Older women and BF

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Replies

  • hfox9707
    hfox9707 Posts: 74 Member
    bcattoes

    There is nothing wrong with improving yourself. However, obsessing (going to the extreme) over it could be another issue.

    With that said, I have to ask...what is it that you are not happy with? You say you are happy that you're fit and happy. Isn't that enough? I'd say embrace your womanly curves and run with it! Stop obsessing over an ideal. It's not realistic!

    BTW, this goes for all women! Women comes in all different shapes and sizes. Just be healthy and fit as you can be!

    I still really think you need to work on your self esteem and body image issues. There is nothing wrong with being pear shaped. As long your fat doesn't belong on your stomach and that you are healthy and fit. That's what should matter, not vanity. Stop obsessing with numbers! It's just a number!.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I've been searching online a bit more trying to find more info on amount of body fat vs bodt fat % (couldn't find any) but I found more charts and guidelines for older women and some say not to drop below 24%.

    This is a persoal question so feel free to ignore but I'm curious if you take hormone replacement therapy.

    What charts/guidelines?

    I'm pretty sure that Ernestine Shepherd, age 75, who started lifting in her 50's, proves that you can be over 50 and have significantly less than 24% body fat. Looks pretty healthy to me.

    tumblr_lpmdhjjT8m1qj3hhq.jpg
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I've been searching online a bit more trying to find more info on amount of body fat vs bodt fat % (couldn't find any) but I found more charts and guidelines for older women and some say not to drop below 24%.

    This is a persoal question so feel free to ignore but I'm curious if you take hormone replacement therapy.

    What charts/guidelines?

    I didn't save the links, but I searched again and here are some I found:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/
    http://life.familyeducation.com/weight/health/35880.html
    http://fitz101.com/what-is-the-ideal-body-fat-percentage/

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/431906-what-is-the-optimal-body-fat-percentage-for-a-50-year-old-woman/
    (not a chart but says "The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that the optimal body fat percentage is between 21.6 percent and 25.6 percent for you as a 50 year old woman")
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I've been searching online a bit more trying to find more info on amount of body fat vs bodt fat % (couldn't find any) but I found more charts and guidelines for older women and some say not to drop below 24%.

    This is a persoal question so feel free to ignore but I'm curious if you take hormone replacement therapy.

    What charts/guidelines?

    I'm pretty sure that Ernestine Shepherd, age 75, who started lifting in her 50's, proves that you can be over 50 and have significantly less than 24% body fat. Looks pretty healthy to me.

    You can't tell if someone is healthy by looking at them. Nor does being outside the "healthy range" guarantee ill health anymore than being in it guarantees good health.

    I'm only talking about me. I strive to follow guidelines. I have no problem with anyone having different goals nor do I wish them ill for doing so. To each his (or her) own.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    bcattoes

    There is nothing wrong with improving yourself. However, obsessing (going to the extreme) over it could be another issue.

    With that said, I have to ask...what is it that you are not happy with? You say you are happy that you're fit and happy. Isn't that enough? I'd say embrace your womanly curves and run with it! Stop obsessing over an ideal. It's not realistic!

    BTW, this goes for all women! Women comes in all different shapes and sizes. Just be healthy and fit as you can be!

    I still really think you need to work on your self esteem and body image issues. There is nothing wrong with being pear shaped. As long your fat doesn't belong on your stomach and that you are healthy and fit. That's what should matter, not vanity. Stop obsessing with numbers! It's just a number!.

    Being 5'5" and under 147 lbs is not urealistic or unhealthy, nor will it cause me to lose my curves.

    Everyone that sets weight loss goals does not have some type of disorder or obsession. Sometimes we just want to be thinner.
  • kathymhardy
    kathymhardy Posts: 267 Member
    I think I weigh too much. I'm not overly worried about this since I am healthy, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be thinner.

    My stats - I am 52 yo, 5'5" tall, weight = 162 lbs, BF = 24%, waist = 30.5 in, hips = 39 in.


    We are about the same. I am 61 yo, 5'5" tall, weigh 135.5lbs, waist 30.5", hips 37.5". Don't know my current BF.

    I am happy with myself, having lost 19lbs, but aiming to lose a few pounds more so that I have 'some to spare'.
  • eileen0515
    eileen0515 Posts: 408 Member
    Aim for a healthy body fat composition. Older women with low body fat often suffer ill effects in the face. If we are talking vanity goals, don't forget your face. Who wants to be the women, that gets checked out from behind, then turns and sees "the look" when they see your face?

    Estrogen plumps up the skin in your face, when estrogen production stops at menopause your face will tell the story of too low body fat.

    If this is way off topic, so be it, the thread became to tedius to read to the end.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I've been searching online a bit more trying to find more info on amount of body fat vs bodt fat % (couldn't find any) but I found more charts and guidelines for older women and some say not to drop below 24%.

    This is a persoal question so feel free to ignore but I'm curious if you take hormone replacement therapy.

    What charts/guidelines?

    I didn't save the links, but I searched again and here are some I found:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/
    http://life.familyeducation.com/weight/health/35880.html
    http://fitz101.com/what-is-the-ideal-body-fat-percentage/

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/431906-what-is-the-optimal-body-fat-percentage-for-a-50-year-old-woman/
    (not a chart but says "The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that the optimal body fat percentage is between 21.6 percent and 25.6 percent for you as a 50 year old woman")

    From the first link at Built Lean:

    "You may have noticed as your age increases, your acceptable body fat within these ranges increases as well. Why you ask? In short, these charts are based on statistical assumptions. Older individuals tend to have a lower body density for the same skinfold measurements, which is assumed to indicate a higher body fat percentage. Older, athletic individuals, however, might not fit this assumption because their body density may be underestimated."

    A lot of assumptions there. And nowhere does it say that the "lean" category is unhealthy. For a 52 year old, the lean range is from 15.6 to about 25 on this chart.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Aim for a healthy body fat composition. Older women with low body fat often suffer ill effects in the face. If we are talking vanity goals, don't forget your face. Who wants to be the women, that gets checked out from behind, then turns and sees "the look" when they see your face?

    Estrogen plumps up the skin in your face, when estrogen production stops at menopause your face will tell the story of too low body fat.

    If this is way off topic, so be it, the thread became to tedius to read to the end.

    No, estrogen is the main reason it seems logical that older women would need more fat. Of course one could always take HRT but since I have a family history of breast cancer I'm tyring to avoid that.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I've been searching online a bit more trying to find more info on amount of body fat vs bodt fat % (couldn't find any) but I found more charts and guidelines for older women and some say not to drop below 24%.

    This is a persoal question so feel free to ignore but I'm curious if you take hormone replacement therapy.

    What charts/guidelines?

    I didn't save the links, but I searched again and here are some I found:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/
    http://life.familyeducation.com/weight/health/35880.html
    http://fitz101.com/what-is-the-ideal-body-fat-percentage/

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/431906-what-is-the-optimal-body-fat-percentage-for-a-50-year-old-woman/
    (not a chart but says "The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that the optimal body fat percentage is between 21.6 percent and 25.6 percent for you as a 50 year old woman")

    From the first link at Built Lean:

    "You may have noticed as your age increases, your acceptable body fat within these ranges increases as well. Why you ask? In short, these charts are based on statistical assumptions. Older individuals tend to have a lower body density for the same skinfold measurements, which is assumed to indicate a higher body fat percentage. Older, athletic individuals, however, might not fit this assumption because their body density may be underestimated."

    A lot of assumptions there. And nowhere does it say that the "lean" category is unhealthy. For a 52 year old, the lean range is from 15.6 to about 25 on this chart.

    Aren't all recommendations made on averages and assumptions? I never said anyone would be unhealthy. I'm ONLY talking about ME and my odds of continued health. I'm not a gambler. I like the odds in my favor. :ohwell:
  • hfox9707
    hfox9707 Posts: 74 Member
    bcattoes

    There is nothing wrong with improving yourself. However, obsessing (going to the extreme) over it could be another issue.

    With that said, I have to ask...what is it that you are not happy with? You say you are happy that you're fit and happy. Isn't that enough? I'd say embrace your womanly curves and run with it! Stop obsessing over an ideal. It's not realistic!

    BTW, this goes for all women! Women comes in all different shapes and sizes. Just be healthy and fit as you can be!

    I still really think you need to work on your self esteem and body image issues. There is nothing wrong with being pear shaped. As long your fat doesn't belong on your stomach and that you are healthy and fit. That's what should matter, not vanity. Stop obsessing with numbers! It's just a number!.

    Being 5'5" and under 147 lbs is not urealistic or unhealthy, nor will it cause me to lose my curves.

    Everyone that sets weight loss goals does not have some type of disorder or obsession. Sometimes we just want to be thinner.

    Well I ask you why you do you want to be thinner? You are lean aren't you? Are you saying that you're stocky or "bulky"? Do you want to be smaller? Without seeing a picture of you, all we can go by your stats. It's your opinion how you see yourself. Other's might not think that.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    bcattoes

    There is nothing wrong with improving yourself. However, obsessing (going to the extreme) over it could be another issue.

    With that said, I have to ask...what is it that you are not happy with? You say you are happy that you're fit and happy. Isn't that enough? I'd say embrace your womanly curves and run with it! Stop obsessing over an ideal. It's not realistic!

    BTW, this goes for all women! Women comes in all different shapes and sizes. Just be healthy and fit as you can be!

    I still really think you need to work on your self esteem and body image issues. There is nothing wrong with being pear shaped. As long your fat doesn't belong on your stomach and that you are healthy and fit. That's what should matter, not vanity. Stop obsessing with numbers! It's just a number!.

    Being 5'5" and under 147 lbs is not urealistic or unhealthy, nor will it cause me to lose my curves.

    Everyone that sets weight loss goals does not have some type of disorder or obsession. Sometimes we just want to be thinner.

    Well I ask you why you do you want to be thinner? You are lean aren't you? Are you saying that you're stocky or "bulky"? Do you want to be smaller? Without seeing a picture of you, all we can go by your stats. It's your opinion how you see yourself. Other's might not think that.

    I don't care what others think. I want to be thinner. If caring more what I think than what others think of me is a disorder, then yeah, I have one.

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