Skinny fat
Replies
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TavistockToad wrote: »The first one is from like 5-6 weeks ago, the one in the yellow shirt is from today and the last one is me flexing.
I'm 4'11" and my belly is so big I look like I'm 6 months pregnant on an average day. You have no belly fat. Maybe you need to see a therapist?
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perkymommy wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »either your scales are wrong or you have a very warped sense of what is a normal amount of bodyfat.
14% is very low and you are not in any way 'skinny fat'.
Agree.
I read somewhere recently that said a healthy BMI is between 25-30. You sound like you are underweight. Maybe you should seek advice from your doctor? Sounds like you have are seeing something that isn't there. I used to be anorexic for years and saw myself as big when I was underweight and stayed under 100 lbs for years. It's something you really can't help when you get to that point but I think you are stressing over something that isn't even a problem.
That's not accurate -- anything over 25 is considered to be overweight (so an individual with a BMI over 25 may or may not be overweight -- depending on their body fat situation, but they are in the overweight range).7 -
janejellyroll wrote: »perkymommy wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »either your scales are wrong or you have a very warped sense of what is a normal amount of bodyfat.
14% is very low and you are not in any way 'skinny fat'.
Agree.
I read somewhere recently that said a healthy BMI is between 25-30. You sound like you are underweight. Maybe you should seek advice from your doctor? Sounds like you have are seeing something that isn't there. I used to be anorexic for years and saw myself as big when I was underweight and stayed under 100 lbs for years. It's something you really can't help when you get to that point but I think you are stressing over something that isn't even a problem.
That's not accurate -- anything over 25 is considered to be overweight (so an individual with a BMI over 25 may or may not be overweight -- depending on their body fat situation, but they are in the overweight range).
I think she may have meant body fat % for women and not BMI.4 -
alexandracraia wrote: »Hey guys! So i started my new lifestyle journey 2 months ago because i was really unhappy of how i looked (i am what they call skinny fat, which means i have a low BMI, i am very slim, but have a quite high body fat percentage and also all my fat is stored on my belly). I started doing research and found out that i had to lose fat while also gaining muscle (body recomposition)...
Sorry for the long post, but i just want to know what exactly should i do to drop the belly fat. Any help is highly appreciated! Thank you
Firstly, the general community board is probably not the best place to ask your question. Most people in the general community are trying to lose weight to get down towards a normal BMI. To them, your plan may come across as dangerously unhealthy. Perhaps you can try the "Not So Heavy Girls" group. There are more people there that may be sympathetic to your skinny fat situation. Because it is a real issue that is often ignored.
Secondly, I think you should invest in a caliper to measure your body fat. Scales usually use the "visual method" for estimating body fat. Since you are small, the scale could tell you that you have 12-18% body fat when you actually may be in the 25-30% range.
Thirdly, to lower your body fat percentage. you should focus on strength training. I'm not talking about body building since I'm sure you don't want to bulk up. But you do want to focus on activities that build muscle. Consider Pilates, Yoga-lates, Barre, Cross-fit, machine & free weights (high reps/low weight), etc. Also, you want to add more lean protein to your diet. As you build muscle, the fat will melt.
Full Disclosure, I'm kinda in the same boat (I gained a bunch of medication weight, lost the weight, but found I lost a bunch of muscle along the way) and I'm trying to figure out the best formula that works for me. But I when I notice transformations in others, I ask them what they've been doing.29 -
alexandracraia wrote: »Hey guys! So i started my new lifestyle journey 2 months ago because i was really unhappy of how i looked (i am what they call skinny fat, which means i have a low BMI, i am very slim, but have a quite high body fat percentage and also all my fat is stored on my belly). I started doing research and found out that i had to lose fat while also gaining muscle (body recomposition)...
Sorry for the long post, but i just want to know what exactly should i do to drop the belly fat. Any help is highly appreciated! Thank you
Firstly, the general community board is probably not the best place to ask your question. Most people in the general community are trying to lose weight to get down towards a normal BMI. To them, your plan may come across as dangerously unhealthy. Perhaps you can try the "Not So Heavy Girls" group. There are more people there that may be sympathetic to your skinny fat situation. Because it is a real issue that is often ignored.
Secondly, I think you should invest in a caliper to measure your body fat. Scales usually use the "visual method" for estimating body fat. Since you are small, the scale could tell you that you have 12-18% body fat when you actually may be in the 25-30% range.
Thirdly, to lower your body fat percentage. you should focus on strength training. I'm not talking about body building since I'm sure you don't want to bulk up. But you do want to focus on activities that build muscle. Consider Pilates, Yoga-lates, Barre, Cross-fit, machine & free weights (high reps/low weight), etc. As you build muscle, the fat will melt.
Full Disclosure, I'm kinda in the same boat and I'm trying to figure out the best formula that works for me. But I when I notice transformations in others, I ask them what they've been doing.
Just to point out, there are several very experienced lifters and those of us who have worked with underweight individuals who have helped people achieve their goals.
Most of what you have listed works largely endurance muscles (i.e. slow twitch). If one wants to optimize muscle growth, they should follow a structured program overload lifting routine. To optimize muscle gains, a small surplus is ideal, at least until one is within a reasonable weight range. Since the OP is lean, she is in an ideal situation, as a lean body is more insulin sensitive, and she seems to be a newb to lifting which makes it more likely to gain muscle.
She can also look at this in 10 lb increments, where she could bulk for 10 lbs, and then slow cut to reduce and added fat.... This also assumes that when she gains it goes right to her stomach. There is a possibility that it may go to other places. In some cases, people can gain over 10 lbs without worrying and much new fat showing.11 -
Oh, honey. You’re NOT skinny-fat. Just skinny. I worry that if you continue trying to lose more weight, you will make yourself very, very ill. Could you just try to see how many of us are telling you this, and are genuinely concerned for you? Sometimes what we see in the mirror is just our interpretation and rather far from reality. I wish you all the best and hope you get well.5
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I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended
) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.3 -
There's a member here who recently posted pictures of herself at around 130 lbs and then again at 150 lbs but much more muscle definition. She look amazing when she was 20 lbs heavier.
Does anyone here remember who that was or maybe post that thread? I think this visual might help OP see how she could look and that it's not at all just about the number on the scale.1 -
TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Considering that she's significantly underweight, 14% BF is not out of the realm of possibility. She just doesn't have the muscles to go with it.6 -
You should not do cutting! You cannot gain muscle (while loosing fat at the same time) on 1100 or 1300 calorie diet!
To gain muscle and fat you need to eat! And working out. You may not want to hear this but to be happier with yourself you need to gain weight. I am your height and 58kg 18% Bf. I used to be 52 kg but miserable eating 800-1200 cals a day even on days I ran 12 miles sometimes. Now I still fit into clothes I used to wear at 52 kg! But guess what, I am eating 2000-3000 cals and working out. Never been happier. Then after looong time maybe even a year or two muscle will work as fat burner so you will be able to loose fat while maintaining most muscle hopefully all that on higher cals intake. It is long journey. Not week nor month...5 -
TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Body fat doesn't exactly tell you much about composition. Example:
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ladyhusker39 wrote: »There's a member here who recently posted pictures of herself at around 130 lbs and then again at 150 lbs but much more muscle definition. She look amazing when she was 20 lbs heavier.
Does anyone here remember who that was or maybe post that thread? I think this visual might help OP see how she could look and that it's not at all just about the number on the scale.
Are you thinking of Staci from the link i posted?0 -
collectingblues wrote: »TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Considering that she's significantly underweight, 14% BF is not out of the realm of possibility. She just doesn't have the muscles to go with it.
I must have a warped view because when I look at that photo of her I don't see her being significantly underweight. I can't see her ribs, her arms and legs look like a normal size and she has some ab muscle. I understand that by numbers she is "underweight" but in that photo, I think she just looks slim but not unhealthy or underweight.
Obviously, there is zero need for her to lose weight. I can see that, but I just wouldn't call her "significantly underweight".
Perhaps maybe I have issues with perception too... hmmmm...
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jseams1234 wrote: »TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Body fat doesn't exactly tell you much about composition. Example:
True.2 -
TrishSeren wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Considering that she's significantly underweight, 14% BF is not out of the realm of possibility. She just doesn't have the muscles to go with it.
I must have a warped view because when I look at that photo of her I don't see her being significantly underweight. I can't see her ribs, her arms and legs look like a normal size and she has some ab muscle. I understand that by numbers she is "underweight" but in that photo, I think she just looks slim but not unhealthy or underweight.
Obviously, there is zero need for her to lose weight. I can see that, but I just wouldn't call her "significantly underweight".
Perhaps maybe I have issues with perception too... hmmmm...
That's the beauty of numbers. Perspective, scale, and perception can all trick the eye. Regardless of what a partial photo taken from one angle might suggest to you, or what her or your perspective might see, the numbers are quite clear. She is more than 11 lbs under the healthy weight range for her height.8 -
I REALLY suggest recomp. (Bulk/cut cycles)
There was a poster in here who posted I think her recomp success in the fitness forum and it was SO incredible, but I couldn't find it. Anyone know who I am talking about? She is a regular poster I see around, but can't remember who. She posted a thread showing her bulk and cut cycles and end product was absolutely incredible and so fit and lean. I think that is what you need. Losing more weight isn't going to help when you are already underweight.
Here is an example I could find since I cant find the thread on here.
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Edit: I found it. It just shows how much your body comp and aesthetic can change with a bulk/cut cycle. Since you are underweight, you should consider bulking to a healthy weight incorporating a good strength training program. I honestly think you will have a better body aesthetic at a higher weight with a gain in muscle mass and thus more muscle definition.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10684001/pics-of-bulks-cuts-from-start-to-now-because-my-four-year-mfp-anniversary-is-today/p14 -
TrishSeren wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Considering that she's significantly underweight, 14% BF is not out of the realm of possibility. She just doesn't have the muscles to go with it.
I must have a warped view because when I look at that photo of her I don't see her being significantly underweight. I can't see her ribs, her arms and legs look like a normal size and she has some ab muscle. I understand that by numbers she is "underweight" but in that photo, I think she just looks slim but not unhealthy or underweight.
Obviously, there is zero need for her to lose weight. I can see that, but I just wouldn't call her "significantly underweight".
Perhaps maybe I have issues with perception too... hmmmm...
What Kim said. By the numbers, she's significantly underweight.
If you want to claim that someone with a BMI of 17.2 isn't underweight, you've got issues that are best left to a professional.
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collectingblues wrote: »TrishSeren wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »TrishSeren wrote: »I would say your scales are wrong, you aren't 14% bf because (no offense intended ) if you were you'd look like a female body builder, and you don't.
I'd say work on trying to gain some muscle, perhaps that might help you achieve the look you're wanting to achieve.
Considering that she's significantly underweight, 14% BF is not out of the realm of possibility. She just doesn't have the muscles to go with it.
I must have a warped view because when I look at that photo of her I don't see her being significantly underweight. I can't see her ribs, her arms and legs look like a normal size and she has some ab muscle. I understand that by numbers she is "underweight" but in that photo, I think she just looks slim but not unhealthy or underweight.
Obviously, there is zero need for her to lose weight. I can see that, but I just wouldn't call her "significantly underweight".
Perhaps maybe I have issues with perception too... hmmmm...
What Kim said. By the numbers, she's significantly underweight.
If you want to claim that someone with a BMI of 17.2 isn't underweight, you've got issues that are best left to a professional.
I'm not denying that the numbers don't classify her as underweight, I'm saying that she doesn't look underweight to me. I would have thought to be classified as significantly underweight you'd expect to see ribs and have super skinny limbs.
Basically, I learned something new is what I'm saying.8 -
This is a very low BMI, not healthy0
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