Realistic time scale

clairec230787
clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
I went to my gym today for the first time in a while. Been lacking motivation but I'm back in the game....
I spoke to my instructor who gave me some advice. But I was looking for someone's personal experience who may help.
I currently weigh 132lbs, 157cm and the body fat % is 27.8.
I am hoping to reduce body fat and focus on that rather than loose'weight'. My instructor gave me some great advice but what I'd like to know is how long do you think it will take to loose 10% of my body fat. I don't want an unrealistic goal. I aim to go to the gym at least 3 times a week to follow routine provided by fitness instructor and I will continue to eat at a deficit albeit a gradual reduced deficit, until I am at 1500 calories (instead if the current 1200).
Am I looking a long time?
If I upped my gym expectation I just wouldn't fit it in.

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?
  • snowflakesav
    snowflakesav Posts: 649 Member
    Are you looking to reduce your body fat to 17% or are looking to reduce your body fat to 25%?

    You won't get to 17% body fat on 3 workouts a week without reducing your weight significantly or training like an athlete for a year or more. Nobody here should be telling you that isn't going to take a long and vigorous commitment to the gym to get to 17% body fat. It is a big commitment.

    Reducing your body fat to 25% with moderate exercise and calorie restriction is very obtainable for you and you will probably see results in 45 to 90 days.
  • clairec230787
    clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?

    Exactly that. Yes.
  • clairec230787
    clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
    snowflakesav wrote: »
    Are you looking to reduce your body fat to 17% or are looking to reduce your body fat to 25%?

    You won't get to 17% body fat on 3 workouts a week without reducing your weight significantly or training like an athlete for a year or more. Nobody here should be telling you that isn't going to take a long and vigorous commitment to the gym to get to 17% body fat. It is a big commitment.

    Reducing your body fat to 25% with moderate exercise and calorie restriction is very obtainable for you and you will probably see results in 45 to 90 days.

    So, the only way I would achieve would be to hit the gym hard, almost everyday? I do intend to drop another stone or so but want to focus on what I look like not what the scale says?!?
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    edited December 2015
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?

    Exactly that. Yes.

    That is elite athlete level for a woman. Like said above, this will be a major commitment in probably time and effort.

    Suggestion: if you're coming back from a bout of lacking motivation, it might be worthwhile to set a more realistic goal. If you aren't happy with the results, you can always reassess once you reach it. But I would worry I was going to burn myself out if I began working out with the initial goal of looking like an elite athlete.
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,401 Member
    That is a fairly low body fat for women, but obviously can be done. I really have no idea on time schedule, but there probably are a few here on MFP that have done it. I would guess longer than usual for conventional loss goals, as it would likely involve a diet that evolves with the strength training results.
  • clairec230787
    clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?

    Exactly that. Yes.

    That is elite athlete level for a woman. Like said above, this will be a major commitment in probably time and effort.

    Suggestion: if you're coming back from a bout of lacking motivation, it might be worthwhile to set a more realistic goal. If you aren't happy with the results, you can always reassess once you reach it. But I would worry I was going to burn myself out if I began working out with the initial goal of looking like an elite athlete.

    Thank you for this. Basically I was basing my goal on pictures of stomachs that I would like. I ideally want a flat, toned stomach with no wobbly bits. Would I achieve this at a higher body fat %??
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    forget about the time...just focus on the process and put one foot in front of the other and go. what you are shooting for is "athlete" level for a woman...it's going to take a lot of time...but really, time is irrelevant since if/when you get there, you then have to maintain that and it will require the same level of effort and commitment. just get going and put one foot in front of the other and try to be the best you that you can be every day...forget about time...it's just an illusion.
  • clairec230787
    clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
    edited December 2015
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    forget about the time...just focus on the process and put one foot in front of the other and go. what you are shooting for is "athlete" level for a woman...it's going to take a lot of time...but really, time is irrelevant since if/when you get there, you then have to maintain that and it will require the same level of effort and commitment. just get going and put one foot in front of the other and try to be the best you that you can be every day...forget about time...it's just an illusion.

    Thanks for this!!! I struggle with patience sometimes. Need a good shaking at times.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?

    Exactly that. Yes.

    That is elite athlete level for a woman. Like said above, this will be a major commitment in probably time and effort.

    Suggestion: if you're coming back from a bout of lacking motivation, it might be worthwhile to set a more realistic goal. If you aren't happy with the results, you can always reassess once you reach it. But I would worry I was going to burn myself out if I began working out with the initial goal of looking like an elite athlete.

    Thank you for this. Basically I was basing my goal on pictures of stomachs that I would like. I ideally want a flat, toned stomach with no wobbly bits. Would I achieve this at a higher body fat %??

    I have no idea what my body fat is, but my *guess* -- based on self-analysis and asking two people to compare me to pictures online -- is about 21%. I am very happy with my stomach.

    And the best part is -- if you get to that point and you don't like it, you can always continue.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?

    Exactly that. Yes.

    That is elite athlete level for a woman. Like said above, this will be a major commitment in probably time and effort.

    Suggestion: if you're coming back from a bout of lacking motivation, it might be worthwhile to set a more realistic goal. If you aren't happy with the results, you can always reassess once you reach it. But I would worry I was going to burn myself out if I began working out with the initial goal of looking like an elite athlete.

    Thank you for this. Basically I was basing my goal on pictures of stomachs that I would like. I ideally want a flat, toned stomach with no wobbly bits. Would I achieve this at a higher body fat %??

    That's going to depend on genetics and where you tend to hold fat. However, here is a thread that you should definitely read for advice: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    forget about the time...just focus on the process and put one foot in front of the other and go. what you are shooting for is "athlete" level for a woman...it's going to take a lot of time...but really, time is irrelevant since if/when you get there, you then have to maintain that and it will require the same level of effort and commitment. just get going and put one foot in front of the other and try to be the best you that you can be every day...forget about time...it's just an illusion.

    Very true. Even my friends who do fitness shows have a hard time maintaining "peak" condition. And most of them are miserable while getting there. There are a few who happily live their lives like this year round but they are so regimented that most people would find it hard to maintain
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    I think you have a good plan of action. 3 days a week is plenty if you are maintaining your calorie deficit and getting adequate protein. What type of fitness instructor is this?

    Is this more of an aerobics class, cardio class, strength training?
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Diet - Diet - Diet - That's where 80% of your results will come from. Think Low-carb or even Ketogenic.
  • clairec230787
    clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
    ryry62685 wrote: »
    I think you have a good plan of action. 3 days a week is plenty if you are maintaining your calorie deficit and getting adequate protein. What type of fitness instructor is this?

    Is this more of an aerobics class, cardio class, strength training?

    I go to a gym where the fitness instructors are your personal trainer wherever you need them.
    I do cardio (treadmill, cross trainer and rowing machine) alongside strength training (big muscles like leg press etc). This will be 2/3 times a week. Then I will do Zumba once a week and Les Mills Pump class once a week.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    You should strength program like stronglifts 5x5 or any that incorporate progressive overload.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    clairec230787 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?

    Exactly that. Yes.

    Now you understand that BF% for women is totally different than that for men

    to start with our essential body fat is 10-13%

    17.8% is underfat - I mean it's possibly but it could be, dependent on body frame and musculature, sinew style competing for women

    Maybe you should read up on body fat % and readjust your goals
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    age-adjusted-body-fat-percentage.png

    body_fat_percentage-2.jpg

    body-fat-percentage-chart-women.gif
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Although the classifications regarding obesity are not as clear as those charts would indicate - from what I've been told - the lower ends are revelatory for women's goals
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Do you mean you want your body fat to be 17.8%?
    Great question. So if your goal is 17-18% and you are eating 1500 calories I'd say, and I'm dart throwing here, more then 3 years, maybe 4. At 132 pounds it may be more realistic, as others have said, to drop the time goal. Find what you enjoy doing, add some progressive lifting, maybe re-comping, and continue forward. You may find at 132 pounds you can lift more, eat a lot more, and gain of sense of the goal versus your look. Best of luck.
  • clairec230787
    clairec230787 Posts: 52 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    age-adjusted-body-fat-percentage.png

    body_fat_percentage-2.jpg

    body-fat-percentage-chart-women.gif

    So at 28 years of age, 22% -25% would be a better goal. In which case, if only loose min 3% body fat, which isn't a massive amount. Considering I've already lost 3% in 4 months. Will this make a big difference to how I look (more like perceive myself)?
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