My body fat, and my brain...

 Hey guys,

I am a mixed up mess today. Just a review for those that don't keep up with me, but I had a 29lb regain between years 2 and 3 and have been working hard to get back to my goal since October. I took it very serious, I went back to 3x shakes a day and lean protein and all that jazz. I also started exercising 5x a week. Started with Yoga and have now worked my way up to circuit training. Well since the circuit training started, I have lost nothing...even gained a few pounds, this has been stressing me the hell out!!! I have a trip to Sweden planned for July and I wanted to be at my low weight cause I know that it will be hard to stay on my eating/excersize plan during that 5 weeks. 

So I had this "goal" for myself to be at 145 before I got to Sweden, I am 148 now, so then I would have a few pounds of cushion. Well, guess what???? When I went to circuit training today, they had a body fat scale there, and I stepped on, fully ready for about 28% reading, and What the HELL???? it said 15.8%!!!!!!!!!!  Even if there was a margin of error of 5%+ that is still awesome news for me!! 

Maybe I don't need to lose anymore weight, maybe I am "normal" just like I am. That would mean I have to accept myself as I am, perfect today. Can I do that? I want to...but there is an evil little devil ***** on my shoulder whispering that I should be 135.

What to do, what to do? Should I trust that body fat scale and just calm the F down? Maybe I should scheudle a dexa scan to be sure??

The whole process has been for you to be healthy and happy right? So if you need the test to do so then by all means. I am the same way when i put my head to something. Take the test get the happy results and move on...youve probably gained lots of muscle from all that excersize.

 Eric, you know women cant just be happy! Just kidding! I am going for that Dexa scan!

Hi there,

First of all huge congratulations on fighting back that regain  .  I'm curious to know how tall you are what your bmi is (I don't really go by bmi but curious).  Isn't 15.8% too low?  I'm no expert that's for sure but it sounds low for a women.

Sandy 

 Thanks, i am a shorty girl 5'4", so i am still overweight, thats whats so shocking when it said 15.8%, that cant be right...... Then again, I have never weighed less than 148 my adult life, so ?

 Well you look terrific and only you know how you feel.

All the best!

I struggle daily with the number as well.  My bmi still shows me at being overweight (5'1" 135-138pounds).  However I had a DEXA scan back in October (29.2% body fat) then a bodpod in March (26.2% body fat) which both percentages are in the "acceptable" body fat rating (23%-30%). 

In my crazy mind I "think" I should weigh 115 pounds because I'm short.  Well, it's NOT gonna happen.  I haven't lost a single pound since last October and I've been working out 7 hours/wk since January.  I'm just not meant to be 115.  The body composition test proved that.

IMO you should stop beating yourself up over the number, and go and get a bodpod/DEXA scan done ASAP.

Good luck!

Jennifer

 You must be built like me Jennifer, i think i will try to get the DEXA next weekend, and if its under 20%, i am scheduling plastics....STAT 

 You are so cool for fighting that regain and getting the weight off.  Kudos on your determination!

You are making me very curious about my body fat %. I may need to get one of those tests.  I too am 5'4".  My Tanita scale says I'm 32-33% body fat.  Maybe it's wrong!

I say calm the F down and schedule your plastics.  I dropped some weight after mine and I'm keeping them off.  We get a great metabolism boost for around a month post plastics.

 Thanks Lee, maintenance is so hard emotionally! Its like swimming really far out in the ocean,and if you dont know how to swim, your screwed.

I am doggy paddling with all i got!