Body Fat Percentage

ehedges31
ehedges31 Posts: 72
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I just calculated my body fat percentage and have started making some goals! :) As typical, my goals in my head were unrealistic and actually dangerous, so I have new more achievable goals. If anyone else is interested here is the website i used, just fill in your measurements hit 'calculate' and then click on the body fat chart to figure out where you're at and where you should be:

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator


Current: 131 lbs - 25% Body Fat (6/27/11)
Goal: 123 lbs - 18% Body Fat
I dropped the 15% body fat goal because of it being too low for a woman. thanks everyone for all the advice!!


I usually run for 30-45 minutes, 5-7 times a week, I have been this whole time and I've just lost/gained the same two pounds over and over. I know I need to just suck it up and eat better (I know that's my problem). I was wondering what my time frame should be to get to these goals. I want to be realistic. I was thinking by August 27th to lose the first 8 pounds?

Replies

  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I'm not so sure I'd go by that calculator. It doesn't include your height. Someone with my weight and measurements at 5'0, 5'6 and 6' tall would surely have different fat percentages, wouldn't they?
  • Sublog
    Sublog Posts: 1,296 Member
    15% body fat for a woman is extremely lean. Are you trying to be a fitness model? If not, I'd shoot for high teens instead. Women can achieve 6 pack with high teens.
  • McBody
    McBody Posts: 1,703 Member
    Yeah that calculator doesn't include height so you're getting a skewed answer. It calculated me at over 25% for BMI and I am actually in the 15-18% range.
  • NuttyBrewnette
    NuttyBrewnette Posts: 417 Member
    bump
  • McBody
    McBody Posts: 1,703 Member
    You should also mix up your routine. Just doing cardio won't get you the result you're looking for, try incorporating plyometrics and weight training as well.
  • bunchesonothing
    bunchesonothing Posts: 1,015 Member
    I couldn't tell you a time frame, but please be careful about 15%. It's getting pretty low.
  • Angel1029
    Angel1029 Posts: 459
    I wouldn't rely on online calculators at all they are totally inaccurate, at least they were for me every single time.
    Why don't you see if you can go to a gym and have one of the trainers use the calipers?
  • ehedges31
    ehedges31 Posts: 72
    Thanks everyone! and No, I am not trying to be a fitness model, and Yes the height plays into there for sure, but I think the BMI charts I've read say I should be around 120 lbs.... So my goal of 18% is healthier and try to stay around the 123 lbs?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I just calculated my body fat percentage and have started making some goals! :) As typical, my goals in my head were unrealistic and actually dangerous, so I have new more achievable goals. If anyone else is interested here is the website i used, just fill in your measurements hit 'calculate' and then click on the body fat chart to figure out where you're at and where you should be:

    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator


    Current: 131 lbs - 25% Body Fat (6/27/11)
    Goal 1: 123 lbs - 18% Body Fat
    Goal 2: 120 lbs - 15% Body Fat

    I usually run for 30-45 minutes, 5-7 times a week, I have been this whole time and I've just lost/gained the same two pounds over and over. I know I need to just suck it up and eat better (I know that's my problem). I was wondering what my time frame should be to get to these goals. I want to be realistic. I was thinking by August 27th to lose the first 8 pounds?

    Just an FYI, your goals may not be realistic for one reason, you have yourself losing 11 pounds in total but gaining 4 lbs of muscle. What I want to point out is that it is next to impossible on a caloric deficit diet to put on muscle, most likely you will lose 2-3 pounds of muscle in that 11 pounds and if you do that you would have a body fat % of 20% at 120lbs if you lose 2 lbs of muscle, At best you will lose no muscle and be at 18% BF, at which point you can eat a caloric surplus and try to put more muscle on.

    If you don't do any strength training you will probably lose more than 2-3 lbs of muscle in the 11lb loss. With so little left to lose you should set your goal at 0.5lbs/week to ensure minimal muscle loss and make sure you eat back your exercise calories.
  • campi_mama
    campi_mama Posts: 350 Member
    As a few others have said, 15% is low. I would shoot for 18-20% if I were you. Remember, your body needs some fat to function properly....
  • flimflamfloz
    flimflamfloz Posts: 1,980 Member
    As others have said, 15% is low for a woman.

    Apart from that, you can lose about 0.5% body fat per week if I remember correctly. However, you need to be quite good if you want to achieve that, especially as you start reaching the lower end of the scale (going from 35 to 30 is easy but 16 to 15 can be a nightmare).
    As for the weight loss, I think MFP can help you lose up to 2 pounds/week? Once again, you will have to stick to your program to the letter to achieve that.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    As others have said, 15% is low for a woman.

    Apart from that, you can lose about 0.5% body fat per week if I remember correctly. However, you need to be quite good if you want to achieve that, especially as you start reaching the lower end of the scale (going from 35 to 30 is easy but 16 to 15 can be a nightmare).
    As for the weight loss, I think MFP can help you lose up to 2 pounds/week? Once again, you will have to stick to your program to the letter to achieve that.

    2lbs is only a good number if you have 75+ lbs to lose, the closer you are to your goal the smaller your aim should be 0.5lbs/week would be ideal for your current stats and goals.
  • ehedges31
    ehedges31 Posts: 72
    As others have said, 15% is low for a woman.

    Apart from that, you can lose about 0.5% body fat per week if I remember correctly. However, you need to be quite good if you want to achieve that, especially as you start reaching the lower end of the scale (going from 35 to 30 is easy but 16 to 15 can be a nightmare).
    As for the weight loss, I think MFP can help you lose up to 2 pounds/week? Once again, you will have to stick to your program to the letter to achieve that.

    2lbs is only a good number if you have 75+ lbs to lose, the closer you are to your goal the smaller your aim should be 0.5lbs/week would be ideal for your current stats and goals.

    Thanks so much!! :)
  • bgelliott
    bgelliott Posts: 610 Member
    You can lose up to 8lbs in 4 weeks (in a healthy way) if you mornitor your burn vs intake of calories and put yourself at a 1,000 cal deficit per day. Your body fat will generally drop with that weight loss as well but not to the point where you would like it to be. In order to drop it more, you need to eat clean, lift weights and continue your cardio. Timeframe is tough to tell because everyone gains lean muscle mass differently but the more muscle you gain with resistance training, the more fat you burn.

    15% body fat for a woman is nice and lean and looks amazing but can sometimes be a challenge to achieve. 18% is much more realistic and will still give you a nice lean look. I am 5'1, 122lbs and 18% body fat and I am lean enough that I have a very defined six pack and good muscle definition as well as good vascularity. My goal is 16% body fat and so far I can't seem to budge below 18% :-/

    Hope this helps...good luck!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories