Betastas is fat. Please leave oppinions.

[betastas]

Edit: I am aware I spelled opinions wrong. As we were.


Alright. I have been cutting for about 6 weeks now. The two weeks before that I had been cleaning up my diet.

Height: 5' 7", maybe 8"
Starting Weight: 155
Current Weight: 146

Today I went to my gym and got my bodyfat tested. The guy put two electrodes on my foot, and two on my hand. The computer ran its routine and spewed out a number. 17%.

Alright. So. About 4% higher than I thought my upper limit would be. The guy says the machine has a 4% tolerance. Then from there it beccame a sales pitch, blah blah trainer. I told him no thanks. I don't need someone to follow me and watch me do my squats.

So here is the mathematical breakdown:

Weight: 146 lbs
Bodyfat: 17%
Lean Mass: 121.2 lbs
Fat Mass: 24.8 lbs

Now here is my workout for the day. This is typical. I do one 10x3 and 4 4x6s alternating. This is to give you an idea about how I train and what weights I am lifting. I have been training about four years now, but only training intelligently for two.


10x3 Squat @ 225
A1: 4x6 Weighted Dips (Parallel Bars) @ Body+95 lbs. = 241 lbs. (280 1RM)
A2: 4x6 Pullups, Palms facing eachother @ Body+50 = 196 lbs. (220 1RM)

B1: 4x6 Romanian DL @ 225 (Don't do 1RM)
B2: 4x6 Overhead Press @ 115 (Barbell) (135 1RM)

My bench chest workset is 85 lb DBs. (Haven't done BB in a while).
My squat 1RM is about 280.
Deadlift(sumo) 1RM is about 315.



Am I the only one that thinks this is not right? I don't think that 121 lbs of lean mass could do this. I attached some recent pictures.

The mathematics:
Machine measured 501 ohms of resistance. 61% Water, 83% Lean and 17% Fat. Water content increases with lean mass. However I am on a low-calorie cutting diet (about 1850 or so lifting days, 1500-1600 cardio days, between 30-40% protein. Tons of veggies, about 25g fibre, and most carbs from oats, fruit and PWO shake). I know that low calories typically means lower carbs, which leads to less water retention due to lower glycogen levels in the muscles (typically). This would account for a decrease in water and electron transfer, which would increase my bodily resistance and fat% ratio.

I do not have a 6-pack. Sometimes I have a 4-pack. A lot of it is based on water. I still have pinches of fat on my glutes, lower glutes and love handles. I believe that I am endo-meso in fat storage. My quads and hams are relatively lean, with a skinfold of about 10mm (measured). My chest is solid with a skinfold of about 7mm. My waist is 31" (Around the hips). Visceral fat?


So my questions are:

1) Is 17% reasonable? I was a bit shocked. I thought maybe about 12-13%, mostly on the high end of 12, low end 13.

2) Is the weight I'm using reasonable for my lean mass? I am hoping that someone may be familiar with a person who looked similar to me in build, or who is similar as well and can toss in their two cents.

3) Is this system set up to get personal trainers clients? My buddy got tested. He has 20% BF according to them. He also has a glorified 4-pack, quad definition and vascularity on his torso.

4) Any other thoughts? I am more concerned about what my BF may be at to tailor my future goals. I am not interested in hearing that I am lower than 17% to make me feel better.

I can make clarifications if anyone needs. Thanks for the help on my journey.

[thepump13]

Originally Posted by betastas

Edit: I am aware I spelled opinions wrong. As we were.


Alright. I have been cutting for about 6 weeks now. The two weeks before that I had been cleaning up my diet.

Height: 5' 7", maybe 8"
Starting Weight: 155
Current Weight: 146

Today I went to my gym and got my bodyfat tested. The guy put two electrodes on my foot, and two on my hand. The computer ran its routine and spewed out a number. 17%.

Alright. So. About 4% higher than I thought my upper limit would be. The guy says the machine has a 4% tolerance. Then from there it beccame a sales pitch, blah blah trainer. I told him no thanks. I don't need someone to follow me and watch me do my squats.

So here is the mathematical breakdown:

Weight: 146 lbs
Bodyfat: 17%
Lean Mass: 121.2 lbs
Fat Mass: 24.8 lbs

Now here is my workout for the day. This is typical. I do one 10x3 and 4 4x6s alternating. This is to give you an idea about how I train and what weights I am lifting. I have been training about four years now, but only training intelligently for two.


10x3 Squat @ 225
A1: 4x6 Weighted Dips (Parallel Bars) @ Body+95 lbs. = 241 lbs. (280 1RM)
A2: 4x6 Pullups, Palms facing eachother @ Body+50 = 196 lbs. (220 1RM)

B1: 4x6 Romanian DL @ 225 (Don't do 1RM)
B2: 4x6 Overhead Press @ 115 (Barbell) (135 1RM)

My bench chest workset is 85 lb DBs. (Haven't done BB in a while).
My squat 1RM is about 280.
Deadlift(sumo) 1RM is about 315.



Am I the only one that thinks this is not right? I don't think that 121 lbs of lean mass could do this. I attached some recent pictures.

The mathematics:
Machine measured 501 ohms of resistance. 61% Water, 83% Lean and 17% Fat. Water content increases with lean mass. However I am on a low-calorie cutting diet (about 1850 or so lifting days, 1500-1600 cardio days, between 30-40% protein. Tons of veggies, about 25g fibre, and most carbs from oats, fruit and PWO shake). I know that low calories typically means lower carbs, which leads to less water retention due to lower glycogen levels in the muscles (typically). This would account for a decrease in water and electron transfer, which would increase my bodily resistance and fat% ratio.

I do not have a 6-pack. Sometimes I have a 4-pack. A lot of it is based on water. I still have pinches of fat on my glutes, lower glutes and love handles. I believe that I am endo-meso in fat storage. My quads and hams are relatively lean, with a skinfold of about 10mm (measured). My chest is solid with a skinfold of about 7mm. My waist is 31" (Around the hips). Visceral fat?


So my questions are:

1) Is 17% reasonable? I was a bit shocked. I thought maybe about 12-13%, mostly on the high end of 12, low end 13.

2) Is the weight I'm using reasonable for my lean mass? I am hoping that someone may be familiar with a person who looked similar to me in build, or who is similar as well and can toss in their two cents.

3) Is this system set up to get personal trainers clients? My buddy got tested. He has 20% BF according to them. He also has a glorified 4-pack, quad definition and vascularity on his torso.

4) Any other thoughts? I am more concerned about what my BF may be at to tailor my future goals. I am not interested in hearing that I am lower than 17% to make me feel better.

I can make clarifications if anyone needs. Thanks for the help on my journey.

You are not 17%. No way....I would say 13%. I am similar to you in height, but 10 pounds lighter (female), and around 16% or so. After looking at your pics, if you are 17%, then I am higher as well. I think the weights look good. Have you tried calipers to get a reading?

[M@]

1. If you're a hair over 13% I'll eat that dude's electrodes.

2. I have no idea what a strength to lean-mass ratio would look like. I've seen some scrawny guys perform some dumbfounding feats of strength.

3. I think the system's just flawed. Electro-resistance bodyfat measurement devices work fairly well for people with a lot of fat and muscles marbled with fat, but always skew upwards on people who have lots of lean, dense muscle. What do you test at with calipers? With tape?

4. I'm not saying you're < 13% to make you feel better. Going forward with your training assuming you only have 121 lbs of lean mass would be completely bogus. You're 7-10 lbs bigger than that.

M@

[1FastGTX]

I'm really, really bad at estimating bodyfat, but I think you're under 17. Regardless, you look pretty good to me.

You asked if "the system is set up to get clients." Well, unfortunately, sometimes yes. I cannot say it's this way with the PT you visited, but I can tell you that I've been lied to about my bodyfat when a PT wanted to get me as a client. It was at Gold's Gym. All I wanted was a professional to test my bodyfat because I just was not very good at doing it myself. He told me something like 27%, when I had a visible 4-pack although it had a bit of blurriness. I knew I had too much fat on me, but 27 was way, way over the top for what I saw in the mirror. At first I was confused, but when he launched into his selling mode I knew what was going on. He knew I was into BFL and EAS at the time, and he said that he could take me from that 27% down to under 9% in 12 weeks and we could win the BFL Challenge together. But it would require his personal training and high tech system ...

Luckily I told him no, and in less than a month I found out he skipped town with deposits from a bunch of gym members, and was never to be found again.

I'm not saying the person you went to is so shady and bad, I don't know. But it's not a bad idea to keep your eyes open and to get second opinions.

[vvvlilrubyvvv]

If your 17 then all hope is lost for everyone else. There is no way your 17 percent with visible abs unless ur legs are complete jelly.

Enough Said.

[RTE]

I like the weights you are lifting and they are paying off. I say 12.5-14. the method they used is fast and inaccurate like all the scales I have seen using the same type measue. There is something about amount of fliuds taken in they usually say don't drink anything 4 hours before test, I think.

the trainer might have wanted a high reading hoping a later one would show bigger results. Remember, they have to make a living.

Keep doing what you are doing.

[betastas]

Alright thanks for your thoughts everyone. I'll stick to my diet and program as planned - no changes needed for the time being. I'll update this thread in a few weeks for a comparison.

I didn't think I was 17%... that was a little ridiculous. Perhaps I was at the beginning though.

See you here in a few weeks.

[doordude42]

Dude, you look good. There's no way you're 17%. I'd say 13 max.
Like I said, you look good.

[zenpharaohs]

Originally Posted by betastas

Today I went to my gym and got my bodyfat tested. The guy put two electrodes on my foot, and two on my hand. The computer ran its routine and spewed out a number. 17%.

These bioimpedance body composition monitors are pretty bad. If you read the fine print (seems like nobody does) it says something like "results are inaccurate for some people such as weightlifters, bodybuilders, etc."

These things are not dialed in for lifters and bodybuilders. I don't know why someone doesn't put one out which is, but that's the deal.

Don't worry about that machine number.

[Gordo]

BIA is a poor indicator once you have a fair amount of lean mass and any PT worth their weight will do a caliper test and usually more than 3 points. Ignore that figure they gave you and even they should have realized that it was WAY off.

[jsbrook]

That is not 17%. I agree with the 12-13%. I suggest getting a little leaner and then bulking (if you're interested in getting bigger). Your weight is fairly low, and I think some more muscle would improve your physique. But everyone has a different view of what's best aesthetically. You could also just get a little leaner and be quite happy with that.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by zenpharaohs

These bioimpedance body composition monitors are pretty bad. If you read the fine print (seems like nobody does) it says something like "results are inaccurate for some people such as weightlifters, bodybuilders, etc."

These things are not dialed in for lifters and bodybuilders. I don't know why someone doesn't put one out which is, but that's the deal.

Don't worry about that machine number.

Yes, those really are quite innacurate. If you don't just want to go by the mirror and gym progress, get a 7-point caliper test. Or even better yet-a DEXA scan.

[CASD]

When you posted 17% I almost pooped myself ...that would've made me about 20% or more instead of the 15% I calculated this morning....
I'm glad every chimed in..because no way 17%...

[Andrew]

I know a lot of people have already posted...but I definitely agree with what is being said here, there's no way in hell you have 17% body fat. I'd say 12%.

I'd say I look somewhat similar to you, except I'm 5'9" or so and about 165 lbs. I have a BIA scale and it puts me at anywhere from 13.5% to close to 20% depending on its mood. It's basically worthless.

You are doing really well and are very strong for your size. Keep up the good work.

Are you planning on bulking? I'm cutting probably around 5-7 pounds, and then depending on how I feel at that point I'll begin focusing on getting bigger. You might want to try something similar. Along the lines of what jsbrook said.

[betastas]

Hello again gents.

Yes - the plan is to cut until the last week of April, stay on maintenance for two weeks while I visit home, move bark to school and get settled in. Then I intend to do a bulk until the end of August. My goal weight at the end will be about 160 lbs (or 14 Weeks x 1.5).

Secondary goals include getting a combined 1RM of above 1000 for the big three.

Since last year at this time, I have gained about 5 lbs lean total. That's a good start, but the important things that I learned were about technique, nutrition, how my body reacts to training and nutrition, and what will work well for me. Maybe I'll make a log of the training, but I ususally don't like to showcase anything. Thanks for your thoughts.


I never really thought that it was accurate. It was part in muse to the inaccuracy of those devices, part befuddlement.

[Timbermiko]

You look great...my guess....11-12....I wish my 17 would look like that

[Coachese]

1. I think you should take that BIA scale and shove it up that dude's er, um, posterior. 17% my foot.

2. I have always thought your avatar one of the best here.

3. If it is any consolation, I am 6'1" 190 lbs. I have no idea what my BF%, LBM, etc. is, but our lifts are suprisingly close. Aside from the fact that I can neither do weighted dips nor pullups.

Keep up the good work regardless.

[Diablito]

LOL... If you're 17% I'm 50%... Those are not love handles, they are called obliques...

Look at your stats please...

Height: 5' 7", maybe 8"
Starting Weight: 155
Current Weight: 146
Bodyfat: 17%
Lean Mass: 121.2 lbs
Fat Mass: 24.8 lbs
31" waist???

Get a pair of calipers and get ready for a nice surprise.

[betastas]

UPDATE:

Alright gentlemen, and of course, ladies .

Here is where I stand as of today.

Current Weight: 141.5
(Predicted, as I have not scaled in in two days)

Pretty much nothing has changed in my diet nor my weight program. I had some muscles twitching in my thigh so I took 3 complete days off, and recovered nicely. My lifts have gone up slightly:

Dips weighted: body+105 4x6
Deadlifts: 275 10x3
Pullups: body+60 4x6

That's about it so far. Some minor increases in other categories. Going to attempt a 1RM of 2x bodyweight dip by the end of my cut. Anyways, all your comments and thoughts are always appreciated.

I believe my current BF% to be 11. I would say 10 if my abs were clearer, but I welcome all your input.

[RTE]

Looking good, you sure are cutting! I wish you would give us a relaxed shot. Say hands on top of head with no flexing. You might have broken the 10% mark for sure.