Is this possible?
 

I went to my gym this morning to have my measurements and body fat profile checked. It has been 10 weeks since I last had it done. I am having a real hard time believing the profile summary, and would like to know if these results are humanly possible.

When I seriously started eating differently, I cut back on my exercise. That was March 3, 2003. My starting weight was 248 and my body fat was 44%. My lean body weight was 138. My fitness test was rated excellent because I did 30 modified push-ups, and 28 sit-ups in one minute each. I lost 20 pounds and plateaued for the entire month of June.

To kick start my metabolism, I did 3 weeks of a modified version of South Beach Phase 1 (and it worked.) When I started, I had my measurements and fat% done again on 7/7/03. My weight was 228, BF was 41% and according to them I had lost 15 inches overall. My lean body weight was 135. I also started lifting around that time but just fooling around with it.

Today my weight is 209, and according to today's numbers, my body fat is 28%, and I supposedly lost 20.75 inches overall with a 1 inch gain on my right upper arm (bicep). My lean body weight is 151. In 10 Weeks?

I honestly don't think this gal today knew what she was doing and I will go back Monday to have it done again. Or should I? I don't know anything about this stuff, so what do you all think?

dip

ok it TOTAL honesty - go and get it checked again - a second opinion always helps! It does seem hard to believe at first glance but stranger things have happened! Go have it checked again and THEN you can start to try and figure it out.

Let us know what happens.

JC

Hi DIP!

I just have to respond because so many of our numbers are the same! AND March 3 was the day of my fattest ever photo (yes it is in a bikini but I doubt anybody will ever see it!!! EEEK) My start weight is 240 40.8%BF, lean body weight 140. I'm 10 weeks into C1. I have an appointment at the end of the month to get my finish numbers - I will come back and post them and we can compare. I can tell you that my weight is down to 220 (same scale) and I have lost 7 inches off my waist alone.

BF% and measurements can really depend on who is taking them. I really tried hard to get the best data I could when I started my C1, so when I wrote down my waist measurement, for example, it has the number, 41", and it also says that that is not sucking in my belly at all and standing relaxed, breathing normally. I wrote down as much info as I could so I could be more accurate. Also, I committed to getting the same person to measure my BF%. I'm only going to do it 2x per year; I have heard from several folks with letters behind their names that your body fat takes a while (6 months to a year even!) to adjust to what you are doing, so taking the measurements too often might not show what your body's adjustments to your new WOL are doing.

It seems like no matter what measurements you take there's room for error, unless you do the water displacement tests. It looks to me like you are doing very well and sticking to program! I'm glad you found a way off your plateau, thanks for sharing that info.

No matter what the numbers say, you are truly an inspiration. Thanks so much for posting!

Hi Jennifa, and thanks for responding.

I am definitely going back tomorrow AM and have it redone by someone else. I wish I had paid more attention back in July to what that gal was grabbing with the calipers instead of writing down the numbers. For example, my problem area is definitely my belly/butt. My belly is more skin than fat now, but my butt is still quite large, although has gone from hard fat to soft fat. Most of my overall fat was soft fat except for the upper part my butt. Although I am down to size 18, they are still tight across my belly/butt. And I am just beginning to see signs of a waistline, which JC commented when I asked, will become more noticable with more weight loss.

I wasn't going to have my measurements done again until November, 6 months, but I wanted to make a judgement if I should continue what I am doing and continue to concentrate on losing weight BEFORE going into BFL for a 12 week challenge.

When I look at it this way, it seems feasible, but the Fat%, from 41 down to 28, a total of 13% just doesn't ring true: 20 pound loss and -15inches; 19 pound loss-20 inches. That equates to 39 pound loss and 35 inches gone. Can I have been possibly burning up that much fat? Between 7/7 and now, I decreased my weight resistence and increased my cardio from walking a track to a treadmill. And I began liffting with real weights, graduating from hand weights.

I have been as true to the 10 Commandments http://bodybuilding.about.com/cs/get.../aa061803a.htm as I possibly can in my eating and exercise. I also think I had good muscle to begin with inspite of being so fat/body heavy. I have a big house and a big piece of property, and it requires alot of heavy work, most of which I do myself being a stay at home domestic goddess. We also literally built this house ourselves 8 years ago, and for 18 months, I was a construction worker. And we lived on fast food.

If I can be any kind of inspiration to any one person, I am flattered. But I also whole heartedly agree with Meg that each individual is an individual and has to find their own thing to make it work.

I guess tomorrow will tell the story. . .

dip

Finding my waist?
 

Dip, you wrote:
"And I am just beginning to see signs of a waistline, which JC commented when I asked, will become more noticable with more weight loss."

It's funny that you mention that - it just occurred to me yesterday that I really don't have a waist! It was JC's photos, and a couple of others' that made me come to that realization.

It's good to know that it may *eventually* appear, but I'm afraid it will be quite some time before that happens for me - I was trying to feel for where my rib cage ends, and unfortunately it was fairly difficult to determine!

Actually, this whole journey is kind of like a treasure hunt - I have no recollection or photos to help me remember what my body was like when I was smaller, so each change is a surprise to me.
Cindy

Cindy - believe it or not you may have a waist - you just need to get lean enough to see it but it depends entirely on your shape. I think Mel is the best person to talk about waistlines since it's the biggest bone of contention she has on her figure (mine is my thighs!)

I feel the same way about my new figure - I can't remember ever being lean when I was younger so this feels like a 'new' experience to me too!

JC

It's been so long since I had a waist, that I'm not even sure where it's suppose to be. What they measure as my waist at the gym is about an inch below the bottom of my bra. What they measure as my abdoman, I've been measuring as my waist! And I sure don't pull the tape measure as tight as they do.

I had this site bookmarked and had forgotten about it. I put in my stats, and it came up with 32%BF. Why don't you gals try it and see what you get.

http://dietlowcarb.com/resources/bodyfat.php

PS - Cindy, you SURE don't look 40!

mine came in at 32% as well??

JC

And THIS, gals, is EXACTLY why I don't do that BF% testing thing. Haven't in well over a year (Feb 2002 to be exact).

The only numbers that *truly* matter to me are:

Clothes size
Blood Pressure
Bloodwork numbers

IMO bodyfat testing - all types of testing - are so arbitrary that I decided not to even bother with it.

Just my two cents :)

Yep mine's 32% also!! And now I'm considered obese!!!!!! I beg to differ...:lol:

There is something extremely out-of-whack with that calculator. Just play with the numbers and you'll see. For example, I put in 120 pounds with a 22 inch waist, 6" forearms, 33" hips and 10" upper arms (sounds like Barbie's stats, doesn't it?) and it came up with 31%! Come on! (those are not my measurements, BTW :lol: )

I've always gone by a nine-site calipers test, done by the same experienced person. I haven't seen an on-line calculator yet that's even close. When you play with their numbers, you generally find that it's impossible to get them to say that any woman has less than around 20% BF, no matter what crazy numbers you plug in.

And, as Mel just said on another thread, don't even think about a Tanita or electrical impedence -- way inaccurate.

Meg

definitely out of wack. :lol: I put in lots of different #'s and it was between 29% and 32% each time. NO matter what I did.

I've seen a few calculations with tape measures that will give you a progress indicator, but I wouldn't use anything as the absolute on bf%. We have calipers but haven't really got a clue on how to use them properly, so I don't go by that. .. and my tanita is very good.. as a SCALE, and that's it.

The formula that I've seen is HIP +thigh - 2x Calf - wrist.

The pfa does a calcuation using Waist and Wrist and Hip, but they don't publish the formula. I use this # these days as it works as well as any other.. I am looking for a trend with it, plus the PFA is going to use it for scoring. But really, what makes/breaks my day is looking in the mirror and how my clothes fit.

Hello Everybody!

I went to check the site and am SO HAPPY to know I have lost that much fat % in such a short period of time!!! (of course this is sarcastic....)

The site states that
"Note: these calculations are based on averages.
Your body shape, type of measuring device and the way you measure could make these figures vary somewhat."

I believe this is a typo. The last part should say "make these figures very some.. WHAT?!?"

Well, nice to know that the on-line caluclator(s) can't be trusted.

I went back this morning and got re-measured by a gal whom I know has been there for awhile. We agreed on the sites to be measured and pinched. The result was -10.25 inches, 20 pounds in 10 weeks, resulting in 32% BF. I have decided to continue doing what I have been doing to lose more weight. I probably won't go for a re-measure til I hit my goal date of 4/17/04.

I really can't determine how my clothes fit because all of my clothes are incredibly too big. Today to go out, I had to borrow one of my husband's T-shits because mine are ridiculously too big now. And yes, I felt great.

Dip !! Good for you on the clothing being too big... Now whatcha waitin' for to throw them OUT girl!!!! Keep one for reference tho...

Ilene - I have new clothes in my closet that I haven't even worn yet that I bought on sale last year. I am in the process of sorting what I can get by with for now from the too bigs I'll never wear again. I have career clothes that I'll never wear again so I'm going to call the consignment shop and try to raise some money to buy "in-betweeners" for now. I will definitely need a new winter coat, sweaters, pants and sweatshirts for sailing. My closet is going from over-stuffed to bare. Tough problem, huh?

I have bought a few things, but no point in going nuts with another 60 pounds to lose.

Now I have to go try and find some older photos because DH is coming home with the digital camera tonight!

dip

Hey Dip - it may be a nice problem but it's expensive to replace your wardrobe!

32% sounds a bit more accurate - glad that you are happy with it. I go for clothes sizes myself instead of getting my bodyfat measured but that's only because I am not with a gym at all.

JC

Clothes
 

Looking forward to seeing your photos, Dip!

About clothes — it took me about 30 pounds to go down one size (probably because I was really squeezing into my 20’s and 22’s but refused to buy anything larger :o ) After I took all but one outfit (the pink T-shirt and black pants in the photo album) to the consignment store or Goodwill, my closet was so bare that it echoed! I had — literally — two pairs of pants and one skirt that fit, no dresses. But I refused to buy anything since I was going down about a size a month. I begged and borrowed clothes from everyone and lived in gym clothes most of the time.

Once I hit a “medium” in tops and a 10 in pants, I figured that I would never in a million years get any smaller (my smallest size before then had been size 14 pants, in high school). So I bought a few good things. And I was wrong — I blew through those sizes too! :D Once I hit the 4’s, I figured there really wasn’t too much lower that I could go, so I went a little crazy with the shopping. :o

The weird thing is that I started off buying the same clothes that I had worn when I was fat, but in smaller sizes. For instance, I always dressed for camouflage — T-shirt or big open shirt to hide the butt (but believe me, it couldn’t really be hidden :lol: ) But then it hit me that I could wear all the styles that I had never been able to before — shirts tucked in, fitted tops, pants with prints on them (instead of black — I think I had ten pairs of black pants — black is slimming, don’t you know?! :lol: :lol: :lol: )

Like Ilene said, be sure to save one outfit for your goal picture. You’ll be posting that soon enough. :) :) :)

Meg

AArrgghh! :rolleyes: Meg, you just had to mention those photos again! Well, they have been taken but like Audrey in the other thread, I am disappointed on how much I haven't improved, IMO.

I'm going to have to dig to find something, anything of moi before this loss that demonstrates I have come a way. I am definitely one of those people who looks better WITH their clothes on.

Like your big pink t-shirt, I too have many in every color you can imagine, for the same reason, to cover ol' Bertha. I'm going to have to make a choice of which one to keep for the goal photos, and which pair of pants or shorts. I wouldn't wear shorts in public, only on the boat, and would change into capris or something else when returning to harbor. I bought a little pink tank top at the marina store over Labor Day which is a Large as an incentive. Little did I realize that when I got it home it was a *Girls* Large. It's a kid's tank! Of course DH wanted to see it on, and it's a knit so it stretched enough. I laughed, he. . . well never mind. I think I'll wear it for next pics.

Looks like I will finally have room in my closet for all those shoes. LOL.

Well, let me get upstairs to my computer and start to download the photos into Paint Shop and hopefully some time tomorrow they will be up on the LWL photopage.

dip

I was just telling someone tonight that the best way to learn to see progress in your own photos is to (gulp!) show them to someone else, and let them point out the improvements. For some reason, it seems that at first we are unable to see our own progress, yet it is *so* obvious when we look at others' photos.

Like Audrey, for example - I see incredible improvement in hers!
So, as scary as it might seem, take a chance and post them for us, and let us help you to see what you can't.

I never thought I'd show my photos to anyone, but once I did, it was quite motivating and liberating!
Cindy

Cindy, after you see these photos you will question how much sanity I have in posting them. Well, I am looking at the photos after 40 pounds as an incentive to keep going. I was feeling pretty cocky yesterday and then DH took the photos. I was brought down to earth rather quickly, I must say. Almost to the point I wasn't going to post them. But I had a light bulb moment, and went back to my mantra that I used when I started out on this journey back in March - "Wait til they see me next summer!"

I'm not hoping for any compliments at this point, but continued support and encouragement. If ya'll can do it, no reason why I can't. No more excuses; no more fears.

dip

Dip -- I love your attitude... going to check the pics out pronto!! BRB

Can't find them!!

I didn't realize that membership had to be approved. I was busy busy today and just got a chance to check my e-mail, and I'm in. So if the phone will stop ringing, I will attempt to get them up.

dip

Pics are up! Beware - adult content.

Dip!! Your pictures are awesome! I can tell the difference in your older pics just by the face... well except for the really, really young pic...:lol: But wow you really were a cutie! Your puppies are too cute for words too, and that pilot, ouch!! HOT! Keep posting...

Stick with us Dip and you will be wearing a bikini by next year. ;)

JC

Dip, those pics are great! :)

My friends, you have no idea what it took for me to post ANY pics of me. For the last 28 years, I have allowed very few to be taken.
Posting the NOW pics was agonizing. I put them up and deleted them at least 4 times. But they are up there in full public view and I am accountable to myself to make the next pics show improvement!

Bikini? LOL. Not this old gal. I will be beyond happy with shorts and a tank top. I got the skin thing going, and because it's old, it looks wrinkley like elephant skin. Even though someday plastic surgery might be an option, right now I believe I would have my nose done first. Always wanted a nose job.

Thanks for all your encouragement! I eats it up!

dip

Dip

it's agonizing for most of us buddy.

JC