Losing muscle weight/mass to get to goal weight?

CreativeWriterInSpace
CreativeWriterInSpace Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay. So... I don't know if I'm going about this correctly, and it got me confused.

I did a body fat percentage test using a handheld Body Fat Analyzer (one of these) back in September when I weighed 280lbs. I had a body fat percentage of 44% at the time. I haven't done a test since, so I don't know if it's changed and/or how it's changed.

My goal weight is 160. I'm 5'6 and 160 is a healthy weight for my height in my books. My goal BFP is between 25% and 30%, so I've been using 27% as my goal. I figured out that in order to get down to 160 with 27% BF, I would have to (overall) lose about 40lbs of muscle along with about 92lbs of fat, for a total loss of 132lbs.

What's confusing me is the fact that I should, technically, be concerned about keeping as much muscle mass as possible. But to do that would mean that I would end up weighing 215lbs, with my BFP at 27%... which... is not going to happen. I just can't see myself looking good at that weight, even with 73% of it being lean muscle.

I'm just really confused about it all, and trying to figure out what I should be looking at more. Losing fat and keeping all my muscle and stopping at 215lbs... or getting to my goal of 160lbs and losing 40lbs of muscle along the way?

Ow. My head hurts now.

Replies

  • Pinkgingham_19
    Pinkgingham_19 Posts: 28 Member
    First, your body is composed of more than just fat and muscle. You are forgetting to account for water, blood, bones, organs etc. If your body fat number is in fact 44% (handheld body fat monitors are notoriously inaccurate), then you have a LBM of about 156 lbs, but that includes everything that is not fat.

    Also, it is impossible to diet to ONLY lose fat. You will lose LBM along with the fat, it's just a fact of life. You are overthinking things- this will work itself out, just keep eating at a deficit and lifting weights.

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