Body fat percentage going down but weight staying the same

rosha267
rosha267 Posts: 16 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have a scale that measures my weight and my body fat percentage. I never truly trusted the bf portion because it would always go up and down with my weight but I've started weight training a few months ago and I've noticed the body fat percentage is going down but my weight is staying the same. My legs are getting a little bit bigger so I think I really am gaining some muscle. Does this mean I can trust the number on my scale?

Replies

  • DalekBrittany
    DalekBrittany Posts: 1,748 Member
    Short answer, no. But, a lot of peoples' bf% goes down and their weight either goes up or stays the same. Yes, it is because you are building muscle. So well done :)
  • Vonwarr
    Vonwarr Posts: 390 Member
    Those scales are terribly inaccurate so don't trust the actual number (mine says I have 33% BF)... but if the overall trend is downwards, then it's a good thing! If you want to measure body fat, I recommend calipers as a cheap and generally more accurate method

    I lost 4% BF without losing a lb. It is doable.

    Keep up the great work!
  • MsMarlaJean
    MsMarlaJean Posts: 1,741 Member
    Good question! I don't have a scale, but I have access to an OMRON body fat analyzer and I wonder how accurate those are too.
  • potluck965
    potluck965 Posts: 529 Member
    Good question! I don't have a scale, but I have access to an OMRON body fat analyzer and I wonder how accurate those are too.

    The actual number cannot be trusted, but the trend can be.
  • rosha267
    rosha267 Posts: 16 Member
    So if for example I started at a percentage of 20 and it is now at 18.7 does that mean I can say my body fat percentage went down 1.3 percent?
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    bump....

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