How Can This Be?

[microfusion]

I started training 2/4/04 my weight was 147lbs. with 27.5% fat. That equals 40lbs. of fat and 107 lbs. lean mass. I was checked today and now I'm 29.6% fat weighing 146 lbs. with 43lbs. fat and 102 lbs. lean mass. I was checked using caliber method. I did not have the same person doing both checks. Training wise I've been using Cybex equipment 4 times a week doing a full body workout. I've also been doing 30 minutes of cardio 4 times a week. I'm 26 years old. My diet hasn't been real strict. But it is definately stricter than it was before I started training. Any advice or suggestions on how this could be possible?

 

[gypsy]

You can workout until the cow's come home - without a clean diet, your not going to get anywhere.

 

[wilson6]

"I did not have the same person doing both checks."

There's at least part of the problem.

W6

 

[jayjuicer9]

watch that diet and give it time..Results are right around the corner..Dont stop what your doing because of the test results. These things take time.

 

[FitFossil]

How many places on your body did they measure? The fewer the sites, the less accurate the body fat reading. On the other hand, the more sites, the more an inexperienced tester could mess up, I guess. Are they good calipers, or are they those cheap plastic ones? Like W6 said, it's important to have the same person do the test, because then at least one variable is consistent.

All the training in the world will NOT make up for what's missing in your diet. Believe me, I sure did TRY (and wasted years in the bargain). When your diet is right, you'll make progress so much FASTER. Your body needs the right nutrients so it can train at sufficient intensity to make changes.

 

[Ceebs]

Several hours per week of working out will not negate many more hours of eating poorly.

That said, I doubt all the weight you gained was fat. Some could be water, and since you're weight training, you probably have increased the amount of intramuscular glycogen (and the water bound to it) you can store. Don't pay too much attention to what the scale says, scale weight is the gravitational pull of your body to the earth. Gauge your progress by losing bodyfat and fitting into your clothes better.

 

[RottenWillow]

Whoa this thread is like flash back to 2002. Old school peeps. Nice to see.


I'm betting there wasnt any actual fat gain at all. Micro, your diet improved a little, you started training with weights AND started 4 day a week cardio sessions, right? I cant imagine you were able to store any bf. Provided you didnt increase your calories once you started training (did you?) then I'm betting on measurement error.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I totally agree with all the above.

First problem is not having the same person do the two BF tests. WIthout that consistency, the two tests cannot be considered valid OR reliable.

Next, to get results, diet HAS to be in order. Like several above said, even smart training won't make up for a sloppy diet. To see results you have to have BOTH in line.

 

[velvett]

"I did not have the same person doing both checks."

There's at least part of the problem.

W6

I was just going to type that.

 

[jenscats5]

Are you sure your diet is "stricter"?? I've been working out for years & it took me some time to realize that I was UNDER-estimating how much I was eating. Once I started logging ALL my food -- yes every little bit -- into a log it showed me that I was eating more than I thought!! No wonder I wasn't losing weight!!

I personally use www.fitday.com -- it's a free site and very helpful to see where you can improve in your diet.....