Body Fat % Concerns

jtintx
jtintx Posts: 445 Member
edited September 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Now that I'm getting closer to my intermediate goal weight I've started to think more about body fat percentage. I am concerned about something.

A year ago I weighed 180 and was 42% body fat, according to my scale. Currently I weigh 150 and am at 36% body fat. Why am I still so fat? I have been pretty active for the last 5 years (after work, my job is very sedentary), at least compared to most women my age. But I am really concerned about being so “fat”.

If my calculations are correct at 180 I was 104.4 lbs of lean and 75.6 lbs. of fat. And now at 150 I am 96/54 lbs. lean to fat. That means I’ve lost 8.4 lbs of muscle – right?!

I am not starving myself. I have been eating the calories that MFP recommends and eating back all my exercise calories and sometimes a little more. I’ve only been losing a pound a week. What is going on here?

Replies

  • bellastella86
    bellastella86 Posts: 25 Member
    I have also been monitoring my body fat %. While it is normal for a lot of women to lose lean mass while losing weight, 8.4 lbs seems like a lot.

    Are you doing strength training or just cardio? You may try increasing your strength training and making sure you get adequate protein after your workouts to build up your muscles.

    I lost 4.5% body fat in 2 months, and my testing guy was very surprised to see I had gained 1 lb of lean muscle! Keep up what you're doing, as your body fat % is going down (yay!). But I would monitor your protein intake, especially after strength training. Good luck and keep up the good work!
  • AngelaBeaulieu
    AngelaBeaulieu Posts: 109 Member
    ask for the test to be redone.My girlfriend and I went together, She is not active, and 25 lbs heavier than me. I am very active and we are the EXACT same body fat percentage!?!?!? figure that one out! I used to be in weight lifting competitions and here the guy is telling me I have little lean . . . . I am getting another test done and suggest you do also!!
  • jtintx
    jtintx Posts: 445 Member
    ask for the test to be redone.My girlfriend and I went together, She is not active, and 25 lbs heavier than me. I am very active and we are the EXACT same body fat percentage!?!?!? figure that one out! I used to be in weight lifting competitions and here the guy is telling me I have little lean . . . . I am getting another test done and suggest you do also!!
    I didn't have a test done....just using my scale which shows body fat%.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    jtintx

    Those scales aren't all that accurate, just so you know, you might want to get a caliper test done.

    as far as your body fat, remember, some of that body fat can be the fat around organs, which, when you loose it, won't make you look any different (many times that's the first fat to go). It's called intramuscular fat, and it's even better to lose that then adipose fat (health wise), so take heart, losing body fat % is still good, even if you don't immediately see the results.
  • jtintx
    jtintx Posts: 445 Member
    jtintx

    Those scales aren't all that accurate, just so you know, you might want to get a caliper test done.

    as far as your body fat, remember, some of that body fat can be the fat around organs, which, when you loose it, won't make you look any different (many times that's the first fat to go). It's called intramuscular fat, and it's even better to lose that then adipose fat (health wise), so take heart, losing body fat % is still good, even if you don't immediately see the results.
    I am seeing results. I look much thinner/fit but I'm just concerned about how much body fat I still have. I know the scales aren't all that accurate but even if it is off, the % I've lost will be correct. I'm really concerned that I seem to be losing muscle. How can that be when I'm only losing a pound a week? There isn't anyone around here, that I could find, that does the caliper testing unless you belong to their group/club.

    Edited to add: I had been doing some strength training but I've slacked off of it the last month.
  • visiologist
    visiologist Posts: 45
    That's your problem right there. Those scales are notoriously inaccurate. In my experience, there's really only one way to get an accurate BF% measurement: hydrostatic testing.

    I have worked real hard at trying to get consistent readings with the bodyfat calipers and have had disappointing results. I have also tried a Tanita scale, and found those to be even worse... in fact, far worse. Many things can throw those scales off. The first time I stepped on it I was 'reasonably' fit. Based on what I know now, I was probably at around 16% to 18%BF - not great, but nowhere near horrible: 189 at 5'11", male. I had input all my data (height, weight, age, gender, etc) into the thing, and it told me I was at 31.4%!!! That's OBESE. A week later, with very little change in body composition, it decided I was 26.2% that day. They are just completely useless.

    If there's any way for you to get hydrostatic testing done, do it, even if only to get a baseline. If that's not possible, get yourself a set of calipers and do your best to make those work for you - they won't necessarily give you an accurate BF%, but at least you can see numbers that indicate your subcutaneous bodyfat going down.

    Mike
  • jtintx
    jtintx Posts: 445 Member
    That's your problem right there. Those scales are notoriously inaccurate. In my experience, there's really only one way to get an accurate BF% measurement: hydrostatic testing.

    I have worked real hard at trying to get consistent readings with the bodyfat calipers and have had disappointing results. I have also tried a Tanita scale, and found those to be even worse... in fact, far worse. Many things can throw those scales off. The first time I stepped on it I was 'reasonably' fit. Based on what I know now, I was probably at around 16% to 18%BF - not great, but nowhere near horrible: 189 at 5'11", male. I had input all my data (height, weight, age, gender, etc) into the thing, and it told me I was at 31.4%!!! That's OBESE. A week later, with very little change in body composition, it decided I was 26.2% that day. They are just completely useless.

    If there's any way for you to get hydrostatic testing done, do it, even if only to get a baseline. If that's not possible, get yourself a set of calipers and do your best to make those work for you - they won't necessarily give you an accurate BF%, but at least you can see numbers that indicate your subcutaneous bodyfat going down.

    Mike

    You're right, they do fluctuate ...but if I average my high BF% and my low BF% readings the difference in BF (% lost) should still be somewhat accurate.
  • cardigirl
    cardigirl Posts: 492 Member
    My scale shows my BF% at 34% while the caliper test showed it to be 27.88%.

    Even the scale at the gym showed my BF% as 34, but the trainer said that he's at 10% BF and the scale measures him at 15. And the female trainers are all around 18 to 20% and the scale measures them high as well.

    Caliper test is much more accurate in my opinion. :smile:
  • fjtcjt
    fjtcjt Posts: 199
    Don't trust the scales. They are very in accurate. Most of them have you enter your height and then they have a formula based on height and weight. Yes they do use an electrical current and measure resistance, but most of it is based off of the formula and the formula does not account for muscle or body structure (large vs small boned).

    Skin Calipers are much more accurate, not exact but much more accurate.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Yeah, A hydrostatic test would be better, but those are hard to find as they need that huge tank. The new BodPods are supposed to be just as accurate as hydrostatic tests, and are popping up all over the place, for about 50 bucks you can get one done. Even better are DEXA machines (but they are expensive and there aren't that many around).

    Remember, those scales use electrical impedance, to measure your %. They can vary based on how much water you drank that day, what kind of food you ate that day, how much you sweat that day, how warm you are that day...etc. lots of things throw those scales off, so I would say, not even for a general measurement, would I trust one (because even the idea of them being off by a consistent amount isn't necessarily true.)

    Calipers, if done by a trained professional, who has had quite a bit of experience, are usually under 5% off, but as you said, if you can't find one, then you may be out of luck. JT, I see you live in texas, check with the local colleges, they usually have a bodpod or hydrostatic machine if they have a sports medicine or pre-med department.

    I'll check and see what I can find in the area. What part of TX you live in?
  • LeanLioness
    LeanLioness Posts: 1,091 Member
    jtintx

    Those scales aren't all that accurate, just so you know, you might want to get a caliper test done.

    as far as your body fat, remember, some of that body fat can be the fat around organs, which, when you loose it, won't make you look any different (many times that's the first fat to go). It's called intramuscular fat, and it's even better to lose that then adipose fat (health wise), so take heart, losing body fat % is still good, even if you don't immediately see the results.
    I am seeing results. I look much thinner/fit but I'm just concerned about how much body fat I still have. I know the scales aren't all that accurate but even if it is off, the % I've lost will be correct. I'm really concerned that I seem to be losing muscle. How can that be when I'm only losing a pound a week? There isn't anyone around here, that I could find, that does the caliper testing unless you belong to their group/club.

    Edited to add: I had been doing some strength training but I've slacked off of it the last month.


    What does your protein and fat intake look like????

    If you are following a traditional low fat / low calorie diet, then it is possible that your protein and fat intake are too low and your body is "eating" your muscle for protein...............
  • jtintx
    jtintx Posts: 445 Member
    Yeah, A hydrostatic test would be better, but those are hard to find as they need that huge tank. The new BodPods are supposed to be just as accurate as hydrostatic tests, and are popping up all over the place, for about 50 bucks you can get one done. Even better are DEXA machines (but they are expensive and there aren't that many around).

    Remember, those scales use electrical impedance, to measure your %. They can vary based on how much water you drank that day, what kind of food you ate that day, how much you sweat that day, how warm you are that day...etc. lots of things throw those scales off, so I would say, not even for a general measurement, would I trust one (because even the idea of them being off by a consistent amount isn't necessarily true.)

    Calipers, if done by a trained professional, who has had quite a bit of experience, are usually under 5% off, but as you said, if you can't find one, then you may be out of luck. JT, I see you live in texas, check with the local colleges, they usually have a bodpod or hydrostatic machine if they have a sports medicine or pre-med department.

    I'll check and see what I can find in the area. What part of TX you live in?
    It's funny that you mention the Bod Pod....I had inquired from the company about locations and I just sent an email requesting info about an appt. I guess I just need to find out my "real" BF% - maybe I'm not really losing muscle mass - I sure hope not!!

    LL- My fat and carb intake isn't a problem...however, I usually don't get enough protein. It's something I'm trying to work on. But with such a small calorie deficite, 400-450, I just can't imagine that I'm burning muscle....that's the last thing I want to do.
  • MacMadame
    MacMadame Posts: 1,893 Member
    You're right, they do fluctuate ...but if I average my high BF% and my low BF% readings the difference in BF (% lost) should still be somewhat accurate.
    That hasn't been my experience. I've given up on using my scale to monitor my body fat because the fluctuations appeared so divorced from reality.
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