LaraStar's Journal, 09 Aug 11

I know what you mean LaraStar, I am in a very similar situation. Body fat is so hard to shift, I feel better, more toned etc, have been strength training, cardio training etc, but my BF is stubbornly staying... I worked it out, from previous weight loss, that I have to loose 7-8 pounds to loose 1% of body fat.... Given that I really only want to loose another 14 pounds - which will be a healthy weight for me - that only means a 2% BF loss - I need to loose at least 10% -15% for my BF to be in the healthy range. I spoke to my personal trainer about it, and she has given me another programme to follow - which is more endurance based i.e. Lower weights but more reps, not so much cardio - cardio I am doing is based around stamina rather than speed. It then gradually increases. I am going to see how tha pans out. If you find a solution, I would be interested to know the secret. They do say that if you don't eat enough calories, your body hangs on to the body fat. 

Interesting numbers Skinny...I was hoping you had an answer! I don't really understand the measurement because it doesn't add up to 100. Also where is the weight of your bones and internal organs? 6 lbs less have reduced my BF by 0.3%. And I know I haven't lost muscle. Does this mean I have to lose another 60 lbs to get into a healthy range?! I guess time will tell. 

I have some Tanita body analyser scales and they measure weight, BF%, water, bone, muscle, viscal fat and your BMR. The numbers puzzle me sometimes. If my water % is up then my BF% is usually down, the muscle gives me a reading in stones and pounds (this is not just muscle but bone as well). The bone measurement is a complete mystery - when I 1st got them, I thought I didn't have any bones and got in a right panic lol. Visceral fat is the dangerous fat around your middle - mine has gone down 2 points - which is good, it's well within the "good" range, but my BF% hasn't, that's showing me as obese!!! Despite having a BMI of 26.6 - which is not that far off the normal range. Mind you, I have "pockets" of fat that I can grab hold of. On my legs I have a "dent" when I cross them in a certain way - that has very little fat and can feel my muscle strengthening. Whereas other parts I can grab a handful of fat. I'm just going to keep exe with the cardio and strength training and hope it sorts itself out. :-) 

Lara, are you weighing at the same time of the day, with the same level of hydration? I have the Tanita BC-554 scale and I experience what Sk1nny does. In the manual they write, "Weight may fluctuate day-to-day and so may body fat percentage. Much of this fluctuation depends on the body's state of hydration. Variations in hydration can be due to food, caffeine or alcohol consumption, medication, diuretics, strenuous exercise, stress or illness. To ensure accuracy, readings should be taken without clothing and under consistent conditions of hydration. Try to wait about three hours after rising, eating or hard exercise before taking measurements." 

You're body fat will be highest in the a.m. and lower in the p.m. since you've been hydrating. Make sure you are getting enough water all day. I take mine in the a.m. and p.m.  

:-) I know this isn't my post, but I am finding this interesting too. Def true about the fluctuation in a.m and p.m. I am journalling an a.m and p.m reading every day from now, so I can check to see how effective m new workout programme is working. LaraStar the Tanita scales are good - bit expensive, but they are supposed to be the Market leaders in body composition scales. I have taken my readings before I went to have my meetings with the personal trainer and they pretty much match what the gym readings do - so I know they are pretty accurate. 

Thanks all for commenting. I will do the measurements again later in the day. But then my weight will be 5 or more lbs higher. I guess in the morning there is a degree of dehydration but water content of 49.5% is pretty good I thought. I have noticed that water and muscle go up together which makes sense. I might get new scales too, the cheap ones just can't be trusted. :) 

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I upped my cardio, already hit the weights super hard, eat healthy. And what happens i gain a pound but increase 2 lbs in lean body mass. It's so f'in frustrating that sometimes i just can't take it. Good luck though. Agreed tanita scales are good. Hope things get better.  

Ninjapanda.... At least it's good news that you have gained 2lbs of lean body mass. Personally I would rather that than loose pounds..... Because in the end that lean body mass will need more calories to fuel itself and therefore eventually you will start loosing. After all, what do the pounds matter - it is really all about body fat % and lean body mass. 

Ninjapanda...Despite putting 2lbs on, you probably still look slimmer and more toned. And your muscles are burning calories even when you're not going to the gym!;) Have you lost much BF? 

Cries i'm at the same BF. Thats the most deperessing. Gained weight and at the same BF. Can you say fail. Also my height keeps changing apparently. At my gym i'm 5'5 ish and the nurse i'm 5'6. Total fail.  

This gets more confusing! What else do you have to do to lose BF? Might just stick to inch measuring and what I see in the mirror! When I pinch my stomach or triceps fold, there is now about half of what used to be there.