body fat percentage

mickipedia
mickipedia Posts: 889 Member
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone :)

So last night i found out my body fat percentage is 29% this puts me in the "healthy" zone and i've decided that once i get closer to my weight goal i'm going to focus more on % and inches rather than weight.

My current weight is 134lbs and i'm 5ft 3.. now i don't know much about body fat % so if anyone can share their goals for it.. and give me a bit of advice it would be appreciated :)

Thanks!

Replies

  • KatrineJohansen
    KatrineJohansen Posts: 24 Member
    I'm currently around 24.5-25.5% body fat depending on various factors (generally it goes up if I haven't done strength training for a while, and down if I have for like a week or two)

    I'm 5'3, 125.5 pounds / 57 kg. And I'm aiming for 20-22% body fat. :) As in, I'm satisfied with 22, but if it keeps going down, I won't be *****in'.
  • jaguar101570
    jaguar101570 Posts: 82
    Men and women are different. I am at 8.4%, but a man wants to be under 15%. A woman wants to be under 25%, so you are both doing well!!
  • pjlaciste
    pjlaciste Posts: 4
    Recently, on Sunday got mines checked, I was less than 5%, but all muscle, so right at that moment, I decided to switch up my routine and bulk up. So I got this app and its been amazing so far!!! =]
  • SueGeer
    SueGeer Posts: 1,169 Member
    27% but would like it to be nearer 20%
  • nicnactoo
    nicnactoo Posts: 29 Member
    Hello
    I am also 5'3 and weigh 133lbs. My body fat is currently 32% which I'm not greatly enamoured about.
    But post pregnancy, I was almost 40% (you store a lot of fat for pregnancy and breastfeeding) and 2 stone (28lbs) heavier than I am now, so it's progress.

    My target is 28% for now, though my PT says I should be aiming for 25%.

    If you google Body Fat Percentage Categories, you get this:

    Sex Essential Athletes Fitness Acceptable Obese
    Female 10-12% 14-20% 21-24% 25-31% 32%
    Male 2-4% 6-13% 14-17% 18-25% 25%
  • TiffaniBarrett
    TiffaniBarrett Posts: 369 Member
    How did you get it checked? My gym doesnt have callipers :-(
  • nicnactoo
    nicnactoo Posts: 29 Member
    How did you get it checked? My gym doesnt have callipers :-(

    My scales tell me body fat. I stand on the pads and it send a little electric current round your body and measures the time it takes to get back. Obviously you can't feel this! I switched this function off though when I was pregnant, just in case!
    You can also get hand held devices (tanita?) which my gym also has.
  • mickipedia
    mickipedia Posts: 889 Member
    i got told at my gym.. not sure how the machine works or whether it is accurate but its something to start on i suppose.. i think i'm going to aim for 18% to 22%.. i've always been chubby and i want it all gone now and i wanna tone up as much as i can.
  • uLinx
    uLinx Posts: 148
    To have an estimate of my body fat percentage, I use my scale and this calculator (U.S. Navy body fat estimate calculator): lowcarbdiets.about.com/library/blbodyfatcalculator.htm
  • TiffaniBarrett
    TiffaniBarrett Posts: 369 Member
    Thanks guys! x
  • mickipedia
    mickipedia Posts: 889 Member
    so how do you actually work it out without a fancy machine?

    I tried using some things online where you type in your measurements and it works it out but that said i was 24% whereas the machine at the gym said 29% quite a huge difference :/
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages
  • ackeebee
    ackeebee Posts: 1,042 Member
    accordingly to my scale, mine is 24.5%. i am not sure how accurate it is. i am currently 142.8 lbs at 5'8".
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Scales and other Bioimpedance machines can be fairly inaccurate. A lot of it depends on hydration levels.

    In my opinion/experiences, if you are even close to your goal, you are better off working body recomposition (cutting body fat and working to build lean muscle mass) and stop actively working on weight only. It's a slightly different approach as you will have a smaller deficit (~ 20%) but the benefits are a tighter waistline and improving the metabolism. A lot of the time, people get to their "ideal" weight and say, "oh, I still have a gut or flab" and then have to reverse all the downsides to weight loss (like a slower metabolism due to muscle loss). Where as, if you work body recomposition, you will maintain your metabolism (as you eat more calories and do heavy weight lifting to maintain LBM) but you lose body fat and inches. Also, this way, you don't have to worry about gaining weight while building up your lean muscle mass that you previously lost and freaking out that your weigh has gone up.
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    Scales and other Bioimpedance machines can be fairly inaccurate. A lot of it depends on hydration levels.

    In my opinion/experiences, if you are even close to your goal, you are better off working body recomposition (cutting body fat and working to build lean muscle mass) and stop actively working on weight only. It's a slightly different approach as you will have a smaller deficit (~ 20%) but the benefits are a tighter waistline and improving the metabolism. A lot of the time, people get to their "ideal" weight and say, "oh, I still have a gut or flab" and then have to reverse all the downsides to weight loss (like a slower metabolism due to muscle loss). Where as, if you work body recomposition, you will maintain your metabolism (as you eat more calories and do heavy weight lifting to maintain LBM) but you lose body fat and inches. Also, this way, you don't have to worry about gaining weight while building up your lean muscle mass that you previously lost and freaking out that your weigh has gone up.



    I agree 110% with the above. My wife and I just got done with a RFL based cut and now we are planing on doing a body recomp through the summer, then a slow bulk through next winter. The only problem with a body recomp is that it is generaly slower and you need patience, the average dieter now days want the "magic" and "nstant" results with no work on their part, mainly I feel because of infomercials and the media in general.
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