urgent topic -- body fat 12,3 % but it doesn't look like it

So you have any photos of yourself?

Lfirecracker wrote: »

I always thought it was around 19% but that was my body mass percentage and I didn't realize till last week. I always used the pharmacy scale or at the gym and they told me my body fat was low but I didn't get it at that moment. I saw 12 % is low, the minimum for women.

Scales that measure body fat are very inaccurate. Is that how your trainer measure it?

Likely NOT 12%. The most fit athletes in the world MAY get close to that and even female bodybuilders on PED's may get close to that, but the average person (unless they have a possible ED) likely are not.


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

If your bf% is really 12 it would be long gone. You would have lost it at a higher bf%. I wouldn't trust a digital scale.

@ninerbuff can help you more but I believe DEXA and bod pod are the closest you can get but are $$$

singingflutelady wrote: »

@ninerbuff can help you more but I believe DEXA and bod pod are the closest you can get but are $$$

Bodpod is generally considered the least accurate method, when compared w/DXA scans and hydrostatic testing.

http://weightology.net/the-pitfalls-of-body-fat-measurement-part-3-bod-pod/

I get tested quarterly by means of DXA and hydro. DXA always gives results 4-5% higher than hydro but provides more detailed data. However, hydro results have been more consistent and reliable for me.

Do them both to assess their internal and comparative validity. The "truth" is probably somewhere in the middle. Last DXA was 13.3% and last hydo was 8.7%. So, I'm probably around 11% which is confirmed by visble abs and lots of muscular definition and vascularity.

In office cost for DXA and hydro can be high; $75-120, as I recall. However, there are mobile testing companies that only charge around $40-45 for DXA & hydo testing in my area. Check for mobile testing companies in your area.

You look fine at 108lbs, (sorry can't estimate your bf, but it is over 18 in my eyes) but if you are having problems with your period you may want to go have a check up.
Adding more fat into your diet, helps with hormones, and slowly putting on a more weight may help too. ( see doc 1st).

How many calories are you eating a day, and what is your macro breakdown?

Cheers, h.

From your profile picture your body composition looks actually very similar to mine and I am hanging around currently at 24% body fat measured with a scale, roughly. I don't want to say you are that high, but I really don't think you are at 12%. Maybe you were very dehydrated during the measurement?

I was around 12% in my profile picture, taken back in 2013, if I recall rightly. I am not at that now, but it was not a number I came by naturally. It took a lot of intense training. I probably would not to wish to be there again as it took a little too much work for my tastes. Interestingly, I did retain my periods at that level, possibly because I was eating very well at the time too. I don't think you are 12% either and most scales are notoriously inaccurate as so many things can affect their readings.

If you feel healthy I wouldn't worry about it too much, sounds like the scale was just wrong.

https://www.ruled.me/visually-estimate-body-fat-percentage/

Check this website out. You are around 20% body fat and the gym person was WAY off. Also, period problems can be caused by sooo many things BUT... for me to have my period, I have to be around 30% body fat or more. It's odd how it works but I've gotten lower than that and my period stopped and loss hair and a bunch of stuff. It really depends on what your body needs. You do not look unhealthy at all but I'd see a gynecologist in case something else is causing this. Also, did your period problems start as you lost weight or did they start randomly?