% body fat
 

Does anyone know how accurate the body fat calculators are? I used the one at Health Central and it calculated me at 29% (ideal 22%) and said I should lose 20 pounds of body fat. However, my weight is 215 and the tables say I should lose 70 pounds!

I'm sure that the 70 pounds would be more accurate. Is there any way to accurately calculate my % of body fat?

Thanks for your help.

Hi Peg
 

There are a few formulas for calculating body fat and lean body mass. If you have a copy of the Eades Protein Power there is one in there. Alternatively here is a link to a calculator that's pretty accurate. It will provide your body fat % and if you fill out all the information, it will generate a chart with your lean body mass, required calories/protein/fat/carbs based on how many cal/pound you supply (rule of thumb is 10 to 12 times your weight for calories and at least .6 g protein per pound). It is quite accurate.

CKD Parameter Calculator

You may find as you lose LCing that you'll have to adjust your goal weight. With this WOE you lose body fat and gain lean muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat and yet occupies less space. You find yourself weighing more but taking up less space.

Best of luck
Nat

Re: Hi Peg
 

So, should we actually measure and watch the measurements. Weight could be deceptive is we are gaining muscle and loosing fat.

??:confused:

Karen Mc

This is the best advice I've received on that topic, and it's no coincidence it came from Karen. "Don't worry about your goal. If you reach it and you're not happy about it, or if you find you want to stop before your there, you've got it made either way. "

Based on measurements combined with weights I've had from past attempts at weight loss and some playing around with the calculator I've upped my goal to 162. Should I find myself at 170 with the measurements I want then I will stop there. It's a personal decision. You'll know when you feel good in your skin.

That being said, please keep taking your measurements, it's a great motivator for those times when the scales just wont move!

Nat

Karen,
Yes, take measurements! The scale can be very tricky sometimes and I prefer taking measurements. Also, if you haven't already done so, take a before picture. When you see your after pic, you won't believe your eyes! Best of luck to you!

Linda

weight charts
 

I just wanted to add that the charts that are designed by the insurance companies to tell us what a healthy weight is DO NOT take into account muscle mass ... and I feel that they are all TOO low.

Getting bodyfat to a healthy level and feeling good about yourself are much better goals than focusing on the scale. Pictures, measurements, and the good ol' "old jeans" method are also other methods you can use in conjunction with bodyfat.

to demonstrate how "off" those charts are, look my stats up. I am 6'3" and hovering around 230 lbs ... with about 13% bodyfat (I am bulking up ...)

Those charts have me WAY overweight, but there is no way that I am unhealthy. See what I mean?

Just my 2 cents ...

So THAT's why you have no head....
 

...you cut it off to fit into the body chart parameters, eh? I knew there was a reason....

Rachel

Weight and BMI charts....
 

Peg, I share your frustration with these tables and charts. Various weight tables tell me I "should" weigh anything from 110 to 135. Various body fat calculations tell me I have anything from 95 to 105 pounds of lean body mass. Probably somewhere in the middle is about right.....

I can get obsessed with these figures as easily as I get obsessed with the scale. I figure I'll know it's time to stop losing weight when I can't grab handfuls of fat anymore. (OK, LITTLE handfuls might be allowable!) I find the best way to calculate my progress is with a too-small pair of jeans. My 'old' too-small ones are now too big, so I know I've done SOMETHING right, even though the scales move ssslllloooowwwwllllllllyyyyyyyy..........

Rachel