Fitness center accuracy

AllyLuna

So, I've changed my lifestyle the last few months. Eating healthy & clean, several small portions a day = about 1000cal/day, 1000cal min burned a day. Last few weeks I've increased my workouts and feeling great. After 3 weeks at a new intensity level I've lost 6 lbs (which is the rate i want to steadily lose weight at), dropped a whole pant size, and shirts are looser.

Was feeling great about myself! That is until i went to check out a new gym for more workout opportunities. The trainer did all my measurements, body fat %, and weight. Measurements were great, they were what i expected based on how my clothes fit. But the fat % and weight were WAY off what i expected. First off, the scale was 4.5lbs over my home scale which i used before i left to the consultation wearing the same clothes and no shoes on for either weigh in. Secondly what really got my hopes shot down was the 33.5% body fat she measured making me obese, even though I've had my body type checked and ideal range checked and I should only by slightly above average, overweight. My body fat was measured when i was heavier and not in shape and it wasn't close to that range but they used the electronic measuring method. Is it just the difference in methods? Or could it be that she was making the results worse than they are so that I'd be more likely to sign up with the gym? What results do I listen to?

My motivation level has been hit hard by this and I'm feeling really down about it because I'm always very hard on myself. I don't want to completely give up just because i feel so much better with the changes i've made but my goal seems SO much further away I feel like a failure, and the little improvements I've made mean nothing now

Oh, if it helps I'm 152lbs (on my scale), 5'5', medium build, 25 years old

BeckySue1977

Maybe you should schedule a visit with your doctor to check out weight and body fat? Your doctor will not have any bias either way to skew any of the numbers.

QueenGorgo

I've worked out at a lot of gyms over the last 10 years and I can tell you this much...they make money by you being fat. It's like a casino..they don't make money when you when, only when you lose...so the good gyms, and they are few and far between do a lot of work to higher competent professionals who want to give you accurate information..the other 90% of the gyms are trying to run a business so it's not good for business if you have better numbers..so the results at a gym where the trainer is not independently operating do tend to be a little bit more than you'd find other places..

I'd recommend if you want a more accurate assessment to first go to a doctor and get an accurate weight. If the doctor can do a fat caliper test all the better, but I've never has a GP that knew how to do one..so you might have to find a sports therapy clinic maybe, or ask your doctor if they know someplace you can go to get an accurate body fat percentage.. then check the results against your home scale so you can know where your scale is. That way you know whether to add or subtract what your scale says..

Above all, don't get down and feel like you haven't done well..the gym's results are suspect to say the least so before you go running back in there throwing money at them and begging them to make it better...do your homework and get as much knowledge of your body and what's going on with it..that way no one can fool you, scam you or make you feel bad about your progress..Good luck!

AllyLuna

Thanks. It was tough because I've been on such a high about how much I've changed in my life and I've been feeling so good so it hit me hard when the trainer went over her numbers. My doctor's PA does triathlons so I'm sure he'd know where the best place to get accurate information. Another thing that's difficult is that I'm going through this journey mostly by myself. My family and couple of friends are supportive but no one eats healthy, they all want to go drinking when i want to go to the gym, and I go on 1hr-2.5hr bike rides around town by myself. They're happy for me when I notice a change in myself, but don't understand the dedication and the long road to achieve those changes. Thanks again.