Body Fat Percentage Conversion
Kcham817
Posts: 106 Member
I did a search before posting and couldn't find an answer to this. I want to lower my body fat percentage around 4%. My question is how many pounds is 1% of body fat??? I own an Omron fat loss monitor, my current bf % is 27.1, BMI is the same, I would like to get it under 25%, ideally around 21 -23 %. I would like to keep as much lean muscle as possible (don't we all ?). HELP!
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Replies
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I did a search before posting and couldn't find an answer to this. I want to lower my body fat percentage around 4%. My question is how many pounds is 1% of body fat??? I own an Omron fat loss monitor, my current bf % is 27.1, BMI is the same, I would like to get it under 25%, ideally around 21 -23 %. I would like to keep as much lean muscle as possible (don't we all ?). HELP!
it doesnt matter how many pounds it is... eat well, do a decent full body strength training programme and measure your bodyfat once a month... when the figure goes from 27% to 22%, you're good!0 -
Lift weights - important! Also, protein is super important
I am probably going to get mine checked today - I've increased my protein intake the past week and I'm trying to cut down from 22% to 17% - mind you, I'm told the machine at the gym is junk and doesn't test it 'accurately' but I use it as a guide.
Good luck 0 -
The weight of a body percentage of fat depends on your current weight. It is not a fixed value. Thus, 1% of body fat at 200 lbs would be 2 lbs, but 1% of body fat at 100 lbs would be 1 lbs. You can lose weight and lose fat without changing body fat percentage drastically since the amount of fat required to be 1% drops as your weight drops.0
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I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!0 -
I think they want to reduce it BY 4%, not TO 4%.
That's a very precise percentage reduciton though - these measurements are all estimates.
BMI isn't strictly a percentage - its a ratio of height to weight, and again, is a rough guide only.0 -
Lift weights - important! Also, protein is super important
I am probably going to get mine checked today - I've increased my protein intake the past week and I'm trying to cut down from 22% to 17% - mind you, I'm told the machine at the gym is junk and doesn't test it 'accurately' but I use it as a guide.
Good luck
You're right! It's been challenging to get 100 grams of protein (or more) daily; I guess this is where creativity comes in. I also use it as guide but it's always in the same ballpark when I do measure....0 -
It's math. If you are lets say 150 pounds and you are at 27.1% body fat, then you have (150*.271) 40.65 pounds of fat.
If you go to 26% body fat and maintain your weight, then you'd have (150*.26) 39 pounds of fat.
If you lose two pounds and get to 26% body fat then you'd have (148*.26) 38.48 pounds of fat. You can do the math with your actual weight.
When you lose weight you will lose both body fat and muscle. How much of each varies. There are a number of things that will probably help you keep muscle loss to a minimum. The most important are probably getting enough protein, keeping a not too big caloric deficit, and doing some sort of strength training.
*edited for spelling0 -
how do you know what your bf% is i mean i tried multiple site asking you for measurements and weight vs height and stuff but they all seam to be contradicting themselves is there one reliable way ?0
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The weight of a body percentage of fat depends on your current weight. It is not a fixed value. Thus, 1% of body fat at 200 lbs would be 2 lbs, but 1% of body fat at 100 lbs would be 1 lbs. You can lose weight and lose fat without changing body fat percentage drastically since the amount of fat required to be 1% drops as your weight drops.
I've read this formula while researching; according to this I would only have to lose 6 pounds. Realistically I need to drop 20 pounds which would put me in normal weight range.0 -
from what I understand 1% would equal different amounts in "lbs" depending on the person since it is a %.0
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how do you know what your bf% is i mean i tried multiple site asking you for measurements and weight vs height and stuff but they all seam to be contradicting themselves is there one reliable way ?
I would like to know the answer to this as well!0 -
It's math. If you are lets say 150 pounds and you are at 27.1% body fat, then you have (150*.271) 40.65 pounds of fat.
If you go to 26% body fat and maintain your weight, then you'd have (150*.26) 39 pounds of fat.
If you lose two pounds and get to 26% body fat then you'd have (148*.26) 38.48 pounds of fat. You can do the math with your actual weight.
When you lose weight you will lose both body fat and muscle. How much of each varies. There are a number of things that will probably help you keep muscle loss to a minimum. The most important are probably getting enough protein, keeping a not too big caloric deficit, and doing some sort of strength training.
*edited for spelling
Ok I get it now. Thanks for the tip!!0 -
I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!
She said she wanted to reduce it 4%, not reduce it to 4%. I can't believe you read the whole post and didn't understand that since she also stated she what she wanted her end result to be.1 -
The most reliable way is to do the pool dunk test. Based on your weight while submerged in water, a pretty accurate body fat percentage can be calculated. Next to that, a scale with a Body Fat monitor is a good estimate. It's not an exact science. It runs an electric current through your body an based on the resistance, estimates your body fat. Fat is a dry tissue and doesn't hold water, therefore doesn't conduct electricity very well. Muscle holds water and conducts electricity better. Based on that and your height and weight, your BF can be estimated. I've noticed this fluctuates +/- 2-3% just based on time of day, how much water you drink, whether you've just eaten etc.
The other way is the pinch test where measurements of how much fat can be pinched at various points on the body is measured and extrapolated to an estimate of BF. This is maybe a little more consistent than the electrode method, because a glass of water won't change your measurements. However, it too is an estimate based on averages and tables.
Body fat percentage is a measure of progress and not an exact science, so don't put too much stock in it. Eat right, exercise and look in the mirror. That will tell you how you're doing.0 -
how do you know what your bf% is i mean i tried multiple site asking you for measurements and weight vs height and stuff but they all seam to be contradicting themselves is there one reliable way ?
I also used websites that "calculated" the percentage but the results were always different within a 2 % range. That's a lot imo. The gym I used to attend uses the same monitor I have now. Many moons ago, a trainer at Ballys used the calipers on me I think I was around 33% bf but I weighed in low 140's then :frown:0 -
It's something that is REALLY hard to measure accuratley - if you're only getting differences of 2% you're lucky!0
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The most reliable way is to do the pool dunk test. Based on your weight while submerged in water, a pretty accurate body fat percentage can be calculated. Next to that, a scale with a Body Fat monitor is a good estimate. It's not an exact science. It runs an electric current through your body an based on the resistance, estimates your body fat. Fat is a dry tissue and doesn't hold water, therefore doesn't conduct electricity very well. Muscle holds water and conducts electricity better. Based on that and your height and weight, your BF can be estimated. I've noticed this fluctuates +/- 2-3% just based on time of day, how much water you drink, whether you've just eaten etc.
The other way is the pinch test where measurements of how much fat can be pinched at various points on the body is measured and extrapolated to an estimate of BF. This is maybe a little more consistent than the electrode method, because a glass of water won't change your measurements. However, it too is an estimate based on averages and tables.
Body fat percentage is a measure of progress and not an exact science, so don't put too much stock in it. Eat right, exercise and look in the mirror. That will tell you how you're doing.
Thanks! I've read about this too, maybe I'll try this when I reach my goal weight.0 -
I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!
^^^^ this
google Leigh Peele's blog and have a look at the pictures of women at different body fat percentages.
4% body fat is extremely lean and ripped for a male body builder, i.e. you can see muscles, sinew, veins popping. Women look this ripped at around 12% body fat. It's extremely difficult to get below these levels of body fat without the use of steroids. 0% body fat is dead.
Visible abs in men happen around 10% and in women around 15% (of course these numbers vary a little as we're all individual) - however you need to have a decent amount of muscle underneath the fat to achieve this, as these body fat percentages without muscle make someone look underweight
For the "softer" look, i.e. looking lean and slim but without definition, for men that would be around 14% body fat and around 18-20% for women.
women are healthy below about 28% body fat and obese above 35%
men are healthy below about 22% and obese above 30%
Base your goals on the above. For more info, Leigh Peele's blog is really good.0 -
I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!
She said she wanted to reduce it 4%, not reduce it to 4%. I can't believe you read the whole post and didn't understand that since she also stated she what she wanted her end result to be.
Simple mistake. 4am wake-up call and 4 mile run.
Quite sorry, MFP police.
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It's something that is REALLY hard to measure accuratley - if you're only getting differences of 2% you're lucky!
Believe it or not, I went to a Dr. for a physical in summer 2011 and inquired about my bf %. He did the exact same thing I was doing before I got my monitor. He input my stats on some website and told me the results. I never went back to him.....0 -
I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!
She said she wanted to reduce it 4%, not reduce it to 4%. I can't believe you read the whole post and didn't understand that since she also stated she what she wanted her end result to be.
Simple mistake. 4am wake-up call and 4 mile run.
Quite sorry, MFP police.
OOOps I made the same mistake LOL
:blushing:0 -
I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!
^^^^ this
google Leigh Peele's blog and have a look at the pictures of women at different body fat percentages.
4% body fat is extremely lean and ripped for a male body builder, i.e. you can see muscles, sinew, veins popping. Women look this ripped at around 12% body fat. It's extremely difficult to get below these levels of body fat without the use of steroids. 0% body fat is dead.
Visible abs in men happen around 10% and in women around 15% (of course these numbers vary a little as we're all individual) - however you need to have a decent amount of muscle underneath the fat to achieve this, as these body fat percentages without muscle make someone look underweight
For the "softer" look, i.e. looking lean and slim but without definition, for men that would be around 14% body fat and around 18-20% for women.
women are healthy below about 28% body fat and obese above 35%
men are healthy below about 22% and obese above 30%
Base your goals on the above. For more info, Leigh Peele's blog is really good.
I agree with mainly everything. However I've read for women in a healthy range is btween 20- 25% body fat, 25-30 % body fat is overweight, above 30% is obese.0 -
Go here and use the calculator:
http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm
You can put in current weight and body fat % and goal body fat % and it will give you a goal weight. It will also do TDEE calculations.0 -
Interesting results. Thanks!0
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I can't even imagine 4%BF. Like, I see models and weightlifters who are at 13%-17% and they already look amazing, and I can't wrap my mind around what anything lower than that looks like.
Good luck!
^^^^ this
google Leigh Peele's blog and have a look at the pictures of women at different body fat percentages.
4% body fat is extremely lean and ripped for a male body builder, i.e. you can see muscles, sinew, veins popping. Women look this ripped at around 12% body fat. It's extremely difficult to get below these levels of body fat without the use of steroids. 0% body fat is dead.
Visible abs in men happen around 10% and in women around 15% (of course these numbers vary a little as we're all individual) - however you need to have a decent amount of muscle underneath the fat to achieve this, as these body fat percentages without muscle make someone look underweight
For the "softer" look, i.e. looking lean and slim but without definition, for men that would be around 14% body fat and around 18-20% for women.
women are healthy below about 28% body fat and obese above 35%
men are healthy below about 22% and obese above 30%
Base your goals on the above. For more info, Leigh Peele's blog is really good.
I agree with mainly everything. However I've read for women in a healthy range is btween 20- 25% body fat, 25-30 % body fat is overweight, above 30% is obese.
I've seen that range too, I think the one you quoted above is for younger women, what I quoted was more general. Older women store fat differently so would be healthy at higher body fat percentages. I've seen charts where the range gradually increases by age, e.g. 18-24% for twenties, 20-26% for 30's, etc (can't remember the exact figures) - the one that comes with the accumeasure calipers come with a chart like this. The actual skinfolds themselves don't change with age, but a 2mm supriliac skinfold in a 20 yr old woman would be about 20% body fat, in a 40 yr old woman the same skinfold would be more like 23% body fat, because she'll have more internal fat. (again, not exact figures because I don't have the charts in front of me)
Sorry I probably haven't explained it very well. But for younger women, above 25% is probably carrying a little too much fat, but up to 28% would be healthy for a woman in her 50s (who would have the same skinfold measurement as a younger woman with a lower body fat percentage)
Leigh Peele's site is good though, and the ranges I quoted came from her and she clearly knows more about it than me. She doesn't mention anything about age differences, but several other sources mention the age difference, and some give a general range, and say younger women should aim to be lower in the range.
I think there probably needs to be more studies on exactly what body fat percentage ranges are indicative of future health problems, and which are not. I think that figures like 35% come from what body fat percentage an average framed person has at a borderline obese BMI.0 -
Interesting comments.0
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