Yikes! Body fat! (whiny introduction)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
Yikes! Body fat! (whiny introduction)
11
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 10:48am

Hi, I'm new around here. I'm an avid runner and have recently added weight training to my routine. So I guess I'm new to gym rat-hood, since my prior routine involved the great outdoors, rather than working out in the gym.

Anyway, I had always believed that running would be enough to keep my body fat low. I love to run, have completed a couple of marathons, and usually bring home a trophy or medal when I race local 5ks and 10ks. So I must be fit, right? Oh, and I'm 5'6" and 135 pounds.

Well. I had my body fat tested at the gym yesterday, and it was 26.2 percent. (Am I the only one who sees the irony in the fact that my body fat percentage is the same number as the distance of a marathon?)

I'm not complaining, but it's not where I want it to be. I don't want to offend anyone whose body fat is in that range or higher, but it's way off from what I had hoped, especially given the amount of running I do. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though, given the way I eat. I have an "anything goes" approach to diet -- during the week I snack nonstop, and the weekends involve beer and pizza.

I'll have my body fat tested again in a couple of months. Until then, I'm makings some dietary changes and will continue to hit the weights.

Well, that's my introduction. And I have a question -- how much progress can I hope for within the next couple of months? I'm really serious about getting into better shape and am highly motivated. Do you suppose it will be feasible for me to drop about 3% body fat? Or is that overshooting? Any tips are welcome.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 11:15am

hi and welcome. you are definitely already a gym rat!


if you are eating a lot of pizza and beer and have only recently started lifting weights, you can definitely improve your body fat pretty quickly by making some changes, but i suspect that the body fat test you took is a bit off. the tests have a pretty big range of error, it could easily be off by 3% or more depending on what kind of test you took. even if you don't lift weights or eat great, if you are 5'6"/135 lbs and competing in marathons, i suspect you are lower than 26% body fat. still, that's no reason not to make improvements in your lifestyle! regardless of your body fat percentage, that "anything goes" attitude toward your eating is hurting your health.


i think if you clean up your eating and take strength training seriously, in addition to continuing to run, you could definitely see a few percentage points difference in a few months. i think you'll find that both those changes will end up causing a big improvement in your running as well.


stick around and let us know how it goes!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 11:32am

Sounds like you're doing the right things to lower your body fat composition. Just by gaining muscle, you can drop that percentage. I think your 3% loss within the next few months is a realistic goal. Glad to have you!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 12:13pm
Hi!





iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 12:58pm
Thanks y'all! I guess at the end of the day it does come to improving one's health, and my dietary habits definitely need to improve whatever my body fat percentage is. :-) Besides, I'm not being a good influence on my kids when I pig out on pizza and cookies.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 1:27pm

Nice to meet you! Sounds like you're doing all the right things to meet your goals.

It's good to have another runner on the board. A few of us very active but running-challenged just completed a 5K. I'm very active with my job (I'm a personal trainer) and do all sorts of activities but being able to run always eluded me. So.... it just goes to show you that conditioning is so relative! :)

Aside from getting your nutrition in order, make sure that your exercise program includes a strength training program. I think both of those will make a very big difference in your results. Great to have you here!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 2:41pm
BTW, it is funny that your body fat percentage is the same as a marathon.





iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 3:07pm
Well, I get bored at 6 miles, so should I be 6 percent body fat? That would be nasty looking!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 3:28pm
I've only gotten to 4 miles!





iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 4:47pm
LOL -- Maybe I should forget about the 31 mile trail race I wanted to do next fall. I wonder if I could find any nice 20 mile races instead?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 7:04am
That's just wrong!

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