Body Composition Analysis results

[nancy324]

I've been on vacation this week in Vermont, and one day when it rained I spent the day at a fitness center where I had my Futrex Body Composition Analysis done. It's a machine that they place on your arm that reads your body fat by infrared or something. Anyway, it produced a report that tells me that my weight is "Excellent", but my body fat reading is "Fair". The recommendation states:

"In order to maintain weight while lowering your body fat, you should maintain your Calorie intake, while increasing your daily exercise program by the equivalent of 274 Calories, which is about 25 minutes of running. This method will bring you to your goal in 5 weeks."

In the last few weeks I've been so busy that I haven't had the time to do as much strength training as I think I should. Now, I don't know much about this stuff, but don't you think I would be better off doing more strength training than running or other cardio? It just makes sense to me that if I need to maintain my body weight and reduce my body fat, that the only way to do it is to replace fat with muscle, and that the best way to do that is to increase my strength training.

Okay, educated crowd, who's right, me or the Futrex report? Also, anyone heard of these infrared machines or know anything about their accuracy?

Thanks.

 

[Jcrew3082]

Hi Nancy,

I'm not sure how accurate this type of device is. Did they tell you specific numbers? I'm concerned that what they call "fair" may actually be a healthy percentage. I wonder how they go about classifying something as fair or excellent. What do you think? Do you feel healthy and in shape? I think that's way more important than what a machine tells you.

Gina

 

[naughtoj]

Nancy,
It was probably bioelectrical impedence using your bicep muscle? Anyway, that is not too accurate in most cases, it is also affected by your hydration levels and whether you had just exercised or not.

Unless you are really cut, you probably do fall in the "fair" category. Especially if you don't think you have a lot of muscle mass on you. Sometimes, when you have little muscle you have lots of fat, but this of course is not always the case. But haven't you also said that you do very little cardio? Only walking?

I think they pretty much always recommend aerobic exercise for fat loss. If your weight came in at the "excellent" range, you must not weigh that much, which tells me your frame may be slight? You are a self reported ectomorph, aren't you? I wouldn't be suprised if you were in the "fair" category, which also may be what they consider the "fit" category. Who knows? Do you?

But no, I think they are correct in what they are saying, but it does depend on your body type. I carry too much fat right now on my frame(still in the "fit" category), but I am mostly mesomorph with plenty of muscle mass. So, for me, cardio would be the way because I have already "layed the groundwork". If you tend to be the "skinny" type, lacking in the muscle mass department, then yes, I would focus on lifting heavy and increasing the total poundage of muscle on my body. In this way, you will also lose fat (assuming you don't go way overboard on the diet). I am right on the borderline of "fit", so you could easily be "fair". You may be right on the borderline.

But remember, the machine could have very easily measured wrong. You can usually tell that by the amount of definition you have when you look in the mirror.

That, Nancy, is my most educated response!

 

[nancy324]

Gina-
Fair is between 27.6 amd 31.2 for a woman of my age. My number is 27.7.
Good is between 24.6 and 27.6, and excellent is less than 24.6. I'm going to try to get to "Good". I'm really only one-tenth of a point away, according to Futrex.
-Nancy

 

[Carol_is_fit]

And it's a wonderful response, Janice!! Very well-thought out and intelligent. Thank you for posting this. Nancy, I agree with Janice on this. I would place more stock with what your own two eyes tell you than I would with a reading from a machine. So many things can affect readings from machines! If you're happy with how you look, that's all that really matters.

Carol

 

[ducky]

I have serious issues with those impedance calculators. I have a Tanika scale that uses the same type of device for a body fat reading. It tells me I'm obese every morning. If I took that reading seriously I would need therapy. ;-)

 

[nancy324]

RE: Body Composition Analysis results

I'LL ANSWER IN CAPS TO DISTINGUISH FROM YOUR TYPE.

Nancy,
It was probably bioelectrical impedence using your bicep muscle?
YES, IT WAS.

Anyway, that is not too accurate in most cases, it is also affected by your hydration levels and whether you had just exercised or not.

Unless you are really cut, you probably do fall in the "fair" category. Especially if you don't think you have a lot of muscle mass on you. Sometimes, when you have little muscle you have lots of fat, but this of course is not always the case. But haven't you also said that you do very little cardio? Only walking?

ONLY WALKING? MY WALKING IS A VERY INTENSE CARDIO WORKOUT IN WHICH I SPEND AS MUCH AS 45 MINS. CLOSE TO THE UPPER LIMIT OF MY TARGET HEART RATE ZONE. FEW WORKOUTS COULD BE MORE INTENSE. HOWEVER, YOU ARE CORRECT THAT I DON'T DO MUCH CARDIO BECAUSE I ONLY DO IT TWICE PER WEEK.

I think they pretty much always recommend aerobic exercise for fat loss. If your weight came in at the "excellent" range, you must not weigh that much, which tells me your frame may be slight? YES.

You are a self reported ectomorph, aren't you? YES.

I wouldn't be suprised if you were in the "fair" category, which also may be what they consider the "fit" category. Who knows? Do you? THE WORD "FIT" WAS NOT USED.

But no, I think they are correct in what they are saying, but it does depend on your body type. I carry too much fat right now on my frame(still in the "fit" category), but I am mostly mesomorph with plenty of muscle mass. So, for me, cardio would be the way because I have already "layed the groundwork". If you tend to be the "skinny" type, lacking in the muscle mass department, then yes, I would focus on lifting heavy and increasing the total poundage of muscle on my body. In this way, you will also lose fat (assuming you don't go way overboard on the diet). I am right on the borderline of "fit", so you could easily be "fair". You may be right on the borderline. I AM ONE-TENTH OF A POINT AWAY FROM GOOD, SO IT'S KIND OF BORDERLINE.

But remember, the machine could have very easily measured wrong. You can usually tell that by the amount of definition you have when you look in the mirror.

HONESTLY, I THINK THE MACHINE WAS RIGHT ON. I BELIEVE I AM CARRYING AROUND A BIT TOO MUCH FAT, AND WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW I CAN MAINTAIN MY CALORIE INTAKE, DO MORE CARDIO AND STILL MAINTAIN MY WEIGHT. I THINK FOR ME HEAVY LIFTING IS THE WAY TO GO. JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF FOLKS HERE AGREED WITH ME. WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DO.

That, Nancy, is my most educated response! THANKS JANICE!