[elmuyloco5]

X

[lumifan4ever]

According to the tape measure test, i have 16.5% body fat. I don't buy that. I have always had small wrist and calves. Not one of the places i put on weight. Now...if they'd asked for my waist measurements, i would have probably come closer to the 32 percent i got on my boyfriends scale. Nah....I don't buy that body percent measurement. sorry. :-(

[Debbs]

hmmm I come at 33.8% with 65.1 of fat on my body with that test, rather than the 82lbs of body fat I have and at 42.5 %(according to my scale)

[baffled111]

If you're really interested in knowing your actual body fat %, you can get it tested. My YMCA does the test for $5 using calipers, and they give you a nice little report afterwards telling you lb of fat, lb of lean mass, and basal metabolic rate. I think the body fat test is a very nice measure of weight loss--you can be certain that you're not losing muscle!

[Meg]

Tape measure body fat measurements are generally considered to be the least reliable of all the ways to test body fat. The problem is that we're trying to determine body composition - how much of us is fat and how much is lean body mass - and it's difficult to do that by measuring your surface. Are your inches made up of inches of muscle? Or of fat? A tape measure can't tell you that. What we need a way to figure out what's beneath the surface.

I haven't found a on-line body fat calculator that's anywhere close to where I test with calipers and electric impedance. Partly it's because they're biased against a woman in her 50's being in the teens in body fat. I can pretend my waist measurement is 15 inches and they'll still tells me that I'm 22% or something, and i know that's not right!!

Baffled had a good suggestion about the Y or a gym. Any personal trainer can measure your body fat, either with electric impedance or calipers.

[maalisse]

Yeah, the tape measure tests are unfortunately very far off. That one put me as 17.6%. I wish!

[elmuyloco5]

X

[lumifan4ever]

Honestly....i don't think my body fat composition is that big of an issue with me. As long as I am getting healthy and skinny then i know i am losing unhealthy body fat. I am losing my fat the right way, thru diet and excersize. I don't really need anyone to tell me how much body fat i have. I think i can figure that one out by looking into the mirror and pinching my fats!! . But the different ways of measuring body fat are fun to kick around though. I think in the end, we all just have to be able to look at ourselves and determine, are we happy with our bodies now??? That is the only answer we really need.

[Debbs]

Originally Posted by Meg

Keep in mind that we want to lose pounds of FAT, not pounds of MUSCLE. Muscle is good stuff -- it keeps your metabolism running high and makes you look tight, toned, and smaller. Weight training while you're losing weight will help preserve your muscle mass and make sure you're losing pounds of ugly fat.

I love this part about the weight training it really made something click in me
thanks Meg

[Lyria]

I have scales that measure my body fat and water % and it's been REALLY nice to see what those guidelines are...

I'm in the fitness range...and very close to athlete! Woohoo!

I take more an average view to my body fat because i realise the scales are affected by various things but i'm currently around 21%-22% BF

I'm weighing about 141-143 pounds...on a medium 5'6 frame and my BMI is 23.3...*shrugs*

Liv

[JayEll]

Nice numbers, Lyria! You must do exercise, yes?

Jay

[Lyria]

Jay - Yep! Certainly do I would normally run 3-5 times a week (between 5-7 on average) and spin classes 2-3 times a week.

I've changed it up a bit recently by keeping up the running but having started a boot camp 3 mornings a week and doing spin just once (or maybe twice if i finish work early enough)

I really cant wait for spring and daylight saving so I can run more frequently...it's my "poison" of choice lol