morning Holly that's great. you should be happy. I didn't weigh myself last week so don't have a marker, but i'm 121 this morning. up 2 from my 119, but under present circumstances it's really maintenance, at least I want to think so! sorry guys if TMI. I can handle maintenance but would rather have loss. So next week will be the test.

They have those body fat scales, I wonder how reliable they are. 30%? I don't think so.

Hi, Karen!

Holly, no way is that reading accurate. I've mentioned before that we have a pretty high speed center here and I had a test done late last year. It was 21%. I just did a couple of tests I found on the web and the results ranged from 19%-24%. That's a pretty big range. Very fit people (like you) tend to read about 3 points hight than they are when taking these "calculation" tests. Did they say to measure your waist at the navel or 1" over the navel? Try this one. No measuring!

http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/av.htm[/URL" target="_blank">

BTW, the testing I had done last year did not result in an underweight reading! I'm at low normal for my age and BMI was also okay. I think losing a little would make running easier and still keep me in a healthy range.

The only reliable way of measuring body fat is a dunk tank.

My bodycomp.com compares fatty body part measurements to skinny parts such as ankles, wrists and needs and comes up with an estimate.

A few year's ago I would regularly check my bf% with callipers, body measurements and body fat scales. The skinniest I got to was somewhere between 14% and 18% (18% on a man is approximately the equivalent of 31% on a woman).

In the end I got sick of the inconsistency and paid $75 to get my body fat measurement measured in a dunk tank at a local hospital. Guess what - 22%.

In th end I decided that the only measurement that matters is my waist measurement. I'd love to get down to 28". I'm currently 31-32. My max was 37-38.

The other way to monitor your progress is to take full length photos wearing as little as you dare.

Then post them here

holly - i agree with all the above - no way are you 30%!!

i'm finally staying the course better - down 2lbs this week!!
so 134 this morning - yahoo!! i'm getting there!!

30% body fat is not particularly fat on a woman.

Actually, recommended bodyfat for a woman is between 19% to 25% (per the BMI calculator online). 30% would be on the high end.

A friend of mine is a personal trainer. She started off weighing more then 300 pounds, she currently maintains at 150 pounds and along the course of her lifestyle change, decided she wanted to become a certified personal trainer. What a lifestyle change, huh? Last week she had a lady come in who had lost 80 pounds in 6 months and was at her goal weight. She body fat tested her and she was 35% bodyfat! The lady was shocked, so she went and got tested elsewhere. Same results - she was indeed 35% bodyfat at her "goal" weight! This is what happens when you crash diet and no exercise, you lose lean body mass. It was estimated she had lost 30% of her lean body tissue while dieting!

The whole body fat/weight issue may be more complex then just height and weight, obviously for this lady it was! That's why I liked Holly's thread of losing 5 pounds in 5 weeks. I know it sucks to lose that slowly, but imagine finding yourself at a higher body fat percentage after getting to your goal weight!

The true measure is an actual measure, not the calculator's online. My personal trainer is around 17% bodyfat, way too low for me. I think the goal of 19% to 25% is pretty reasonable to shoot for.

Holly at 30%? Doubt it... The testing thing they use at our athletic club here is called the Futrex body fat tester. It's a variation on the impedence method, where they use an electronic pulse at the midpoint on your bicep. The thing is all wrapped in black rubber which goes around your arm almost like a blood pressure cuff (but not all the way around). Variables entered in the machine are your height, weight, frequency and duration of cardio exercise (not sure why) and then out comes your result. At my lowest, it was under 8%, highest was about 18% several years ago. Most recently it was 11% (a year ago?). I've asked about the accuracy of this thing, and they assure me it's very accurate, and DH and my SIL get "reasonable" results from it. But I just don't know. I think I have very skinny arms. My butt and belly sure aren't showing 11%...

Seem to be in maintenance mode this week, which is ok for the week I've had. I'd still like to drop a couple to get down to "racing weight" as I call it, but I guess if I don't I don't care.

Sheri, those are interesting stats. But it does show the importance of exercise. Also why those fad/crash diets are so bad. Turns out you lose lean tissue and water mostly, then replace it with fat and water when you go "off" the diet (which always happens). Lifestyle changes and healthy eating are the only real solution... something you don't go "on" and "off."

Euphoric... helluva maintenance plan, girl. Easy does it.
Karen, yes, wait till after your marathon. Holly can tell you that dieting and marathon training don't really go hand-in-hand. Especially not with the mileage you've been doing!
Debbie, you're doing great. And another one who is really in maintenance mode anyway, right?
Gordon, I agree staying the same is ok, better than gaining, right??
ksrunr, you sound like me... but I'm that way with cutting brownies or cake... gotta clean up that edge. oops, that's crooked, let's straighten that out... oh hey, that one broke might as well take care of it... OMG I can eat half a pan of brownies that way!!

BAP, gonna see if anyone bites.

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