Fat loss confusion

[msnicksmom]

OK, I started way back when at 196, and by the Navy circum. measuring method, 34% body fat. I don't know what my BMI was, or if that matters to my question.

I am now 137 and by the same measuring method 24% body fat and my BMI is 23.5-24, depending on the calculator.

By my calculations, those differences indicate a loss of 33.5 lbs of fat (196*.34)-(137*.27). But I lost 59 lbs. What are the other 23 lbs? I know some of it is just the water, but is it all? Am I losing muscle too?

Thank you for any thoughts.

[dotsamantha]

I know as your total weight changes, your lean body mass (the weight of yourorgans and stuff) changes also, so tha tmay contribute to the difference, as well as the fact that the methods of calculating body fat, bmi, etc., are never 100% accurate.

[Qjakal]

Yes, a % of your weight loss will be "muscle", but the primary function of that muscle was supporting the extra weight on your frame...so it's a wash. Technically you're ahead of the game since your % of muscle has actually increased. If you're doing resistance training on a regular basis you'll see even greater gains...

Q

[2big4mysize]

actually unless you were dunked in a tank of water to actually measure your loss you got no way of knowing how much was body fat and how much was lean body. there was a test done that said the Navy's method was "closer" then the other skinfold and those kind of measuring but compared to actual scientifically measured body fat using 4 know testings from the dunk to mineral the results didn't always match


Then you need to figure out how much of your lean body mass loss was what as everything other then fat is lean body mass. remember all the folk who pooh paahed the initial weight loss as all water? well any water weight lost is lean body mass. Go from long hair to short and you lost lean body masss so your body fat% increased even though you lost weight and didn't eat a thing during the hair cut. thery have a nice machine that can actually measure increases in muscle mass like they uses in the UConn study proving even nonexercising folk doing atknins increase muscle mass while losing weight, but most folk are never going to see one.
there there are all the miles of extra blood vessels over 5,000 for just 25 pounds overweight, possibly some skin tissue and other things.

if you are doing your exercise like all good Atkinseers are then you have added muscle mass.

[dotsamantha]

By circumference tests, I'm concluding you're referring to the measuring tape. i am so glad to be rid of the dang Army tape test. Neck, forearm, wrist, and hips. Height and weight. I used to get so frustrated. I've always been muscular, and even at my most fit, i was still almost over the limit.