Low BMI, but still seeing fat... Help?
mrs_madison_keane
Posts: 45 Member
Hi there!
I have been working hard on my weight and living a healthful lifestyle for over a year now, and I have happily lost about 65 pounds (yay!). I am right at my goal weight (120 lbs), but I still see a bit of belly fat and a bit of fat around my hips. I just don't get it, because at 5'7'' I have a BMI of 18.5, which is technically "underweight." It's quite discouraging.
If I'm riding the line of being underweight, then why do I still see fat around my stomach...? Should I just continue to lose until my tummy flattens out a bit more...? I don't want to be too skinny, but I also want to look "just right" in my bikini on our vacation in May.
Thoughts...? Suggestions...? I really appreciate the help!
I have been working hard on my weight and living a healthful lifestyle for over a year now, and I have happily lost about 65 pounds (yay!). I am right at my goal weight (120 lbs), but I still see a bit of belly fat and a bit of fat around my hips. I just don't get it, because at 5'7'' I have a BMI of 18.5, which is technically "underweight." It's quite discouraging.
If I'm riding the line of being underweight, then why do I still see fat around my stomach...? Should I just continue to lose until my tummy flattens out a bit more...? I don't want to be too skinny, but I also want to look "just right" in my bikini on our vacation in May.
Thoughts...? Suggestions...? I really appreciate the help!
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Replies
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Are you strength training at all?0
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Google "skinny fat" You've done a great job with the weight loss. You probably want to do some resistance work to build a bit of muscle.0
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Yes, I am working out about 5 days a week (both cardio and strength training), but still not seeing much of a difference.... I could probably up my intensity for my strength training....? @Hornsby @Packerjohn0
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You can be at a low total weight and still have a relatively high body fat percentage. Given that you're on the bottom end of the BMI range, it's probably time to start focusing on recomposition rather than weight loss. It's likely that continuing to lose weight will eventually eliminate most of your subcutaneous fat, but it probably won't result in looking "just right" in a bikini.0
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mrs_madison_keane wrote: »Yes, I am working out about 5 days a week (both cardio and strength training), but still not seeing much of a difference.... I could probably up my intensity for my strength training....? @Hornsby @Packerjohn
What does your routine look like?0 -
@Hornsby - I am doing about 30 min on the treadmill (at a low incline) 4 days a week, then I've recently started doing Les Mills BodyPump classes 2 times a week, and HIIT Pilates classes 2 days a week. Aside from that, I try to do some of the simple weightlifting routines I see on Pinterest on days that I can't make a class work with my schedule.0
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My suggestion would be to find a strength training plan (Strong lifts, new rules of lifting) and do those for a while.
It doesn't sound like you are truly strength training. Get in the weight room and lift some heavy stuff 0 -
@Hornsby - Yikes!
Ok, I'll try it! I just don't want to look dumb since I'm not 100% sure that my form or whatever would be right... #gymtimidation
Wish me luck! lol0 -
mrs_madison_keane wrote: »@Hornsby - Yikes! Ok, I'll try it! I just don't want to look dumb since I'm not 100% sure that my form or whatever would be right... #gymtimidation
Wish me luck! lol
Depending on your gym, there should be a personal trainer around somewhere (that works there). Sign up for a session and have them show you proper technique and give you a workout plan.0 -
As others have said, you need to strength train.
I post this picture all the time because it's a great illustration. These are all the same woman. On the left, at her goal weight (as you can see, she still looks a little soft and squishy). On the right, after a body recomp program using heavy weights. Even though she's heavier on the right, she's smaller and her body looks better.
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@evileen99 - Thank you so much for that visual! It certainly helps to see that it's possible since I have been so discouraged lately.
Does anyone know how long it would be until I started seeing some results... I'm not talking like body builder abs, but just wondering if I even have a shot at making some noticeable progress before our vacation in May 0 -
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IMHO, you are focusing WAY too much on a little belly fat. your concentration should be on being happy with your weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.0
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@vczk2t15 - I appreciate your concern! The truth is, I am BEYOND happy with my weight loss and I am 100% in love with the body that I have worked so hard for over the past year. I've actually never felt so empowered and proud of myself! But I am always looking for ways to better myself and improve myself. So, my question about my bit of belly fat wasn't out of a place of vain obsession, but simply a question that needed an answer so that I can continue on this journey of healthful living.0
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mrs_madison_keane wrote: »@Hornsby - Yikes! Ok, I'll try it! I just don't want to look dumb since I'm not 100% sure that my form or whatever would be right... #gymtimidation
Wish me luck! lol
Depending on your gym, there should be a personal trainer around somewhere (that works there). Sign up for a session and have them show you proper technique and give you a workout plan.
Ya, sign up for a few sessions with a trainer and tell them you want to lift heavy.0 -
I agree with everyone, no need to lose more weight, lift heavy, and enjoy where you are at!
Remember, we all carry some fat, women especially, and given that you are at the edge of underweight whatever fat that is there is probably overall healthy for you! It's hard to get a "gestalt" of how we look, and focusing too much on specific parts can make you lose track of the big picture. I bet you already look great in a bikini. Overtime as you focus on lifting you'll probably be even more and more happy with how you look.0 -
Stronglifts is a good place to start. There are only 5 lifts in the workout, so it's not a whole lot to learn. I second that you should do a session with a personal trainer to learn proper form.0
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@mrs_madison_keane thank you for posting this thread. I felt as if I was reading my own thoughts and the inputs posted here have been really helpful to read.0
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There is no possibility that you are skinny fat with a BMI of 18.5. Women are supposed to carry some fat. It's healthy. I'd suggest that your image of yourself might be skewed. Even professional athletes carry some fat that is visible when they are relaxed. I'll bet your BF% is just fine.0
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If you've lost 65 lbs, there's also a possibility that some of what you're seeing is loose skin and will tighten up a bit over time. Strength training will of course help if you're looking to lower body fat percentage, but when you've lost a big chunk of weight like that things can look a little more wobbly than they might on someone who's only lost a few pounds or who's always maintained the same weight.0
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I did a lot of research on this very question. Though the science is still a bit sketchy, the conclusion I reached after reviewing numerous studies is that two considerations need to be addressed for optimal health and longevity: optimal BMI around 19 and body composition of 12%-17% fat. I also did a forensic review of the accuracy of every body composition method and found them useless, including the supposed gold standard: underwater weighing, except for three technologies that delivered results accurate to 3% to 5%. Those three technologies are: Bod Pod, DEXA and Cat Scan. I recommend you avoid superficial judgements that you are making and get your body composition measured by one or more of the above methods. If it falls within my recommended range then you are golden as far as health and longevity goes. So any changes you decide to make would by purely cosmetic and possibly counter productive. If you fall outside my recommended range on the high side then you should hire a fitness counselor to guide you through converting your excess fat to muscle while maintaining the same weight.0
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I did a lot of research on this very question. Though the science is still a bit sketchy, the conclusion I reached after reviewing numerous studies is that two considerations need to be addressed for optimal health and longevity: optimal BMI around 19 and body composition of 12%-17% fat. I also did a forensic review of the accuracy of every body composition method and found them useless, including the supposed gold standard: underwater weighing, except for three technologies that delivered results accurate to 3% to 5%. Those three technologies are: Bod Pod, DEXA and Cat Scan. I recommend you avoid superficial judgements that you are making and get your body composition measured by one or more of the above methods. If it falls within my recommended range then you are golden as far as health and longevity goes. So any changes you decide to make would by purely cosmetic and possibly counter productive. If you fall outside my recommended range on the high side then you should hire a fitness counselor to guide you through converting your excess fat to muscle while maintaining the same weight.
12-17% for women??? No!
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Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the help!
And @herbivorinator Add me! Sounds like we are on the same journey with our health
@Hornsby @engodwin @I_Will_End_You - I'm looking at Strong Lifts now and I think it might be just right for me! Thank you for the suggestion!0 -
I did a lot of research on this very question. Though the science is still a bit sketchy, the conclusion I reached after reviewing numerous studies is that two considerations need to be addressed for optimal health and longevity: optimal BMI around 19 and body composition of 12%-17% fat. I also did a forensic review of the accuracy of every body composition method and found them useless, including the supposed gold standard: underwater weighing, except for three technologies that delivered results accurate to 3% to 5%. Those three technologies are: Bod Pod, DEXA and Cat Scan. I recommend you avoid superficial judgements that you are making and get your body composition measured by one or more of the above methods. If it falls within my recommended range then you are golden as far as health and longevity goes. So any changes you decide to make would by purely cosmetic and possibly counter productive. If you fall outside my recommended range on the high side then you should hire a fitness counselor to guide you through converting your excess fat to muscle while maintaining the same weight.
That is total bunkum
Your conclusion of an optimal BMI is wrong ,,,there is an optimal BMI range for population based health factors (20-25) and acceptable (18.5-25) and for Asians (18.5 -23) ...
Height, frame, genetics, musculature, water weight determines your ideal scale weight as an individual
12-17% fat for who? Male or female? What age? 10-13% is essential body fat for women ...17% fat is quite a lot for men
You need to go back to your research and not spread this with a voice of authority ...it's patently wrong0 -
I did a lot of research on this very question. Though the science is still a bit sketchy, the conclusion I reached after reviewing numerous studies is that two considerations need to be addressed for optimal health and longevity: optimal BMI around 19 and body composition of 12%-17% fat. I also did a forensic review of the accuracy of every body composition method and found them useless, including the supposed gold standard: underwater weighing, except for three technologies that delivered results accurate to 3% to 5%. Those three technologies are: Bod Pod, DEXA and Cat Scan. I recommend you avoid superficial judgements that you are making and get your body composition measured by one or more of the above methods. If it falls within my recommended range then you are golden as far as health and longevity goes. So any changes you decide to make would by purely cosmetic and possibly counter productive. If you fall outside my recommended range on the high side then you should hire a fitness counselor to guide you through converting your excess fat to muscle while maintaining the same weight.
Besides the rest of the paragraph that is full of holes, excess fat is NEVER converted to muscle...0 -
I did a lot of research on this very question. Though the science is still a bit sketchy, the conclusion I reached after reviewing numerous studies is that two considerations need to be addressed for optimal health and longevity: optimal BMI around 19 and body composition of 12%-17% fat. I also did a forensic review of the accuracy of every body composition method and found them useless, including the supposed gold standard: underwater weighing, except for three technologies that delivered results accurate to 3% to 5%. Those three technologies are: Bod Pod, DEXA and Cat Scan. I recommend you avoid superficial judgements that you are making and get your body composition measured by one or more of the above methods. If it falls within my recommended range then you are golden as far as health and longevity goes. So any changes you decide to make would by purely cosmetic and possibly counter productive. If you fall outside my recommended range on the high side then you should hire a fitness counselor to guide you through converting your excess fat to muscle while maintaining the same weight.
That is total bunkum
Your conclusion of an optimal BMI is wrong ,,,there is an optimal BMI range for population based health factors (20-25) and acceptable (18.5-25) and for Asians (18.5 -23) ...
Height, frame, genetics, musculature, water weight determines your ideal scale weight as an individual
12-17% fat for who? Male or female? What age? 10-13% is essential body fat for women ...17% fat is quite a lot for men
You need to go back to your research and not spread this with a voice of authority ...it's patently wrong
Girls can be ripped but I can't
because 12-17%. I'm sad now.
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I did a lot of research on this very question. Though the science is still a bit sketchy, the conclusion I reached after reviewing numerous studies is that two considerations need to be addressed for optimal health and longevity: optimal BMI around 19 and body composition of 12%-17% fat. I also did a forensic review of the accuracy of every body composition method and found them useless, including the supposed gold standard: underwater weighing, except for three technologies that delivered results accurate to 3% to 5%. Those three technologies are: Bod Pod, DEXA and Cat Scan. I recommend you avoid superficial judgements that you are making and get your body composition measured by one or more of the above methods. If it falls within my recommended range then you are golden as far as health and longevity goes. So any changes you decide to make would by purely cosmetic and possibly counter productive. If you fall outside my recommended range on the high side then you should hire a fitness counselor to guide you through converting your excess fat to muscle while maintaining the same weight.
That is total bunkum
Your conclusion of an optimal BMI is wrong ,,,there is an optimal BMI range for population based health factors (20-25) and acceptable (18.5-25) and for Asians (18.5 -23) ...
Height, frame, genetics, musculature, water weight determines your ideal scale weight as an individual
12-17% fat for who? Male or female? What age? 10-13% is essential body fat for women ...17% fat is quite a lot for men
You need to go back to your research and not spread this with a voice of authority ...it's patently wrong
Girls can be ripped but I can't because 12-17%. I'm sad now.
Yes Hornsby you need to put on a layer of fat to be more optimal :bigsmile:
#dontyoudare
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mrs_madison_keane wrote: »And @herbivorinator Add me! Sounds like we are on the same journey with our health
Yeah, I've shuffle between 18.5-19ish on BMI on any given day. But I do not have the stomach that I'd love - some squish sits on top. No boobs or butt though cause apparently I store what little squish I have like a guy - curses! Not saying I'm fat or need to lose weight by any means. But I'm sure some muscle would serve me well in terms of health and self esteem.
Thanks for all the advice and input on this guys. It's been a useful read.0
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