Team Skinny (July 09) Freedom isn't Free (Page 9)

cadreamer - 2009-07-15 6:30 PM In a completely gratuitous post of self-congratulation - this is my OFFICIAL post #3000 on this site.

Yes, I know, you are all overcome with shock and awe.

trysprintolympic - 2009-07-16 4:14 AM I have one of those bathroom scales that measure body fat percentage as well, and they are HUGELY affected by hydration levels. Rather than worrying about why they are so different, I would just make it a point to choose one and stick with it. The key is to get readings not only at the same time of day, but when you have the same hydration level (preferably well-hydrated, of course!).

saling4 - 2009-07-16 4:40 AM

 

WOW!!!!  SHOCK!!!! AWE!!!!  Can I go to sleep now?

LeahDD - 2009-07-15 9:08 PM According to my bathroom scale, weighing myself first thing in the morning, my body fat percentage is consistently mid-30's, which is, of course, way too high.  It has come down from the high-30's, but still too high.  We have two bathrooms and so I just bought a new fancy scale last night.  Bizarre.  The two scales register the same weight, but this morning the new scale said my body fat percentage was about 27% and the old one said 33%.  That's a pretty big difference.  I could chalk it up to old scale v. new scale, except that the old scale was always consistent with the body fat percentage measurements at Crossfit.  So, I was not convinced that the new scale was accurate.  I weighed myself tonight and the old scale said 30% body fat and the new one said 28%, which is pretty close.  I really don't know what to think.  The changing difference between the two scales, the difference between morning and night, etc.  It is crazy.  I can tell by looking at myself that there is a fair amount of fat still resting comfortably on my hips and thighs so I objectively know that I do still need to lose some more weight, but perhaps not as much as I think I do.  It is possible that I have more muscle than I think I do, after all I have been doing strength training like crazy since the first of the year. 

I always assume that there are 100-200 calories that I have under-calculated.  I try to calculate my calories accurately and for things I have the nutrition information, it is fairly easy.  But eating out and things like that make it difficult so I always assume that I probably ate 100-200 more calories than I was able to calculate.  Also, I really feel like I eat enough.  If I am hungry, I eat.  If I am not, I don't. 

Anyway, thanks for the advice.  You are a great group of people.  I am a little calmer tonight, partially because both scales showed such a drop in body fat percentage.  I'm not giving up.  Maybe I am closer than I think I am to my goal because I don't know what a good goal is. 

saling4 - 2009-07-16 5:47 PM

I am pulling the AARP card.  If it is over 105 I am not worrying about the time...I will do the distance but time is out the frickin window. 

Today officially sucked at 113a and it was supposed to be a Tempo run...Ended up being a Survival walk/run.

kat_astrophe - 2009-07-17 7:51 AM LeahDD and trysprintolympic -- I don't believe those home scales that measure BF%, because they are poorly-designed.


The error is systematic, though.  (Every time you measure your own BF%, there will be the same type of error.)  So these scales aren't totally worthless -- the absolute value of the measurement is questionable, but you can collect the data and use it over time to look at trends in body fat (up?  down?  flat?)  I use mine to assure myself that my body fat % is, in fact, steadily decreasing -- I just have no idea what my actual body fat % is!   

kat_astrophe - 2009-07-17 7:51 AM LeahDD and trysprintolympic -- I don't believe those home scales that measure BF%, because they are poorly-designed.

If you think about it, they are bipolar bioelectrical impedance analyzers -- they pass a tiny electrical current through your body and use the different electrical properties of different types of tissue to calculate the % of fat.  The problem is that this type of BIA has only two plates, and they are connecting your feet.  We all remember from school that electricity is essentially a lazy force of nature, and will take the shortest possible path to complete the circuit, right?   So what you are actually measuring is the % body fat on your lower body, not your trunk or upper body.  Bioelectrical impedance analyzers aren't all bad; it's just that to really get a good estimate using this method, you need a tetrapolar electrode setup that passes current all through your body.

Since a lot of women tend to primarily store fat on their lower bodies, home BIA scales are going to give really discouraging data to them and make them think their body composition is less favorable than it actually might be.  Conversely, since a lot of guys tend to pack on the abdominal fat while having relatively lean legs and butt, they might think they are less fat than they actually are, and thereby underestimate their risk for cardiovascular problems, etc.

The error is systematic, though.  (Every time you measure your own BF%, there will be the same type of error.)  So these scales aren't totally worthless -- the absolute value of the measurement is questionable, but you can collect the data and use it over time to look at trends in body fat (up?  down?  flat?)  I use mine to assure myself that my body fat % is, in fact, steadily decreasing -- I just have no idea what my actual body fat % is!   

Cead_Mille_Failte - 2009-07-19 4:39 AM Hello Teammies! I'm finally home and delighted because I was going crazy.

As for now all I can do is diet And it's been tough already as I've been eating everything in my sight, especially sweets- guess trying to make up for the hospital food. Hope you all have a great Sunday!