But I wanna weigh 140!! Lean Body Mass and Goal Weight?

jesshasredhair
jesshasredhair Posts: 46 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a 170-lb female triathlete. I'm 5'5" tall. I just got a hydrostatic body fat test yesterday, was found to be 28% BF.

My Lean Body mass is 122 lbs, which apparently is a lot of LBM for a chick my size. I"m a muscular ***** :)

I was told that if I dropped to 22% bodyfat ("good), while maintaining LBM, that would put me at 157 lbs. This SHOCKED me.

I had set my goal weight to 140. This has always been the number of my dreams.

But now that I know my Lean Body Mass, I'm pretty sure that to weigh 140, that I would be at 13% bodyfat (assuming I keep my 122LBM). That obviously is ridiculous. I don't think I have any desire or COULD be 13% bf.

But I think that my calculations are correct. I'm not sure how I feel about my goal weight and healthy body fat still being categorized as "overweight" in BMI.

Feedback?

Replies

  • janemartin02
    janemartin02 Posts: 2,653 Member
    I know i`m at my goal wt at 175.BMI for normal wt would be 160.I was at that wt when I was a teenager and was thin then.
    I`ve lost 125 lbs and feel good at this wt.Does the lean body mass base on age,body structure etc.?
    Just thought i`d respond.
    Have a good one
    jane
  • LauRoxx
    LauRoxx Posts: 115 Member
    I'm sure once you started getting smaller that you'd lose a little bit of your LBM too. Once you got to 140 I don't think you'd be as such a low BF% because of this.
  • mallory3411
    mallory3411 Posts: 839 Member
    I wouldn't judge a healthy weight based on BMI. It's a flawed calculation. It doesn't account for the difference between muscle weight and fat weight.
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 962 Member
    I wouldn't judge a healthy weight based on BMI. It's a flawed calculation. It doesn't account for the difference between muscle weight and fat weight.


    ^^^ this.


    I have a guy friend who is tall, muscular and a beanpole... BMI considers him obese. It's not the be-all and end-all of health calculations.
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    this is staci. on the left she is 131lbs. on the right she is 142lbs. http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    Screen-Shot-2011-07-21-at-92311-AM.jpg
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    I'm sure once you started getting smaller that you'd lose a little bit of your LBM too. Once you got to 140 I don't think you'd be as such a low BF% because of this.


    This. With an calorie deficit you'll lose a bit of LBM. Hydrostatic weighing can be really accurate if it's done perfectly, but it's quite difficult to empty your lungs totally so there is a 1-3% error using this technique. So you could be anywhere from 25%-31% body fat and may find that you lose more than you expect to reach a given body fat.
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I'm firmly in the "focus on your body fat and lean muscle mass" camp. Although I'm only 9 pounds under the top of my "normal" BMI (I'm 5'10" and weigh 165 lbs) I have a lot of lean body mass and only about 22% body fat.
    Since you're already an amazing athlete (totally in awe of triathletes and marathon runners and... well... athletes in general), your results will probably be pretty similar.
    Yes, your lean body mass WILL go down a little on a caloric deficit, but by eating quality nutrients, not making the deficit too big, and continuing to work on improving your strength and endurance, you can minimize that. So you'll probably weigh less than 157 when you reach your goal body fat %, but you'll probably be more than 140 pounds still, and that's okay.
    You'll be strong and healthy no matter what the scale says.


    Plus, did you SEE that chick in engineman's post? Seriously - you should definitely read that story. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    I can help you with the numbers part.
    PM me.

    As for making sure you stay within your given macronutrients and above/below TDEE is up to you.

    PM me for more info.

    I'll need:

    Age
    Height
    Weight
    BF%
    Waist measurement
    How often you work out

    I'll get you numbers by the morning

    =D
  • cjohns82
    cjohns82 Posts: 3 Member
    I hear you. I had a goal of 130 lbs at 5'9" until I found out via a body composition analysis that at 145 lbs I am 123 lbs of LBM and 16.5 percent BF. Obviously my goal weight of 130 lbs is basically impossible at my current LBM. Just goes to show that there is more going on than the number on the scale. My clothes fit almost the same as when I was 137 lbs.

    Try not to pin too much emphasis on the number on the scale, it can be very misleading about the true health and fitness of our bodies. Especially for muscular *****es like us ;)
  • Momto4minions
    Momto4minions Posts: 173 Member
    The scale is great to get us in the right area and direction, but doesnt tell us everything. BMI is a suggestion for appropriate weight. Finding your LBM is YOU SPECIFIC!
    It is like saying you need glasses, here is a pair that works for many people. Hey, these dont work for me. Hmmm,this chart says they should....in comes someone to test. Oh, now I understand, I need something a little different. I need my own guidelines for glasses.

    If this was your vision,and not a scale number, would you used faulty glasses for you? Even if they are supposed to be right and are right for a lot of others? NO,you would find your best pair and be happy.
    I know,totally cheesy analogy, but...


    Find your best you and be happy!
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    I have a higher LBM than average for my height, too. It definitely makes a difference, and yes you will weigh more unless you do want to get to those really teeny BF numbers (I don't either).

    But it's fine to weigh more. If your LBM means that your BMI is technically overweight, don't worry about it.

    I go by the mirror to the greatest extent. I have definition (not shredded) everywhere except a few little spots, yet when I see some ladies who are my height and weight I understand why it's considered just barely under the 'overweight' line because it's clearly a tad pudgy :) It totally depends on your actual body composition, and if you are not average you just aren't average.

    I also go by 'pinch an inch' sort of philosophy (not an inch, though). If I have a fair amount of fat on my waist (for instance), I can feel it, you know? My muscles are all firm now, so it's easy to tell the difference between fat and muscle if you flex while checking. I guess I'm old school: mirror and try to grab a handful :D

    BTW, my measurements don't help me a whole lot. I have fairly large measurements for a girl my height. Your testing of actual BF% should help you understand that your actual muscles may be pretty big, too. The only way to get thinner than the muscle's measurement is to lose muscle (eating too little will do it). I don't like that for me, but it's up to the individual I guess.
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