Body Fat Percentage Question?
Hi, I have a quick question about body fat percentage. Recently I had my body fat measured by an electronic device in my local gym which I had to hold at arms length. I was around 11 stones at that time, and my body fat percentage was 19%. Today I took the reading again, with my weight at 10 stones 7 pounds, and had a body fat of 19.8%. Does this mean that I have only being losing muscle not fat? How is this possible? Is there a possibility that the measurement was incorrect- if not I'm a bit scared lol! it must mean I've lost over half a stone in muscle not in fat!! What the hell is going on! I do cardio and resistance machines, and have weights at home- am I doing something criticallly wrong -lol!!! Cheers for your help Cheers for the proper answers- but run, walk swim? wot help is that? I'm going to the gym every day, where I'm doing 2hrs of cardiovascular plus 40 mins swimming- so saying that doesn't help.
Public Comments
- Good news! basically you can't be doing anything 'Critically Wrong' In excersise unless you are using the machines wrong. Maybe you lost alot of water weight which happens alot during the summer.
- You cant trust them machines. Ive got some scales but I dont trust them eg they say im about 35% and im a quite lean bodybuilder! The only way your going to get an accurate reading is to go to a professional and get it done there...
- the body mass index simple sum result is fat % weight in kilograms ------------------------------------------ height in metres x height in metres age 10 > 30 is 10 to 18% male female 20 to 25% age 31 > 40 is 13 to 19 % male female 21 to 27% hope this helps
- walk run swim
- You lose water faster than fat. Dont rely on gadgets and pseudo science. Get naked, look in the mirror, thats the only parameter you should use.
- These devices are semi-accurate, in my opinion. However, they measure your body fat by sending a current through one arm (or leg) and measuring how long it takes for the current to travel to the other arm (or leg). It can vary by how much water and food you have in your body. For me, I measure myself first thing in the morning and at night and take the average. You aren't going to know exactly what your body fat percentage is, but it's going to give you a rough estimate. From the numbers it gave you, I'd say you are a solid 19%, give or take 1%.
- WEll you could be gaining muscels. I weigh the same as you, welcome to the 150 pound club lol!
- You can't trust those machines. Go to your doctor or get a device like this one: http://www.thecompetitiveedge.com/ The following healthy living recommendations will help you if you’re trying to lose weight, tone up your muscles, have aspirations of building lean muscle mass, are attempting to get a wash board stomach, or just want to feel better: *1) Burn more calories then you're consuming everyday and measure your results using the following formula: Calories Consumed minus Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) minus Physical Activity minus the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). A website that explains this formula in more detail and will help you determine how many calories you need to reach or maintain a certain weight is at http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm Get an online, desktop, or cell phone diet and fitness calculator. This will allow you to easily calculate the above formula, set goals, log your daily calorie consumption, and register your physical activities. Set realistic goals for your ideal body weight. Here are two websites that will calculate a suggested body weight: Adults: http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm Teens/Children: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/weight/bmi.html It is difficult and unhealthy to lose more than one or two pounds per week. There are 3,500 calories in a pound. If you eat 500 fewer calories per day for a week you will lose one pound. If you burn through exercise 500 more calories per day for a week you will lose one pound. Here are two articles on how to break through a weight loss plateau: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/86/99147.htm http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/18/102117.htm *2) Eat natural and organic foods found on earth versus something created by a corporation to make money. Eat meals in small portions throughout the day and take a good multi-vitamin supplement. Do not try fad diets or diet pills. Avoid “High Glycemic Load Carbs” (sugar, pastries, desserts, refined starches such as breads, pasta, refined grains like white rice; high starch vegetables such as potatoes) and drink lots of water. 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The following is a website and numerous articles on cardiovascular, core, and strength training: Exercise Prescription on the Net http://www.exrx.net/ Starting an Exercise Program: http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/startexercise.htm Strength Training Basics: http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/trainbasics.htm Cardiovascular Machine Workouts: http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/cardiowork.htm Balance Your Way to a Stronger Body: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/64/72314.htm Understanding Your Training Heart Rate: http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/thr.htm Exercise Errors: http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/errors.htm Getting a Flat Stomach: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/71/81365.htm Weight Lifting - Does Order Matter: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/80/96440.htm Encouraging Exercise in Your Kids: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/95/103524.htm Strength Training Safe and Effective for Kids: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/32/1728_81005.htm *4) Get plenty of sleep. Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety. *5) Educate yourself continually on health issues and make a life long commitment to good health. A great free publication is “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005”. A reputable test you can take to measure your biological age is at http://realage.com Look at all areas where you can enhance your health. For example, make improvements in the quality of the air you breathe. Review outdoor air quality forecasts where you live and get an indoor air purifier. Send me an email or yahoo instant message to "gainbetterhealth" if you have any questions and good luck! *Click on all the source links below to get the full benefit of the recommendations. The answers presented to your health questions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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