Ironman Ideal Race Weight.. (Page 2)

This user's post has been ignored.

I didn't realize the exposure was that low for a Dexa scan. That's good to know. That would explain why we make our patients wait 48-72 hrs before having a Dexascan after a nuclear med exam.

We don't have a facility near Binghamton that uses a Dexascan for BF analysis. The techs at the hospital had never heard that it can be used to measure body fat.

Ahh, but you see, Trevor, this is part of my thinking on this. You are WAY faster than those guys. You are a big guy but even I am bigger than those two and we both have better results. Not sure what that means either, just saying.

One quick note on the BF thing.  As long as you are using the same method (scale, etc) at the same time each day then you can get a trend.  That's what you are looking for.  Even if my scale was jacked and said I was 12% BF I would take that number and use it as my baseline for trending.  Systematic error is ok, random error is not.

It was funny that I had several people, one of my pro friends even, say that I went into IM Louisville too skinny.  I tried to gain about 5 lbs the month before but couldn't.  Race day I was 150#'s and I am 5' 10.5".  4.5% body fat according to the Tanita scale.

Exactly, Dan, I have heard that said as well, not to me but in regards to others and i wonder what the basis for that is. That's why I started the thread, to see if there is something to that.

This user's post has been ignored.

Bryan when are we going to put together a relay? We need someone who can swim well

Edited by Focker 2009-12-16 8:55 PM

There are way better swimmers than me! In fact there are better stand alone runners as well. I'm strongest on the bike, but that's where you are the strongest. See, Ironman racing is all about being good at all three as opposed to just great at one.

a) I am certain that the ideal weight varies by person
b) I know that my ideal weight for racing is way less than my ideal weight for health
c) My ideal weight for health is about 180 (18 lbs less than my current) and my ideal racing weight would be around160 (20 lbs off of that) at 5' 10.5"
d) Currently, my weight fluctuates between 198 and 203.  My BF% is 14%.

Why do you say that, Mike? 20lbs for someone your height is a huge swing. I am about the same height and my weight changes by about 5-7 lbs at most during the year. Either 160 for your build is way too light or 180 is too heavy. And I can't see how you body fat % at 200 could only be 14%. If that's true, how could you possibly get to 160?

Edited by bryancd 2009-12-17 7:39 AM

Some weight history.
18 months ago, I weighed 237 with 32%BF
You see my profile pic?  That is one year ago ~ 212 and 18% BF.
I weighed 165 when I got married, but I lost 15 pounds due to nerves and I didn't look good.

My legs are ridiculously large and lean, especially my calves.

The only way that I could weigh 160-165 is to really test the limits of my nutrition.  Thus far, I just train and eat what I want, within reason.

All of the 'really fast' triathletes (Kona Qualifiers and guys who come close) that I know are constantly pushing the bottom end of their healthy weight scale.

I am more in this to kick up my heart health and to look better than to KQ.

If you weigh 198 and have 14% body fat that is 27-28 pounds of body fat.

If lost 28 pounds and you got to 170 and didn't lose any lean body mass you'd be at 0% body fat. How could your ideal body weight be 160 to race unless you are planning on dropping significant amount of lean body mass?

The math doesn't add up.

It similar to me what I'd like to weigh isn't possible with my body type, lean body mass and my body fat percentages. If I weighed 150 I'd be at between 14-15 % body fat which pretty low for women my age.

I would obviously have to lose lean body mass.  My coach is 6'2" ex-powerlifter/body builder/college football player who used to weigh around 200 lbs with 6% BF.  He races at 170 with about the same BF%.

Edited by pga_mike 2009-12-17 9:07 AM

I train with the winner of 25-29 age winner at IMOO and he raced at 136 lbs. As long as you see some giggle if you jump up and down - you can lose some more weight.

All I know is I feel better running and cycling the lighter I get, the recover is easier and I haven't seen any decline in energy levels or changes in mood. Raced Imoo at 147 and will target 140 this year for my A race. However, dropping the weight starts now - not in the middle of my race prep when I need food. It has to be a very long process to adjust.

I don't think there is an ideal weight, you start doing the Peter Reed thing and you've got some problems - its should still be a game for AG athletes. Stand at the finish line of a race and you'll notice a trend, the body composition of athletes changes throughout the day...leanest to not so lean. Its not the only factor, but it is a factor.

Is this a new test?  Do you have to giggle, as in laugh nervously or like a little girl, though?

Sounds like a great test to me -- Do you jiggle when you giggle?

im 6'2" 215 currently and around 17% bf (dexa scan) it also measures your Subcutaneous (sp) fat. the fat around your organs as well as the cutaneous fat the stuff that people can see this is measured by easily by calipers According to this I am 10-12% BF.

Im starting my base training next monday for a half and then IM Louisville. I am going to try to get to 190 race weight for IMLV. My Lean muscle mass will drop as well as the BF. From talking with several research Dr.'s in a weight loss management lab that I work at 6-8% is a good to be around for endurance type events such as Ironman.

Ill be doing Dexa and Caliper measurements through out my training to see how they differ and see how my body comp changes along the way.

17% via dexa scan vs calipers at 10-12% is pretty big difference....interesting. It will be intersting to see how they change over time. Did the lab you work at say anything about the variation?

I've done calipers, dunking, and impedance all within 3 months and they were all within 1% body fat so I figured it was pretty close but sort of thought from how I looked they had my body fat lower than it really was. I got a new IM scale, well won it at IMLP as biggest loser, and used it for first time recently and it is way off the other methods...I don't see how my lean body mass could have dropped 20 pounds from a year ago with my weight close.

Looks like were in the same ball park. But as long as your training paces don't slow down and you feel good, I'd say your fine. I look at it as a better power/ weight ratio

On a side note, swimming helps me maintain more muscle mass. Plus tossing in Dry-Land and Weights a couple times a week makes a HUGE difference, especially when the running picks up.

ME!

". I got a new IM scale, well won it at IMLP as biggest loser, and used it for first time recently and it is way off the other methods...I don't see how my lean body mass could have dropped 20 pounds from a year ago with my weight close"

Body Fat percentage on those type of scales is pretty useless.

Just good for watching trends I think.

im curious how many have had a dexa scan, what it would run money wise, and where they are located? i am not finding much on the availability of them from my googling but im in the UK so it might be different parameters. particularly in georgia.

reading this thread, has made me feel better about my time in IMAZ. i think weighing in at 212 did me no favors on the run. i run faster at 200 and plan to go in around that weight at IMFL. trying to shave 45 mins on my second IM.

I was very surprised when my BF% on my Tanita was exactly what it was when I got weighed hydrostatically. Both were over what I had thought I should have been but I am pretty confident the hydrostatic measurement was as accurate as it could be. I see a difference if I step on the scale with dry feet vs wet or damp feet. It's much more consistent with wet feet.

That is what I had happen when I did the hydrostatic method and my old scale very close within less than 1% of body fat percentage. I was surprised when I used the more expensive Tanita version my body fat was so different like 10% more body fat...hmmm

the variation comes from the visceral fat that lines your organs and the cutaneous fat that that is on the outer parts of your skin... vs just the cutaneous fat that is measured in calipers

Training starts today so I'm going to try to sneak on to the DEXA to get a baseline measurement.