So confused about body fat %

derbygirl_11
derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, apparently I have 27.5% body fat on me, which is supposedly in the "healthy" range from multiple sources I've read/heard from. If that's wrong, please correct me.

My problem is, I guess I'm thin everywhere, but around my middle, which is probably the reason I have 27.5% body fat - my fat is literally only distributed there. I need to lose weight there because everyone knows the nasty things that happen to people with fat middles, but I'm afraid of dancing in the dangerously low category for body fat.

I'm 6'0" and weigh 196 pounds, but was looking to weigh around 160. Supposedly if I get down to that weight, I'll have 11% body fat, which is terrible. Don't you think?

I'm just so confused.

I guess my body is just really messed up because none of this is making sense to me.

Advice?

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    How did you decide on 160 lbs and why do you assume you would only be 11% BF at that weight? My daughter is 5'11", weighs about 165 and is 22% BF.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Okay, apparently I have 27.5% body fat on me, which is supposedly in the "healthy" range from multiple sources I've read/heard from. If that's wrong, please correct me.

    My problem is, I guess I'm thin everywhere, but around my middle, which is probably the reason I have 27.5% body fat - my fat is literally only distributed there. I need to lose weight there because everyone knows the nasty things that happen to people with fat middles, but I'm afraid of dancing in the dangerously low category for body fat.

    I'm 6'0" and weigh 196 pounds, but was looking to weigh around 160. Supposedly if I get down to that weight, I'll have 11% body fat, which is terrible. Don't you think?

    I'm just so confused.

    I guess my body is just really messed up because none of this is making sense to me.

    Advice?

    That would probably be if you maintained your LBM, which you probably wouldn't.
  • derbygirl_11
    derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
    How did you decide on 160 lbs and why do you assume you would only be 11% BF at that weight? My daughter is 5'11", weighs about 165 and is 22% BF.

    I decided 160 because it falls right in the middle of 144-176, which are the ideal weights for me (have heard this from doctors, journals, websites, charts, etc.) I figure at 144 I'd probably look like a skeleton, but at 176 I'd definitely look heavier because I've been that weight before. Around 160, maybe even 155 seems like the right weight for me.

    I'm just concerned about the body fat.

    I know for a fact I'm 27.5% body fat right now because I was measured by a doctor not too long ago. I even double checked with my measurements on fat2fitratio.com and it matches.

    I then went to: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

    Plugged in my current weight, current body fat percentage, and originally my goal fat percentage was set at 21%. I figured that was a reasonable goal. However that would put me at 180 pounds (plug it in for yourself to see). That's positively too heavy for my body frame!!

    I kept plugging in lower numbers and by the time I got to 160 pounds, I was at 11.5% goal body fat.

    That doesn't seem healthy?

    I hope I'm making sense.
  • freelancejouster
    freelancejouster Posts: 478 Member
    In your scenario I would worry less about losing weight (maybe only 10-15 pounds) and more about making the weight you have work for you. Eat at maintenance or just barely below and work out often including heavy lifting to get rid of your middle.
  • derbygirl_11
    derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
    In your scenario I would worry less about losing weight (maybe only 10-15 pounds) and more about making the weight you have work for you. Eat at maintenance or just barely below and work out often including heavy lifting to get rid of your middle.

    Thank you for your advice! I guess toning would probably work a lot better for me than focusing on completely losing the weight huh?
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    In your scenario I would worry less about losing weight (maybe only 10-15 pounds) and more about making the weight you have work for you. Eat at maintenance or just barely below and work out often including heavy lifting to get rid of your middle.

    Thank you for your advice! I guess toning would probably work a lot better for me than focusing on completely losing the weight huh?

    Well, you can't spot reduce. You can do as many sit ups as you want, and you won't lose fat specifically from your middle. However, building muscle is a great way to boost your metabolism since lean body mass burns more calories at rest than fat mass. Definitely an important part of a weight loss routine!
  • DopeyDudleyDursley
    DopeyDudleyDursley Posts: 155
    Okay assume you are 28% just to make it easier.
    At 196 pounds that means you have 141 pounds of Lean Body Mass and 55 pounds of "fat."
    Assume for every pound you lose about 70% of this loss is fat. If you were to lose 36 pounds and become 160 pounds, that means of the weight you lost 25 pounds would be fat.
    That would bring you to 30 pounds of fat on a 160 frame. 30/160= 19%, which is quite slender (not too unhealthy).
    These are estimates, as I know more about fat percentages for males as well that is what I am haha.
  • derbygirl_11
    derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
    Okay assume you are 28% just to make it easier.
    At 196 pounds that means you have 141 pounds of Lean Body Mass and 55 pounds of "fat."
    Assume for every pound you lose about 70% of this loss is fat. If you were to lose 36 pounds and become 160 pounds, that means of the weight you lost 25 pounds would be fat.
    That would bring you to 30 pounds of fat on a 160 frame. 30/160= 19%, which is quite slender (not too unhealthy).
    These are estimates, as I know more about fat percentages for males as well that is what I am haha.

    This makes a lot more sense, thank you!

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