Lean Mass Gain - Are These Numbers Realistic?

c_ansari

I bought a scale that calculates body fat percentage using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BI). I know that these scales aren't the most reliable for these measurements, but several reviews I read before buying my scale said that this model's results were often close to their body fat test results done with calipers.

From what I understand lean body mass is my weight minus the fat.

With that said, in the last 15 weeks I've lost 57.5lbs and 11.7% body fat, causing my lean mass go from 159lbs to 182.5lbs.

I did start swimming about 3x/week around the beginning of this time period and started biking in the last 2 weeks, but I don't imagine that being enough to put on 23.5lbs of muscle.

Do these numbers sound realistic or is something else going on? What can they be attributed to? Muscle gain?

jalloggio

23 lbs of muscle in 15 weeks is just about impossible unless your juicing.

Those scales have a 5-8% difference than what your actual bf is so it's not a very good indicator of your bf whether its a good one or not.

If your a member of a gym ask the trainer to give you a 3 or 5 point fat caliber measurement the difference with those is only 3% it will be a much better indicator if the trainer is a good one he should do it free of charge.

darkguardian419

Scales of that sort are incredibly inaccurate when it comes to estimating BF%. Jalloggio is right, try to get another form of measurement, be it calipers, bod pod, etc etc.

c_ansari

I should've mentioned that my body fat was going down gradually. I didn't drop 11.7% from one measurement to the next. I was losing about 0.8%/week. If my scale was off, it was at least consistently off.

c_ansari

Anymore thoughts?

c_ansari

ttt