Simplicate and Add Lightness

Since I’m fumbling a bit with weight loss goals - meaning I don’t really have a specfic goal any more - I decided to buy myself a body fat analyzer.

As far as I know (you don’t need to correct me if this isn’t a perfect statement) they’re pretty decent at estimating body fat % when compared to the skin fold tests.

When I started going to the gym again (about 2 months ago now) I was right about 184lbs. Following 2 months of working out, without much change in diet, I weighed in last week at 188. My assumption would be that I had built muscle in that time rather than gaining fat. The problem here is: it can only be an assumption.

The scale I use is a digital job that allegedly measures body fat %, but in reality it only measures BMI. Following a lot of weight loss it tells me that I’m still in the very high fat range for my weight. Whilst this could be true I don’t think it’s likely…this goes back to my assumptions.

So…the body fat analyzer arrived in the mail today (Omron one…same as they have at my gym). Tomorrow morning, Thursday being my normal weigh in day, I’ll try it out proper and start tracking body fat.

Based on an analysis right now my body fat is at about 17.7%. That works out to be 33.28lbs of fat. Now it’s time to figure out where I want to aim with a goal.

Depending on the study you read 17.7% is OK. Certainly nothing to write home about (I’ll write it here instead) but acceptable.

Ok, so a goal would be 12% body fat (just to put a number out there) which would mean a little over 11lbs of fat shed - without gaining any muscle back.

This is going to be interesting to track. I might even go to the length of tracking the exercise I do and seeing what effect different combinations have (if any).

TBC…

25 mins of machine weights. Mainly legs today, with a little bit of abs!

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 04/23/2008
• Time: 06:05:00
• Total Time: 00:25:00.00

Just part of the morning routine. 35 mins cardio at the gym!

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 04/23/2008
• Time: 05:30:00
• Total Time: 00:35:00.00
• Average Heart rate: 140
• Max Heart rate: 165
• Calories: 400

We’re almost through April and I’ve not managed to get out for a ride!! Good grief.

They say it’s the thought that counts, and I’ve certainly thought about it.

On the bright side, I’m at the gym most mornings - Monday to Friday - and generally feeling pretty healthy. Right now I don’t think I’ve lost any weight since the move (I was down some, but have since come back up a little) but I feel like I’ve dropped some fat and gained some muscle.

Also we’re just about done unpacking following the move. There are a handful of boxes left to unpack, but they are just magazines and a few books. We even have an empty bookshelf to put them on…just gotta get it done.

Spring sprung very quickly and it’s suddenly worth cycling again. I have the bike together and know where all my gear is…this weekend could see the first outing. See if I can put in 20 miles or so.

I need to get into the habit of keeping my posts more regular than a month apart. I get up at 4:30, out the door at 5:00, in the gym at 5:30, out of the gym about 6:45 and at work by 6:50…home again at about 4:30 in the avo and just don’t feel like typing - weird, huh?