Body Fat Percentage and Changes

[afff_667]

I'm 49 (shit, that's harsh) and have been working with a small group (five to eight or so) of folks and a couple of trainers every weekday morning for about five months now. We alternate strength days split between upper and lower with cardio/core days and are held strictly accountable for what we put in our pie holes. Additionally, I've started jogging on my own, as well. Food guidelines provided to me by the trainers are 1,647 cals/day broken down between 180g protein, 108g carbs, and 55g fat. I try to eat as clean as possible at all times, but we are "allowed" one cheat meal per week.

Although I see my body changing a little and feel immensely better, I'm not seeing the weight loss I hoped to accomplish. Pants and shirts are loser, but I'd like to see changes on the scale although I don't step on one that often. I weighed 217 when I started and am right around 210 now with a goal of losing 30 to 40 pounts and get down to mid 170s or so. Long-term goal is that I leave the group and continue on as a solo act.

The trainers do periodic body fat percentage calculations based on caliper measurements and I've gone, according to their measurements, from 26.6 to 13.3 percent body fat over the period I've been working out with them. When I mention that I'd really like to also be losing weight, they tell me to be patient and that it will come...

Okay, patience is not one of my strengths, so I'd some feedback from y'all if possible on what the body fat percentage loss means in terms of weight loss, body composition, and if I should continue to be patient. I am totally committed for the long haul, so I need to put things in perspective.

[VooDoo6Actual]

Your body is most likely shifting it's composition from fat to muscle. Or BMI realignment.
Looks to me like your trainers calcs are GTG.
Remember, muscle is approx. 8 X heavier than fat so the density changes which is why your seeing measurement drops but not an appreciable "lbs" drop. Hang in there the reprogramming of your body & converting to muscle in anaerobic phase is happening it's just not as fast as we all like @ 49 years of age.

Not sure how much cardio your doing or what type as it relates to aerobic stimulus that burns fat faster & more efficiently than anaerobic exercise does.

Just my initial triage & read from your details.

Best part of it all is you do feel better !

HTH....

[jasonhgross]

That 13.3 percent bodyfat doesnt sound right. At 13%, you wouldnt be super ripped, but you would look muscularly HUGE at that the weight you are quoting. I have a feeling the measurment is completly off.

[afff_667]

That 13.3 percent bodyfat doesnt sound right. At 13%, you wouldnt be super ripped, but you would look muscularly HUGE at that the weight you are quoting. I have a feeling the measurment is completly off.

I agree...and that's part of what has me curious about this. I've been taking the BF measurements with a grain of salt and using it as a guide or for an overall trend, i.e. that I'm making "progress." The 13.3% BF measurement from last week just doesn't jibe with what I picture. I'm not ripped and still have my love handles...most importantly, I'm simply not yet happy with the way I look. My goals are reasonable, though.

VooDoo6Actual echoed some of the comments from the trainers...that things are realigning, etc, and that I should see more weight loss once things are aligned.

Again, I do feel like I'm making progress, and I'm sure as hell better off physically than I was six months ago. I started jogging to increase the cardio side of things even though our cardio workouts are intense. I'll keep plugging away...

[Vic303]

afff, are you doing any cycling still/yet? That is a great way to increase your cardio without the stress on your feet. IIRC, you previously indicated foot-issues. There are a ton of rides around Frisco that are good, and if you get out north of 380, you can really put on the miles. I just got my first century on the bike, since 1997 I think, back on Saturday at the Red River Rally.

If you wanna ride, PM me and we can work something out/hook you up with other Frisco riders etc.

Vic303

[afff_667]

afff, are you doing any cycling still/yet? That is a great way to increase your cardio without the stress on your feet. IIRC, you previously indicated foot-issues. There are a ton of rides around Frisco that are good, and if you get out north of 380, you can really put on the miles. I just got my first century on the bike, since 1997 I think, back on Saturday at the Red River Rally.

If you wanna ride, PM me and we can work something out/hook you up with other Frisco riders etc.

Vic303

A bicycle is on the horizon, but I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. I got a healthy dose of sticker shock when I started looking...I'm not sure a Huffy from Walfart will cut it.

But, yes, riding is right up there at or near the top of the list of fitness pursuits. I'll keep it in mind and will plan on contacting you once I can get a bike.

[Smash]

That 13.3 percent bodyfat doesnt sound right. At 13%, you wouldnt be super ripped, but you would look muscularly HUGE at that the weight you are quoting. I have a feeling the measurment is completly off.

How can you make the assumption that he would look "HUGE" with a body fat percentage and weight but no height?

[AR15barrels]

Are you sure the recommendations were not for 180g of carbs and 108g of protein?

[jasonhgross]

I dunno, even a 6'5" guy at a BF of 13.3% and 215 or so pounds would look pretty ripped. And a 5'8" guy at the same BF would look downright MEAN.

[Smash]

That 13.3 percent bodyfat doesnt sound right. At 13%, you wouldnt be super ripped, but you would look muscularly HUGE at that the weight you are quoting. I have a feeling the measurment is completly off.

I dunno, even a 6'5" guy at a BF of 13.3% and 215 or so pounds would look pretty ripped. And a 5'8" guy at the same BF would look downright MEAN.

This is what I was asking