I have an appointment tomorrow morning to have a body fat test. It's just a skinfold measurement, because no one in town offers hydrostatic weighing.
I'm nervous about it. This makes no sense: I've had one done before so I know they don't hurt, for crying out loud. I also know that it's just a number, and one that can contain a lot of measurement error at that.
I think I'm nervous that the test will tell me I have a really long way to go before I reach my goal, or worse yet that my goal is unrealistic. I feel like I've done everything that I can. I can't exercise much more or at greater intensity w/out risking a flare-up of my bum hip. My diet is about as clean as it can get without becoming overly restricted and consuming (ha ha) my social life, and I know from experience that this is just asking for a relapse.
The only thing I can really change is how long I've been at the new lifestyle. And although I know in my head that these things take time blah blah patience is a virtue blah blah delayed gratification blah blah, I want to be there NOW. (Stamping foot like a two-year old.)
BF% is not the only measurement to go by or be nervous about. I think a tape measure is much better in terms of use of progress. However, the caliper test is good as long as it's done by the same person since there can still be variance. I've seen female bodybuilders that look amazing and are at 27%. It's good to get it done, but it it's not the epitome of your overall health. BP, resting HR, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, etc., are just as important to measure health.
I am guessing you'll have a good reading even if there is variance.
I hope your feeling better about your upcoming or already completed test. I have mine coming up next week so I know how you feel. In my case they have a record of my starting bf from April. How embarrassing for me if there hasn't been a significant change. Hopefully we both will skate through this with results that we feel good about as well as healthy expectations. If mine look pathetic then I'll blame it on all of those August birthdays we had last weekend. Well, like Mel pointed out, it's not stamped on our foreheads and honestly I like what I'm seeing in the mirror more than what was there over the winter so that has to count for something.
I'm at 14.24%, plus or minus the usual measurement error. Mel's completely right, it's just a number, and in my head I know this. Still, it's nice to have some quantifiable affirmation of my progress. (I'm a data dork by trade, so my need for numbers is really an occupational hazard.)
As I posted in the goal forum, it's time to reassess mine. Obviously, I don't want to drop another 10 pounds (per ticker), because it either it would have to be mostly muscle or I would drop to unsustainable and questionably healthy BF% levels. Not interested in either, thanks much.
Time for new goals. Maybe I'll have them focus on strength rather than weight or body fat%. Will think further.
27% body fat seems really, really high to me (for a competitive body builder). I'm currently 20.5% and no one would ever confuse me for a competitor. Too much extra love on the tummy
Photo shoot bf is generally 11-13%. Competitive bodybuilding on show day is 7-9% for women. At 27% there would be too much fat to see muscle definition no matter how tall. Height has nothing to do with fat %. I think you may be confusing BMI. I train and work with competitors. There is NO WAY that any woman competes or is photographed other than in a "before" shot for a diet supplement at 27%.
Kaw- Congratulations, again. That shows a lot of hard work. have you thought about your goals going forward and your maintenance plan?
In terms of maintenance nutrition, I'll try to increase calories slowly, perhaps initially just by adding 120 cals or so from a tablespoon of EFAs and see how it goes. I could also start adding back in some whole grain carbs, assuming DH and The Boy don't rebel. (I've been cooking regular rice & pasta for them, and substituting a second vegetable for me.)
As for fitness and exercise goals, I love the challenge of heavy lifting. Some of my lifts still need a lot of work to get to my PRs, most of which are from 6 years ago. At some point it may start to be a struggle to lift as frequently as I have been recently, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I'd also like to diversify my activities. For example, I've been nattering on about my university's climbing wall, and now that school's started there's no reason not to follow through.
I also think I might like rowing. I've done a modest amount of paddling and kayaking over the years but never crew, and it looks like a great workout and a lot of fun. This would be a project for next spring, though, because we're at the tail end of the crew season around here and beginners' classes aren't offered again until next year.
I also looked into cross-fit, and discovered the nearest club is 75 minutes away. No can do. However, I can probably figure out and borrow some of the the on-line daily workouts, though, to improve my general conditioning.
So, just some ideas. Nothing concrete, yet.
Kim
PS. On the bodybuilder's BF% debate: I'd be laughed off the stage if I tried to compete at 14%. However, I'd believe 27 BMI, because BMI doesn't adjust for muscle mass. (Many bodybuilders are "overweight" according to BMI, because they carry so much lean muscle mass. Yet another reason why I'd be laughed off the stage -- I'm puny relative to those women!)
My friends who are body builders say that was the measurement, but it may have been off because I don't know how it was measured... could've been one of those Tanita scales that are usually way off. I wish I could find the picture! I am aware of usual bf% measurements of competitive BB and I thought the 27% for this person was off, but hey, I don't think people lie like that. I never said she competed, btw. Not all BB are competing. The point I was trying to make that BF% is not the epitome.
Nervous
April. How embarrassing for me if there hasn't been a significant change. 
Hopefully we both will skate through this with results that we feel good about as well as healthy expectations. If mine look pathetic then I'll blame it on all of those August birthdays we had last weekend. 
Well, like Mel pointed out, it's not stamped on our foreheads and honestly I like what I'm seeing in the mirror more than what was there over the winter so that has to count for something. 
