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So, it looks like I actually have 5.3% body fat…

post #1 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:06am
Thread Starter 
Using the handheld device. It looks like the cute bimbo at the gym who measured me last time said that my BMI (19.8) was my body fat percentage. Well, i had a reading taken again and I have 5.3% body fat...which can't be good. How do I get that up a percentage or 2 without adding weight to my core? (read: nothing in front of my abs)

Jon.
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post #2 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:14am
this thread is useless w/o pics
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post #3 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Using the handheld device. It looks like the cute bimbo at the gym who measured me last time said that my BMI (19.8) was my body fat percentage. Well, i had a reading taken again and I have 5.3% body fat...which can't be good. How do I get that up a percentage or 2 without adding weight to my core? (read: nothing in front of my abs)

Jon.

Do you know what 5.3% BF looks like? That's a competition percentage.

Follow this link and scroll down to Shredded.

Compare to yourself.

lefty
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post #4 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lefty View Post
Do you know what 5.3% BF looks like? That's a competition percentage.

Follow this link and scroll down to Shredded.

Compare to yourself.

lefty

Again, as I stated, this was according to the machine, perhaps it is quite inaccurate. For my weight / height however, I'm, telling you that there is no way I'm that far away from that number.

Jon.
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post #5 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Using the handheld device. It looks like the cute bimbo at the gym who measured me last time said that my BMI (19.8) was my body fat percentage. Well, i had a reading taken again and I have 5.3% body fat...which can't be good. How do I get that up a percentage or 2 without adding weight to my core? (read: nothing in front of my abs)

Jon.

Why do you want to add fat? Do you have a fat target you're trying to reach / maintain? And why would you dismiss a reading that seems inaccurate, and then base your future goals on that inaccurate reading?

Something doesn't add up here.

Try a different meter/method before you load up on the apple fritters.
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post #6 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas View Post
Why do you want to add fat? Do you have a fat target you're trying to reach / maintain? And why would you dismiss a reading that seems inaccurate, and then base your future goals on that inaccurate reading?

Something doesn't add up here.

Try a different meter/method before you load up on the apple fritters.

Well, I was assuming that the reading was correct and looking at options. I am of course going get another opinion. My problem however has been gaining weight in general; my metabolism is faster than superman.

Jon.
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post #7 of 60
4/8/08 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Well, I was assuming that the reading was correct and looking at options. I am of course going get another opinion. My problem however has been gaining weight in general; my metabolism is faster than superman.

Jon.

That is not a bad problem to have.

I doubt there's much I can tell you that you don't already know about gaining weight. I will say this, though. Over the course of three years I put on around 35 lbs - not all quality muscle mind you - and hated the extra baggage. I dropped 20 and have settled at my current weight which Mrs. T still finds too slim.
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post #8 of 60
4/8/08 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Again, as I stated, this was according to the machine, perhaps it is quite inaccurate. For my weight / height however, I'm, telling you that there is no way I'm that far away from that number.

Jon.

Your weight and your height have zero to do with your BF%.

Post pics and let's see the striations and vascularity.

lefty
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post #9 of 60
4/8/08 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lefty View Post
Your weight and your height have zero to do with your BF%.

Post pics and let's see the striations and vascularity.

lefty

But there is going to be a difference between how a person that is 5' 7" and 123lbs with 5.3% body fat looks like than some one with the same height and body fat that is 140 lbs, no?

Jon.
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post #10 of 60
4/8/08 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
But there is going to be a difference between how a person that is 5' 7" and 123lbs with 5.3% body fat looks like than some one with the same height and body fat that is 140 lbs, no?

Jon.

Sorry, you need to rephrase that for me to understand what you're trying to say.

lefty
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post #11 of 60
4/8/08 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
But there is going to be a difference between how a person that is 5' 7" and 123lbs with 5.3% body fat looks like than some one with the same height and body fat that is 140 lbs, no?

Jon.

Not really. At 5.3% (under 7% really), you'll resemble an anatomy chart no matter your height/weight. Most of the fat will be internal/insulation. The difference between weight points at similar heights will - for the most part - be a question of muscle shape/prominence.

To put it differently, it's the difference between elite marathoners and bodybuilders. They both look like anatomy charts at low bodyfat levels.
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post #12 of 60
4/8/08 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, so then what would be the most accurate way to test body fat in order to avoid any confusion?

Jon.
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post #13 of 60
4/8/08 at 1:40pm
iirc, underwater weighing is probably a good benchmark, although it is a tad inconvenient. Probably more important that you use the same method and equipment and monitor your trends over time.

What's probably more important than your bodyfat is your general strength and energy level. Unless you're in a bodyfat level competition, whatever that might be.
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post #14 of 60
4/8/08 at 3:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Well, I was assuming that the reading was correct and looking at options. I am of course going get another opinion. My problem however has been gaining weight in general; my metabolism is faster than superman.

Jon.
The reason for not gaining weight is not your metabolism but because you are lazy. I thought I had the same problem until I added an additional 1000 calories per day, and I gained 21 pounds over the course of 10 weeks.

If you actually think that you have a BF % anywhere close to that number then BF is not something you should even care about, just use the mirror and bulk until you are satisfied.
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post #15 of 60
4/8/08 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DjSap View Post
The reason for not gaining weight is not your metabolism but because you are lazy. I thought I had the same problem until I added an additional 1000 calories per day, and I gained 21 pounds over the course of 10 weeks.

If you actually think that you have a BF % anywhere close to that number then BF is not something you should even care about, just use the mirror and bulk until you are satisfied.

Um, what are you talking about? I eat ¼ to ½ more per day (everyday) than I used to. I hit the gym at least 4 times a week, and lift heavily and consistently (and yes, I have been seeing some gains).

I don't know why you just assumed that everyone had the same body type as you do and has a propensity to add bodyweight as easily as you do.

Jon.
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