Jun 07 2007
Ms. Q is 83% Fat Free
Or something like that.
Around, oh, 6 years ago, I purchased a Tanita BF-542 Body Fat Monitor/Scale. The scale uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to determine what percentage of body fat a person has.
From About.com, Before You Buy a Body Fat Monitor:
“With this method, a device sends a tiny electrical charge through your hands or feet and uses the data to determine how much of you is fat and how much of you is water, with muscles and lean tissues being mostly water. To do the calculation, the unit needs to know your gender, age, and weight. These units should not be used by anybody with a pacemaker, but should be safe for most others.”
I’ve used my body fat monitor and its readings to get an idea of my fitness as well as fat levels. For example, last November my back was out of alignment and I ended up with pain in my left hip. I had to stop running and even walking hurt.
During that time of enforced cardio inactivity (I continued with my “girlie dumbbell” weight routine) I felt myself softening. I didn’t gain any weight but I thought I felt soft.
The body fat monitor scale confirmed my feelings – my weight had not increased but my percentage of fat had!
Via rest and numerous chiropractic adjustments with some Alexander lessons, I have been running since mid-March. I had been worried that I may not be able to run again. I am almost back to my old mileage and I’m not sure why, maybe it was the enforced rest but my pace has increased as well.
I’ve also lost weight, which I attribute to:
- Increased running and overall exercise. When I’m feeling the blues, I take more walks.
- Control of my diet. I haven’t been traveling for work and can eat the high-fiber, low fat foods that I like.
- Blues-induced lack of appetite. Yeah, I’m one of those people who lose their appetite when they’re unhappy.
I’ve also lost between 2-3% of my body fat.
I guess I’m the type that gets fat when they’re happy.
I’ve also began throwing out stuff like: expired food, clothing I no longer wear, and just stuff I have no idea why I’m holding on to. On many levels it’s been out with the old and in with the new. I was about to finally throw out 3 pairs of jeans I haven’t been able to fit into for it-seems-like-three-years-so-it’s-probably-five.
When I decided to try one on. It fit. With room to spare.
Huh.
That’s when I stepped on my body fat monitor scale and saw the drop in body fat.
So far I’ve been feeling happier and haven’t regained the fat. It’s also nice to have 3 extra pairs of broken in (if old-style) jeans to wear.
Do you use a body fat monitor scale?
I don’t need one of those fancy machines. I have a wife and daughter who never hold back when I put on a few pounds.
Well that and my wife likes to poke fun at me when I eat a Ho-Ho or other tasty snack.
“Don’t come crying to me when your pants don’t fit anymore,” she says…
HMTKSteve: I forgot about the Marriage-Effect. Married people generally don’t worry or obsess about their weight. They either let themselves go to pot(belly) or stick with their usual workout routines and don’t worry if they gain a pound or 2.
Do you really eat Ho-Hos? My teeth hurt just thinking about the sugar. I was at an amusement park a couple of weekends ago and watched with sick fascination 2 boys eat a deep-fried Twinkie. Which came with this sticky pink “dipping sauce.”
I like your wife’s comment about your pants not fitting. The flip side is that you don’t wear the pants and you go to her…SMILING!
I like your attitude of the glass being half full (”Ms. Q is 83% Fat Free.”)
I use the same philosophy when I buy low fat foods. I figure if those chocolate chip cookies contain 1/3 less calories, I can eat 1/3 more!
Yo, Jake: I like your math!
Every now and then I get an inkling to eat a Twinkie or a Ho-Ho. Then I eat it and feel sick…
I do still eat Oreos but only the white ones and only three a day at the most.
I can’t take sugar anymore, it gives me a headache.
HMTKSteve: Wow. Between your beef allergy and your sugar headaches, sounds like you’re forced to eat healthily!
For whatever reason, I no longer desire fatty or sugary foods. At some point in time I somehow created a negative association with fat and sugar and they just don’t appeal to me.
I’ve been offered Krispy Kreme donuts so many times and while I heard they are the be-and-end-all of donuts, I just can’t bring myself to try one. I rarely eat desserts.
I do sometimes go crazy with chips-and-salsa. I love almonds. Those I have to stay away from and when I don’t, I think..Omega-3, “good fats” uh-huh.
Just up my alley! I thought for normal adult woman that the fat % was a little lower. I’m guessing different organizations think differently. Other than that, a “healthy” fat range for athletes is much lower. 5-10% for males, and i believe it’s like 12-20% for females (close to those ranges).
Over the summer my brother and I want to keep track of our measurements. Our father is currently on a fitness program called Lifestyle 180. He’s lost 18.5 pounds and 6 inches around his belly in 4 weeks. His body fat composition has dropped nearly 8%. He still has 8 more weeks to go!
-Gregg
Hey, Gregg: When I wrote this post, I did think of you and Business Twins – I even searched your site for any mention of body fat monitors with the thought that I might link to you. Early days yet, huh?
What are you all using to measure your body fat? Calipers? Or a monitor?
I set my Tanita scale for Female-Athlete as opposed to a “regular” female. The instructions for the scale state that an athlete involves at least 10 hours of intense physical activity and who has a resting heart rate of approximately 60 beats per minute or less.
According to this site, a body fat percentage of 14-20% in a woman falls within the athlete range. My fat percentage ranges from 17-21% during the week, just depends on how hydrated I am.
That is great that your father is getting fit!
Funny that you wrote about fat today. Just this morning three people asked me if they looked fat. I’m not one to hold back when it comes to weight.
Perhaps I should get them this device you’ve used. This way it can answer the question for them.
Urban Thought: Do the 3 people who asked you if they looked fat read your blog? A recent posting of yours was about the show Wife Swap and how a fitness trainer wife swapped into a couch-potato spud-shaped family.
I wonder if they were thinking of your post! If not, it’s summer and time to be getting into the swimsuits.
You don’t hold back? What do you say if you think someone is fat? “Yep, you’re fat all right?”
The body fat monitor scale isn’t cheap.
If you need an expensive instrument to tell you that you’re fat, either you’re avoiding reality or else you’re not fat.
At http://www.empoweredandfit.com/ I just read about British parents being threatened with losing custody of their 8-year-old son because they let him get to 200 lbs. I don’t think a body fat monitor scale would have helped them.
Martin: I purchased the body fat monitor/scale because I read that you might be your idea weight but you might actually be fat! That is, you might be “marbled” with fat.
I think it’s a good way to gauge an improvement in fitness. It’s not for everyone. I haven’t invested in any heart-rate monitors with respect to improving my fitness levels – that’s not my deal.
One thing the monitor can be is entertainment. When people come over and learn I have a body fat monitor, they want to try it out!
I’m all about solutions. So this is how it went down:
FRIEND: Do you think I look fat?
UT: Do you think you look fat?
FRIEND: I’m asking you.
UT: I think you should come with me to the gym. We all need to get fit for the summer.
FRIEND: So you’re saying I’m fat?
UT: I’m not saying you’re fat. I’m saying you can afford to trim up a bit.
I don’t consider her fat, she is thick. She can afford to firm up but I don’t think she should lose weight. She is also emotionally fragile so how I speak to her is different compared to most.
As for the other two people. I’ll lay it down for you:
FRIEND: Do you think I look fat?
UT: You look fat because you are fat. You want me to help you lose weight?
FRIEND: You didn’t have to say it like that.
UT: You asked me so I told you. Let’s be real about it. If you want to change things up lets get it crackin. If you want to lay up and be fat then stop asking me about it and be fat.
That’s just me. You can’t talk to everyone the same way but the point is still made.
UT: Thanks for the walk-through! Yes, it all depends on the person. Sometimes the best thing is brutal honesty because that will be the wakeup call.
Other times, being supportive and guiding the person to change is the way to go.
I like the way you handled the fragile friend. No lying and you were supportive.
I’m new to the neighborhood ~ but it’s good to be here. I’ve never used a fat monitor. I thought of it back when they first came out with the scales. Now I somehow have the image that I was one of those skinny people with a high body fat ratio to begin with because when I put on the weight, it went on fast AND is going off SLOW. Even thin, I had a softness to me.
Someday, I will get up the nerve to try one. For now, I am focusing on cardio and strength training, core work… hoping that I can shed the fat that’s lurking deep inside.
Brutal honesty… that’s why I don’t ask a question that could get a brutally honest answer. Self-preservation.
Hi, Tammy: Welcome!
I checked out your blog and it’s great that you’re blogging about your weight loss and fitness efforts, especially for women over 40. I like your About page: “In the eight weeks since I joined the gym – I’ve lost 12 pounds but more importantly, in the right light and at the right angle…there are places you can see a muscle flex”
That is so cool and I know what you mean – I like seeing the small “cut” I’ve developed in my shoulders. That is, if I flex a certain way and the light is right!
I had to add weight training in my mid-30s. I was running and running and still gaining weight! I really disliked doing weights but knew that I had to begin because 1) I’m small boned and there’s the whole osteoporosis thing 2) injury prevention 3) avoiding arm flappage.
I just use 10-lb dumbbells and routines from the Joyce Vedral books. I also like “The Body Sculpting Bible for Women” by James Villepigue and Hugo Rivera – good photos and descriptions.
I am not going crazy with the dumbbells – I figure it’s all maintenance! As I’ve aged, I’ve become a high maintenance woman – Running, Weights, supplements, and more and more organic foods.
But back to the fat monitor scale – it IS a bit of brutal honesty. Might be nice to know your fat percentage just so you can compare and know your progress!