fight the flab

[thebish]

It's been discussed before I'm sure but BMI is a big bag of bollocks. I am 5'11'' (and a bit) and weigh 12.5 stone. By BMI has me, at 24.5, borderline obese. Bollocks.

Go for your body fat index instead, but you need better scales.

you're just in denial - you're a step away from fat frank!

my scales claim to be able to measure body fat - but I am sceptical that scales can really offer an accurate picture...

I have been. Literally. It's not pleasant.

The scale sends an electrical impulse through your body, which travels through fat and muscle differently, to give you a more accurate read. As muscle weighs more than fat my BMI reading is skewed because I train so much.

aye - the BMI anomalies for extreme athletic/sporty types are well rehearsed.... however - this does not apply in my case!

I'll pop upstairs in a minute and see what it reckons!

general internet consensus seems to suggest they are not especially reliable!

The Tanita, made famous by The Biggest Loser, and other body fat scales use bioelectrical impedance (BIA) to gauge the amount of lean mass, water, and fat in your body by sending a current from the metal plates under your feet through your body and timing how long it takes. While they are a relatively cheap option—you can find them for as little as $19.99 at any department store, and you can use them in the privacy of your own home—they are notoriously unreliable. Take a huge drink of water and watch your percentage change by up to 10 percent.

Are they accurate? No. They give an estimate and studies have concluded that body fat scales do not give precise readings. Consumer Reports tested body fat scales and found them all to be inaccurate. Factors such as body type, body temperature, hydration, and recent exercise can have a noteworthy impact on the number you see on the scale. Even wet or sweaty feet can skew the results.

however - i am not really after an accurate reading - just an indication of some change in the right direction! as long as it is consistently inaccurate in the same way each time i use it!

[Gary the Enfield]

It's been discussed before I'm sure but BMI is a big bag of bollocks. I am 5'11'' (and a bit) and weigh 12.5 stone. By BMI has me, at 24.5, borderline obese. Bollocks.

Go for your body fat index instead, but you need better scales.

you're just in denial - you're a step away from fat frank!

my scales claim to be able to measure body fat - but I am sceptical that scales can really offer an accurate picture...

I have been. Literally. It's not pleasant.

The scale sends an electrical impulse through your body, which travels through fat and muscle differently, to give you a more accurate read. As muscle weighs more than fat my BMI reading is skewed because I train so much.

aye - the BMI anomalies for extreme athletic/sporty types are well rehearsed.... however - this does not apply in my case!

I'll pop upstairs in a minute and see what it reckons!

general internet consensus seems to suggest they are not especially reliable!

The Tanita, made famous by The Biggest Loser, and other body fat scales use bioelectrical impedance (BIA) to gauge the amount of lean mass, water, and fat in your body by sending a current from the metal plates under your feet through your body and timing how long it takes. While they are a relatively cheap option—you can find them for as little as $19.99 at any department store, and you can use them in the privacy of your own home—they are notoriously unreliable. Take a huge drink of water and watch your percentage change by up to 10 percent.

Are they accurate? No. They give an estimate and studies have concluded that body fat scales do not give precise readings. Consumer Reports tested body fat scales and found them all to be inaccurate. Factors such as body type, body temperature, hydration, and recent exercise can have a noteworthy impact on the number you see on the scale. Even wet or sweaty feet can skew the results.

however - i am not really after an accurate reading - just an indication of some change in the right direction! as long as it is consistently inaccurate in the same way each time i use it!

Well, quite. A broken clock tells the correct time twice a day.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

And the fella who wants to be 10 stone...why ffs

Are you 4 foot 6?

Nope, 6' exactly. I used to be 9st 7lb - for nearly thirty years, and then I became ill and lost some weight, and then managed the illness and put weight back on, but I overshot and now want to get back to what I know is 'normal' for me. I probably never will, I'll probably hover just above ten stone for the rest of my life, but at least it's a target. I'm quite happy on 10st 7, but I was too 'fat' on 11 stone - I had a tiny roll of fat that overhung my jeans at the waist if I sat down and leant forward whereas what I want is sixpacks like concrete. I may very well look whippet like and ultra thin but all the muscles are as dense as lead, especially on the legs.

[thebish]

ok - so - according to my scales, I have a Body Fat Percentage of 30.6%

and therefore, according to this Body Fat Percentage chart, I am now OBESE whereas my BMI tells me I am just FAT!

thanks Enfield!!!

(however - why does this chart jump straight from "average" to "obese"?? how about some intermediary steps - chubby... slightly overweight... fat... porker??)




I have a Body Water Percentage of 47.6 - no idea if that is good or bad!

and I have a muscle mass of 34.7% - no idea what that means or of it is good or bad!

must do some more research... or - alternatively, some work!


edit:

allegedly, these are the levels for a non-athlete to aim for...

Male
Age Body-fat Body-water
18- 28 8-19% 60%
30- 39 11-21% 60%
40- 49 13-23% 55%
50- 59 15- 25% 55%
60-69 17- 27% 50%

so i need some more water-percentage and less body fat...

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I think that means you need to drink more beer Bish

[Lost Leopard Spot]

ok - so - according to my scales, I have a Body Fat Percentage of 30.6%

and therefore, according to this Body Fat Percentage chart, I am now OBESE whereas my BMI tells me I am just FAT!

thanks Enfield!!!

(however - why does this chart jump straight from "average" to "obese"?? how about some intermediary steps - chubby... slightly overweight... fat... porker??)




I have a Body Water Percentage of 47.6 - no idea if that is good or bad!

and I have a muscle mass of 34.7% - no idea what that means or of it is good or bad!

must do some more research... or - alternatively, some work!


edit:

allegedly, these are the levels for a non-athlete to aim for...

Male
Age Body-fat Body-water
18- 28 8-19% 60%
30- 39 11-21% 60%
40- 49 13-23% 55%
50- 59 15- 25% 55%
60-69 17- 27% 50%

so i need some more water-percentage and less body fat...

You need less of something and that's a fact - the figures you say you are means you're composed of 112% of stuff.

[thebish]

indeed - i expected them to add up to 100% - but they don't - not do they when my missus tries it... i expect there is a good reason for this (such as that there is water in muscle mass...)

[Lost Leopard Spot]

There is another simple way to calculate Body Fat outlined below
check it out to see if it corresponds with your scales


Step 1
Take body measurements in inches with a tape measure. Everyone must measure their waist at the navel. (You must also measure your hips, forearm and wrist if you’re female. Measure your hips and forearm at their fullest point. Measure your wrist at the thinnest point.)

Step 2
Weigh yourself in pounds with a scale. Do this when you wake up so that your weight will be at its lowest level of the day.

Step 3
Derive your lean body weight if you’re male. Your lean body weight is equal to (1.082 x total weight) - (4.15 x waist measurement) + 94.42. In this example, your total weight is 155 pounds and your waist measurement is 35 inches. You have a lean body weight of (1.082 x 155) – (4.15 x 35) + 94.42 = 116 pounds.

Step 5
Convert your lean body mass to your body fat percentage. Your body fat percentage is equal to (body weight - lean body mass) / (body weight) x 100. Using the previous example for a man, you weigh 155 pounds and have a lean body mass of 116 pounds Your body fat percentage is (155 - 116) / 155 x 100 = 25.2 percent.

Note
A body fat percentage that's higher than 25 indicates overweight. Those with a percentage of 30 or more fall into the obese category. Over 35 and you enter the walrus category. Over forty percent and you are a blue whale...

[Bruce Rioja]

and therefore, according to this Body Fat Percentage chart, I am now OBESE whereas my BMI tells me I am just FAT!

Well you looked far from either when I saw you on Saturday. I must be in all sorts of bother.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

using the above method, presently my body fat index is 18%


Four years ago it was 6%

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

There is another simple way to calculate Body Fat outlined below
check it out to see if it corresponds with your scales


Step 1
Take body measurements in inches with a tape measure. Everyone must measure their waist at the navel. (You must also measure your hips, forearm and wrist if you’re female. Measure your hips and forearm at their fullest point. Measure your wrist at the thinnest point.)

Step 2
Weigh yourself in pounds with a scale. Do this when you wake up so that your weight will be at its lowest level of the day.

Step 3
Derive your lean body weight if you’re male. Your lean body weight is equal to (1.082 x total weight) - (4.15 x waist measurement) + 94.42. In this example, your total weight is 155 pounds and your waist measurement is 35 inches. You have a lean body weight of (1.082 x 155) – (4.15 x 35) + 94.42 = 116 pounds.

Step 5
Convert your lean body mass to your body fat percentage. Your body fat percentage is equal to (body weight - lean body mass) / (body weight) x 100. Using the previous example for a man, you weigh 155 pounds and have a lean body mass of 116 pounds Your body fat percentage is (155 - 116) / 155 x 100 = 25.2 percent.

Note
A body fat percentage that's higher than 25 indicates overweight. Those with a percentage of 30 or more fall into the obese category. Over 35 and you enter the walrus category. Over forty percent and you are a blue whale...

Step 3.5 eat a pie whilst doing the sums...

[Bruce Rioja]

Step 3.5 eat a pie whilst doing the sums...

Add one buttered barm.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Step 3.5 eat a pie whilst doing the sums...

Add one buttered barm.

Might as well chuck some chips in whilst we're at it

[Lost Leopard Spot]

^ we're not after a pie chart here you know!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

^ we're not after a pie chart here you know!

All those numbers need a graphical representation to make it easier to swallow

[thebish]

Spotty's calculation gives me a Body Fat Percentage of 30.48%

the weighing scales gave me a Body Fat Percentage of 30.6%

so it seems pretty conclusive that I am technically a porker!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Spotty's calculation gives me a Body Fat Percentage of 30.48%

the weighing scales gave me a Body Fat Percentage of 30.6%

so it seems pretty conclusive that I am technically a porker!

And even when having the get out of Obesity jail option of 25-30% being just Overweight you've still managed to get into the walrus enclosure

[thebish]

and it seems you got locked in the stick-insect jar!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

and it seems you got locked in the stick-insect jar!

...whippet kennel, pulease.

[Bijou Bob]

using the above method, presently my body fat index is 18%


Four years ago it was 6%

After five years psychotherapy training, 300 hours practice in a specialist mental health team and continuous professional development in the field, I feel qualified to say "Suck it up lardy".