 40% give or take a percent or 2. In fact, I was utterly shocked when he told me what it was.

I weight train 3 to 4 times a week. In fact, the last 2 weeks that's all I've been doing, because of my ankle sprain cardio has been sidelined. I eat 120 to 140 grams of protein per day, and ALWAYS eat or drink protein after weight training workouts.

I've been trying not to dwell on it, and focus on that improvements I DID make, but it is bothering the crap out of me that I could be losing that much muscle with all that I'm doing.

Truth please!!!

dlwyatt82

Many BF% tests are wildly inaccurate, and as far as I know, you can't do caliper tests through clothing. Some things you can just take on faith or common sense: if you're strength training and still losing weight, then it's mostly fat that's coming off.

mcarter99

Ignore it. Calipers aren't all that precise, and gym dudes aren't all that skilled. I also suspect some of them are told to inflate your numbers, as a business tool. If your clothes fit better, you're doing the right thing. You're not losing gobs of muscle.

You can buy a set of calipers on Amazon for like $6 and measure at home, too. It's such a tiny increment that it's really hard to see changes over many months, much less one month.

jealous_loser

I think the only way to do that really is the electric current one. you know, the one you hold onto for like 30 sec and it spits out a BF%. That or the real one the doctor does with the tank of water and stuff.

The measurement ones can be off like woah. Especially if it is not the same person doing it every time or if you are wearing different clothes/.

bluebird321

It might be worth getting a hydrostatic body fat test (if there is a place near you).

dunlunicor

Body fat scales can run fairly cheap (mine was about $40), and while they aren't wildly accurate as far as the exact percentage goes, a general downward trend can let you know that you are consistently losing bodyfat.

stephanie1133

Thanks guys!

I do have the electro one, I just figure it is accurate to itself, and according to that I AM losing body fat monthly. That's exactly why I was so shocked at their measurements. I was 41% at that time (203.6) with my hand held. Now I'm around 36%. I do trust that a little more as far as being higher than what they say. I'm 189.8 pounds and 5'6". I just find it very hard to believe I'm 33% body fat and that I'm not losing body fat hardly.

I'll just ignore it. Thanks again.

AnninStPaul

I suggest trying one of the calculator sites -- they're pretty simple, no calipers required.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

For successive measures, try to make sure you are in the same location -- so the forearm measure is the same number of inches above the wrist each time.

victoria4321

Oh nos if bf% isn't accurate too and bmi isn't either now what????

juicemoogan

seems a bit ridiculous that someone would measure on top of clothes when the width matters immensely in this measurement.

bizgirl26

It might be worth getting a hydrostatic body fat test (if there is a place near you).

This!! I've done it . Check at the Universities or colleges

amysj303

I was told the margin for error on those tests is about 5% either way for the electro and a little less for calipers but they say you should use the same person for each.
I don't think anything is accurate...
I think they did it over my clothes for the caliper test too!

kunibob

I suggest trying one of the calculator sites -- they're pretty simple, no calipers required.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

For successive measures, try to make sure you are in the same location -- so the forearm measure is the same number of inches above the wrist each time.

I'm not sure I trust that link. It gave me a % body fat that was too high by about 5-6%..so, as a test, I left my weight the same and input 20" waist, 20" hips, 4" wrist and 4" forearm, and it put me at 25% body fat! :laugh:

UsedToBeHusky

Okay... so let's look at the math.

At 203.6 lbs and 33.8% body fat you were carrying 68.8168 lbs of actual fat. At 189.8 lbs and 33.2% body fat you are carrying around 63.0136 lbs of actual fat.

That is a difference of 5.8032 lbs of fat. This means that you lost 7.7968 lbs of lean mass. Remember that water is calculated in with lean mass. Now, I really don't know how much of your lost lean mass could have been water. Maybe someone with a degree can clue us in, but I'm willing to bet that at least half of your lean mass lost was water. Either way, 5 lbs of fat loss is pretty damn good so I'm going to give you the internet high five on that one! ^5

WOOT! NSV!!

stephanie1133

Thanks so much for all the responses!!!

I guess when it comes down to it, all that matters is I'm looking and feel better, and I know I'm losing weight. I'm getting stronger, and can see more muscle all over my body (mainly due to fat coming off).

I will definitely get a hydro measure if I can. I've always wanted to do that!

freezerburn2012

Here's a good blog post with pictures depicting different bodyfat % and explinations of the differences.

http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

LuckyLeprechaun

the device at my gym (the hand held resistance thing) claimed that after I'd lost 40 lbs, I had only gone down in BF% by 2%. :huh:

I say BULL.

You're making progress, don't let numbers trip you up. Just stick to it.

mcarter99

Unless you're shooting for body competitions, I wouldn't bother getting any more sophisticated tests, unless you have money to burn and just want to keep watching it over time for fun. It's not necessary for general health. If you're losing weight and exercising, your muscle level is going to be fine.

stephanie1133

Thanks Lucky!

@Freezerburn - Thanks for thank link! Love it!

gogophers

I've heard that the tests at the gym are not only imprecise, but sometimes they are calibrated to give you inaccurate numbers. You shouldn't have your body fat percentage tested by someone who has a financial incentive to ensure you aren't happy with the results.

I've heard the most accurate method to test body fat percentage is doing something in a pool (not familiar with the specifics). However, I don't think you should really focus at all on body fat percentage and if you do, it shouldn't be until significantly later in your diet plan.

BigDaddyBRC

How were the measurements taken? How much experience in measuring (in both cases) CORRECTLY did they have? Did they forget a measurement? Were the conditions almost identical at the time of measurements - Day, Time, food/water ingestion, pre/post-workout, and being female.. TOM?

Edit: If any of this varies, your readings will.