Can this be right??

happyfit11
happyfit11 Posts: 11
in Health and Weight Loss
I had my body fat percentage tested through a program at my college. I got my resting heart rate, height, weight, measurements and body fat measured (through Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis).
When I got my results I was shocked to read that my BF% is 31%! I'm 5'4", around 128-130 lbs. I know I need to lose some weight, but that body fat is nearing obese! Does that sound normal? The procedure was conducted by a fellow student. . so there could be a possibility of an error -I consider myself somewhat athletic..I exercise 4 to 6 days a week and incorporate strength trainining. I used to dance intensively 5 days a week in high school . . but maybe I'm just way more "skinny fat" and have a lot more work to do than I thought :/

Replies

  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    Entirely possible. Just because you weight 'less' does not automatically decrease your body fat% skinny-fat.jpg
  • beattie1
    beattie1 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Biometrical Impedence is extremely unreliable - so much so as to be worthless in my electronic engineer husband's opinion. I would ignore it - can you pinch more than an inch of flesh just above your waist? If not you're not overweight. That measurement is more accurate than BIA
  • happyfit11
    happyfit11 Posts: 11
    aah. that photo looks scary-accurate. damn. i got work to do.

    thanks for your responses!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    aah. that photo looks scary-accurate. damn. i got work to do.

    thanks for your responses!

    Be wise about what the work is.

    If you think it's eat less and do more cardio, that will just make it worse!

    And indeed, BIA doesn't matter much for the one applying it, not much to screw up. But how you go in makes a huge difference.
    Cardio yesterday slightly dehydrated, false reading.
    Lifting and sore and retaining water, false reading.
    Sodium for breakfast and evening reading, false reading.
  • now_or_never12
    now_or_never12 Posts: 849 Member
    It can be right! You can be at a lower weight but have a high body fat due to more fat on the body than muscle. At the same time you can weight 20 lbs more than you do now but have a lower body fat due to higher muscle mass. Since you are lower in weight best thing would be to eat at a very small deficit or eat at maintaince and do heavy lifting to gain muscle. That will slowly reduce your body fat.
  • dietstokes
    dietstokes Posts: 216 Member
    Koldriana, where did you find that picture? Thanks!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    It's completely plausible and not uncommon for those who have aggressive weight loss goals (high calorie deficits). It is not uncommon to lose body muscle and fat during weight loss, but those who have higher calorie deficits increase the chances of losing more muscle.

    To correct this, you want to eat around 20% less than your estimated TDEE and do a lot of heavy weight training. If you want to do cardio, then make it HIIT.
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    Koldriana, where did you find that picture? Thanks!

    I Googled "people who are skinny fat" and looked at the images. Not sure which site but I've seen it posted here before.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat

    BTW, here is a good thread that shows the difference between skinny fat and fit.

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