Body fat percentage going down but weight staying the same

rosha267

I have a scale that measures my weight and my body fat percentage. I never truly trusted the bf portion because it would always go up and down with my weight but I've started weight training a few months ago and I've noticed the body fat percentage is going down but my weight is staying the same. My legs are getting a little bit bigger so I think I really am gaining some muscle. Does this mean I can trust the number on my scale?

DalekBrittany

Short answer, no. But, a lot of peoples' bf% goes down and their weight either goes up or stays the same. Yes, it is because you are building muscle. So well done

Vonwarr

Those scales are terribly inaccurate so don't trust the actual number (mine says I have 33% BF)... but if the overall trend is downwards, then it's a good thing! If you want to measure body fat, I recommend calipers as a cheap and generally more accurate method

I lost 4% BF without losing a lb. It is doable.

Keep up the great work!

MsMarlaJean

Good question! I don't have a scale, but I have access to an OMRON body fat analyzer and I wonder how accurate those are too.

potluck965

Good question! I don't have a scale, but I have access to an OMRON body fat analyzer and I wonder how accurate those are too.

The actual number cannot be trusted, but the trend can be.

rosha267

So if for example I started at a percentage of 20 and it is now at 18.7 does that mean I can say my body fat percentage went down 1.3 percent?

MelStren

bump....