turgay Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 I have been happy with the weight loss but am now @ 16% body fat. Am I to be concerned if it gets too low? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Rose Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Are you male or female? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turgay Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 I am a female in my late 30s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethany Lannon Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 How did you measure your body fat? 16% for a woman seems dangerously low - like loss of menstrual cycle low.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turgay Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 I know...I got on a scale at home...yes, menstrual cycle was lower this time-around, last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethany Lannon Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Chances are the scale is highly inaccurate. Mine says 29-30% body fat, but handheld monitor tells me 23-24%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amberino21 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I don't trust the accuracy of the scales either - you'd be better off getting someone to test you with calipers, or even better, get a scan done if you're that interested in knowing. and unless you have a reason to need to be low BF%, it's not best to be that low... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmary Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I have been happy with the weight loss but am now @ 16% body fat. Am I to be concerned if it gets too low? _____________________________ turgay, these statements are not really compatible. If you are happy with weight loss, then you should be happy about a lower body fat percentage because if you lost weight without lowering that percentage you would be losing muscle which is really not good at all. I have a few thoughts: 1) measuring body fat % on a scale is inaccurate enough to be laughable. That number does not mean anything and it does not matter. 2) you probably aren't 16% body fat. That is very very low for a woman and pretty unlikely unless you are trying really hard (much easier to be too skinny with still relatively high BF %). 16% isn't likely unless you are dieting hard and training hard. My suggestions are to first STOP WEIGHING YOURSELF!!! Second, stop trying to measure body fat percentage with a bathroom scale (if you really really want to measure this, do a DEXA scan or a Bodpod). Now, consider how you feel and perform. Are you eating enough so you are not hungry between meals? Are your moods stable? Do you have energy to do everything you want to do? Are you getting periods? Is your sex drive normal for you? If the answer to all of these is yes, I wouldn't worry too much. If any of these is a no, then I would take a look at your food portions and add more. add more fat, more protein and more vegetables until you get to a place where all of the answers are yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turgay Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 Thank you-all of your feedback is super. I am not used to losing this much weight. I will find the balance as I add more fat, protein, & veggies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Rose Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Do you train with weights? If you have a lot of muscle, and its visible and you are very vascular, then a body fat of 16 % would be possible. I had mine tested in a bod of and I was 23.9. The technician said that I was on the lowest border of what is considered healthy for a female, any less is considered under fat. I do intend to try and drop to 20 % but by lifting very heavy weights and adding muscle. For a woman who doesn't lift and isnt an athlete to be below 23-30 % is NOT healthy. The technician said lower is acceptable in athletes though. What sort of training do you do and are you happy with your appearance? I am chasing a six pack, so that's why I want to drop to 20 %. As soon as those abs are out, I will maintain. Loss of periods is a very bad sign and for performance , rather than aesthetics, a slightly higher body fat is preferable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amberino21 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 6 pack? 20%?!? Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris74 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I was at 18 before I started, not sure what I am now. Can see abs, mostly obliques. Suppose I could work on them but I don't and probably won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris74 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Got my BF% from a bodpod test Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Rose Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 6 pack? 20%?!? Good luck! I already have the outline at 23% and Jamie Eason had one at 20 %. We are all different and abs show up at different levels in different individuals. I don't think it's unrealistic for me and hey, If I am not happy at 20 % , I can go lower. I don't do physique competitions so the only eye I have to please is my own : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I already have the outline at 23% and Jamie Eason had one at 20 %. We are all different and abs show up at different levels in different individuals. I don't think it's unrealistic for me and hey, If I am not happy at 20 % , I can go lower. I don't do physique competitions so the only eye I have to please is my own : ) Yeah, I think it varies depending on your body type/where you carry your fat. An apple body would have to go a lot lower to achieve 6 pack abs than a pear. I'm a pear so I have less fat on my stomach and its one of the last places fat accumulates (its all on my thighs and butt) I always have the vertical definition lines no matter what. I think I'm around 22% BF and since doing the Whole 30 I'm starting to get a hint of the horizontal line definition... the very beginnings of a 6-pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptah Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I'm truly not trying to be provocative here, but can somebody explain to me how precisely measuring your body fat during a Whole 30 (or at any time for that matter) is in line with the principles and template of this plan and lifestyle? I understand the value of competition so are all of you who are talking about this body builders and therefore discussing it in that context? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amberino21 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I'm truly not trying to be provocative here, but can somebody explain to me how precisely measuring your body fat during a Whole 30 (or at any time for that matter) is in line with the principles and template of this plan and lifestyle? I understand the value of competition so are all of you who are talking about this body builders and therefore discussing it in that context? I only have my BF% measured during comp prep - using calipers. This isn't the most accurate, so it's really just a way to know that I'm going in the right direction. Other times I have no clue. In terms of whether its whole 30 or not...I'm with you. It's still a way of "measuring", and the number still effects you in the same way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptah Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I only have my BF% measured during comp prep - using calipers. This isn't the most accurate, so it's really just a way to know that I'm going in the right direction. Other times I have no clue. In terms of whether its whole 30 or not...I'm with you. It's still a way of "measuring", and the number still effects you in the same way! Thanks Amber. Right, I guess that's what I would think. I struggle so much with the numbers and believe it or not, still have a battle in my head every morning when I get out of bed, about not weighing myself. It's hard to admit that and I am working hard to get out of that mentality. I would think that in a sport where the numbers matter so much, it would be challenging to find a healthy balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Rose Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I had it done before the whole30 and I did it as I have been working hard to improve my health and fitness for a long time. The opportunity came up, so I took it. I got a deal where I get retested in six months. One of my goals is to add a substantial amount of muscle to my frame and as I don't have coaches to measure for me, this is just a way to do it. I actually found it a really positive experience , because I am gaining weight on the scales and this helped me to be ok with that, in fact to embrace it. As someone who measures at the upper limits of the BMI test, it was encouraging to be on a low spectrum for once! It reassured me of something I always suspected, I have a big, strong heavy frame : )) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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