Super Bowl Sunday! - Super Quiet!

[Mal Lady]

I can't believe I could be the first one here this morning! Is Everyone sleeping in to conserve their energy for the big game? Well, dh want a good snack today, so I'll break out the Laughing Cow Swiss and dig out the pork rinds. No, were not watching the game - just enjoying a snack.
I'm not sure what the meals will be. Preliminary thoughts are:

BF: ham and eggs omlet
L: chicken breast on bed of lettuce
D: Italian sausage with peppers and onions on the BBQ grill

When I woke up this morning I thought we might be looking at some snow. It is very gray looking and not much sun if any. Yet, the thermometer reads 35 degrees and rising. I know are snow will be gone by about Wednesday, because it is suppose to reach about 55 degrees:(.
It's a shame - I really like how pretty it looks.

Stepped on the scales today and reflected back on the prior weeks. I'm averaging about 2 pounds a week. Thinking ahead, I will be moving into phase to of pp. I don't even know were the book is at! I figured in about 15 more pounds I'll think about that part. Just wondering - how fast do you get to your ideal weight? Why not just do the 1st phase until the weight is about 5 lbs. to target weight and then enter 2nd phase and hold on that till arriving at ideal weight? I'm not even sure where I want to end up? Rheumatologist says I should consider being a little on the lighter side due to knee problems. DH wants me a little on the heavier side (doesn't like skin and bones) I'm now 51 years old. Last time I reached my ideal weight I was 21 and weighed in at 124 lbs. I had about 18% body fat. I'm 5'4". I held quite a while at 140 lbs. and on my medium frame I didn't look too bad. This time I thought I'd like to be about 130-135. I'm not sure where I should be. That's why I'm note sure when to switch to phase II. Any suggestions by what I've indicated, where I should end up? I know it's hard if you haven't seen me but, I thought if there is anyone out there that has had experience or is about this size could give me their opinion, I would appreciate any guidance you might have to offer.

Well, I rambled on enough. Guess I'll make my coffee and read my paper. It's hard to believe I have the whole down stair to myself. DH is asleep and 2 mals are out playing in the snow. I'm listening to the Classic Country Cable channel, feet up, and going to enjoy my coffee. Doesn't feel too shabby!

I'll check in on all of you later. Until then, I hope you all have a peaceful and relaxing Sunday. (P.S. Don't party too hardy now!)

Sharon

[maxlharris]

Mal,

You might be confused. There are really just 2.5 phases of protein power. Two versions of the first phase, and it gets a lot more complicated in PPLP (3 versions, etc), but only weight loss, transition and maintenance. That other program (by Dr. A) has 3.5 phases.

So, there is no reason not to stay at 40g of carbs until you get to your goal, then experiment and expand. That's the program.

As for me, sleep is good. I have been getting in bed early, setting the ITunes to play random stuff for two-three hours, and reading until I feel like falling asleep. I had forgotten how to do this, as it was a luxury that ended with marriage. Any rate, has been good for the sleep. Probably good for the "don't eat anything 3 hours before sleep" thing too. Very good for the dental health (#1 excuse against floss and mouthwash... I'm too tired and it's late).

Today, is a question of motivation. I have ribs defrosted. I have some beef defrosted. I am thinking of making the pork rib chili. It is pretty good when made at home. But, I am also thinking about the cleanup work. And the prep work. And everything else that goes into one of my chilis. And I'm not really feeling it. On the other hand, what else was I going to do today, watch pregame? I also have a 15 minute workout that I could do. But motivation is again lacking. What did I do to myself? Three months ago, I would run through walls to workout. *sigh*

[Mal Lady]

Maxl,

I guess I'm not talking about the right thing. I started out on 34 grams of protein per meal. Yes, now I see that I am doing 40 grams of carb per day. Now, since I lost some weight, I will move down to 27 grams of protein per meal. Still staying at 40 grams of carb per day. Is this correct? When I get to a certain weight, I lower protein not carb count? My book talks about moving to phase 2. Then, maintenance after weight is obtained? If this is incorrect, Please explain?!

Sharon

[Karole]

It is hard to get back into things once you get out of a pattern Max. It took me ages to get back to PP once I stopped coming to the board in 03 or 04. I had to get disgusted with myself before I could get motivated to do what I knew would help me. Every one is so different and what motivates one , won't another.

With exercise, I feel really good after I get into it for a few weeks, then if something comes along to break the streak of exercise days, (illness or vacation or whatever) then I am back at day one--dragging myself to do it. It makes me feel so good--why do I always forget that??

[Mitra]

Mal, it sounds as if you're doing the right thing - as you get to within a few pounds of your goal weight, you can start to gradually increase carbs towards maintenance levels.

As for picking a goal weight, there's no single "right" number. Body fat percentage is a better guide than BMI, which just gives a range of weights depending on your height. Somewhere in between in usefulness are the tables that give a range for small/medium/large frames.

For your age, 22-30% is the body fat percentage for most healthy women - it'll be less for serious athletes. You can calculate your body fat % using an on-line calculator, like the one here (http://www.he.net/~zone/prothd2.html) (you can use it to calculate body fat, but ignore what it says about ideal weight) or ones here (http://www.eskimo.com/%7Ecdickens/FatCalculators.html). Another site with a few ideas for choosing your goal is this one (http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm). If you choose what body fat you think would be best for you - say 25% - then you can use the optimum weight calculator here (http://www.freeweightloss.com/calculator.html) to tell you what overall weight that corresponds to.

You'll probably see quite a range in the numbers, but they should give you some idea where you might like to end up. Have a look around those sites, then come and ask some more questions :). Or let us know what you've decided.

[Mal Lady]

Mitra,

Thank-you, I will definitly check these sites out!

I just checked them out and found that the scale that I have here at home that weighs body fat isn't too far off. I saw how the numbers work. I haven't decided on what I'll go with for an ending weight but, I know that these sites will help me when I get closer. I am thinking in the fight range at least. I guess it is a matter of how I look and feel - to where I end up. Being healthy and more physically fit is most important - not a number. But, human nature is curious and setting goals that can be adjusted along the way and flexible - is probably best.

Thank-you for your help - it is greatly appreciated!:)

Sharon

[maxlharris]

Maxl,

I guess I'm not talking about the right thing. I started out on 34 grams of protein per meal. Yes, now I see that I am doing 40 grams of carb per day. Now, since I lost some weight, I will move down to 27 grams of protein per meal. Still staying at 40 grams of carb per day. Is this correct? When I get to a certain weight, I lower protein not carb count? My book talks about moving to phase 2. Then, maintenance after weight is obtained? If this is incorrect, Please explain?!

Sharon

Which book are we working from?
If you have not lost any LBM, and we're talking Protein Power (the better book to use on this subject), you do not reduce protein. Not until you've lost a good bit of Lean Body Mass. And if you are losing a lot of lean body mass, something else is wrong. This program is pretty solid on preservation of LBM. Especially if you do exercise.

If we're talking PP Life Plan, then, it's possible that you moved down a weight category. The table in PPLP, in my opinion, is kind of sloppy, and while it simplified the whole process, it mucked up the real information that is the core of the plan. That's my thought, but I didn't get a million letters asking me how to calculate my LBM, either. This is a side deal.

You should be calculating your protein needs based on LBM. Which means it shouldn't really go down unless:
1- You've lost considerable LBM (generally not great)
2- You've stopped exercising or have become more sedentary (your choice)
3- You were 40% overweight, and now you are not.

That's about it under PP, which most people think is the better way to go, as far as protein requirements.

Sharing numbers would probably get a better answer, but I don't have PP here, so I can't do the math for you.

[Mal Lady]

Maxl,
I started out at LBM of 129. Which was starting body weight of 215 multiplied by 1.25 = 161.25. Then, 161.25 x1.1 = 177.375. But, this is not the weight that I want to be.

So, today, I took my current weight 161 x (ave. active) x .7 = 120.75
Then, 120.75 x 1.25 = 150.93 LBM

Then, 150.93 x 1.1 = 166.

There is no way on earth I would want to be 166 lbs.

I'm not sure that is correct. I am using the pp plan book copyright 1998.

Anyone have any light on this?

[Ammy]

didn't have time to read through all the posts, so I'll catch up later.
I wanted to report my food for the day.

9:30 4slices turkey bacon, 1 serving hot cereal
12:30ish meatloaf, carrots (maybe pickles)
3:30pm pistachio's
6pm chick noodle casserole

[Mitra]

Sharon, I think something's gone wrong in your calculation.

Use one of the links I gave above (such as this one (http://www.eskimo.com/~cdickens/FatCalculatorF2.html)) to calculate your body fat %. The number of pounds of fat you have is BF% x weight/100.

Lean body mass is weight - fat.

Multiplying that LBM by 0.7 will give you your protein requirement.

Dividing LBM by (1-target BF%/100) will give you your goal weight.

[Mal Lady]

Mitra,

I did that one - and it is exactly what my Health-o-meter scales say I am.
Thanks for the site. I will calculate where I should be from that and I will know what my weight should approximately be. I was calculating from the pp book - I don't know what I did wrong - but, this site that you suggested seemed practical. I guess there are so many opinions on this subject that it does matter how you feel and look at certain points.

Thank-you everyone.

Sharon

[Peachy]

Sharon, I seem to get a little tied up in the ideal body weight department too. I am aiming toward lowering my bodyfat% with mini-goals along the way. I'm shooting towards a pound a week loss and a bodyfat% a month. Where that's going to leave me when I'm a size 8 -- I don't know. I'm just guessing at the amount of weight I have to lose.

I did my pilates this morning. That was just painful. I went back to the basics. I can't believe how out of shape I've become. I have no stomach muscles to speak of. No wonder everyone was asking me if I was pregnant. My tummy is definitely my worst area.

I have made the decision to stop smoking. I have the patch and I am ready to go. Tomorrow is the big day. I'm hoping not to gain any weight. I am trying to take charge of my health and smoking is the worst thing I can do. I'm going to need all your encouragement.

[Mal Lady]

I have made the decision to stop smoking. I have the patch and I am ready to go. Tomorrow is the big day. I'm hoping not to gain any weight. I am trying to take charge of my health and smoking is the worst thing I can do. I'm going to need all your encouragement.

Oh Peachy!

That's wonderful!!!!! Yippee! I'm glad your going to stop smoking! That is the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones. I hope you have a lot of support at home also. I know I will be here for you! I will be rooting for you every step of the way. How courageous of you to battle three tough life changing things at once - stop smoking, exercise, and pp! I have all the respect in the world for you to battle all of this! Congratulations on your giant leaps. Go Peachy Go!!!!:exclamation::exclamation:

Keep us informed on your progress and my best wishes to you!

Sharon

[maxlharris]

Maxl,
I started out at LBM of 129. Which was starting body weight of 215 multiplied by 1.25 = 161.25. Then, 161.25 x1.1 = 177.375. But, this is not the weight that I want to be.

So, today, I took my current weight 161 x (ave. active) x .7 = 120.75
Then, 120.75 x 1.25 = 150.93 LBM

Then, 150.93 x 1.1 = 166.

There is no way on earth I would want to be 166 lbs.

I'm not sure that is correct. I am using the pp plan book copyright 1998.

Anyone have any light on this?

This is why they simplified it for PPLP.
The math steps in PP work like this:

Take your measurements (instructions are in the neighborhood of page 86 if I recall correctly)
Figure your LBM (your measurements convert to some stand in factors, which produce your BF% if you do it right, or the coeffcient of the weak nuclear force if you do it incorrectly... you take your BF%, multiply by you're weight {divide result by 100 if you aren't working with percentages properly} subtract that number from your weight, and voila... you either have your LBM or pi to the 50th digit)
Then, you multiply your LBM by your activity code, and that's your daily protein requirement.
Voila.

Again, your LBM shouldn't change a whole lot.

[Mal Lady]

I went back to my pp book and did some refiguring. If I put in that I am active obese - I will come out with a fairly close number. I guess I just hate that word obese. After losing 55 pounds, I figured I didn't need to see that word obese any more.:eek::mad::confused::mad::jawDrop::peeved::te ar::cry: !!!!!!!

So, at active, obese: weight - 160 x .60 = 104 LBM

Take LBM 104 x 1.25 to get ideal body weight = 130 lbs.

130 lbx. x 1.1 = 143 lbs. to switch to Phase 2

I know that 130 - 135 would be a good point to be.

Thank-you for your knowledge and enlightenment. I'll keep on chugging along until I reach 143 lbs. or so and then, dig out phase 2 book.

I appreciate all of you helping me to see the numbers! Sometimes it's just hard to swallow the truth

[Mitra]

I think you're using the multiplier on the wrong number. If you have the PP book, first you look up the numbers corresponding to your height, waist and hips in the table, then A + B - C gives you your body fat %.

Then weight x BF%/100 gives you weight of fat.
Weight - fat gives you LBM, and that's the number to multiply by 0.6 or 0.7 to get your protein requirement, and to divide by 1 - target BF%/100 to get your goal weight.

It looks from your posts as if you're multiplying your current total weight by 0.6, which gives you too high a number for your protein requirement, and is not the same as your LBM.

[Mal Lady]

Mitra,

In my book, it says if you want to find your build and activity level you use the chart. I used Obese - activity level active - which iw the number 0.65

Tke 0.65 times your current body weight 162 x .65 = 105.3 Lean Body Mass

Then, in says take your LBM x 1.25
105.3 x 1.25 = 131.625 = Ideal Body Weight

Then, to move to phase 2 multiply you ideal body weight by 1.1

131.625 x 1.1= 144.7875 = 145 lbs. give or take.

Should I be using a different pp book. Like I said, mine is copyrighted 1998. Maybe there is a new book out that figures it differently?

Sharon

[Mitra]

My book's copyright 1996. They should be the same calculation, but mine's the UK edition, so the page numbers are probably different. But whatever book you're using, you can't get a number for your LBM without using either an electronic measurer like Tanita scales, or a calculation method that uses measurements - either around your body, or calipers to measure skin-fold thickness.

In Chapter 4, "Assessing Your Risk", there's a bit at the start about various risk factors, then a section called "What's Your Body Composition" which tells you how to determine your body fat, then your LBM, then you ideal body weight. The calculation you described looks more like the protein requirement one, which comes in the next chapter, "Putting It All Together."

Sorry, it's hard to sort this out without just being able to put our books next to each other and compare them :)

[maxlharris]

This still doesn't sound right.

If you are 160 lbs, and you have 40% BF, your adipose tissue weighs, 64 lbs. Leaving you with 96 lbs of LBM. 160 * .6 = 96, not 104. But, still, I think the methodology is wrong. The active obese = .6 is for protein consumption, not LBM calculation. Let's start from scratch:

At Mitra's Link (http://www.eskimo.com/%7Ecdickens/FatCalculatorF2.html):
You need measurements for your neck, height, waist and hips. That will give you a body fat percentage.
Then, with that percentage, you multiply your weight. (Or, to skip a step, go (1- bf%) times weight). You subtract that from your weight (or skip this if you did the shortcut above)
That's your LBM.
LBM is important because it figures into both goal setting AND protein. They are not the same thing. And they don't necessarily move together.

For the goals, 1.25 is not 25% bodyfat. 1.33 is. Explaining why this is would take a lot of space, but the short end of it is, bodyfat is not figured from a whole, rather than in addition to lean body mass.
Quick example.
A person weighs 100 lbs.
This person is 25% bf. Their body fat weighs 25 lbs.
The person's LBM is 75 lbs.
If they found their LBM, and wanted to target 25% bodyfat, here's how the math would look:
75 * 1.25 = 93.75
Wait, that's not right. Well, it is right, in that it's the correct answer to the wrong question.
25 lbs of body fat/75 lbs of lean mass = 1/3 = 1.33
75*1.33 = 100 = 25 lbs of body fat = 25% bf.

At the same time as we're figuring goals, we have to figure out the protein target.
Our 100 lbs hypothetical person, if they were active obese, they would need
75 (lbm) * .7 (activity factor) = 52.5 g protein per day.

I think you are getting the two pieces confused.

Start at the beginning:
Get a neck, waist, hip and height measurement.
Dump it into Mitra's Link (http://www.eskimo.com/%7Ecdickens/FatCalculatorF2.html).
Take weight, multiply by number obtained from the link.
subtract that number from current weight. This is your LBM
Multiply LBM by .6. That is your protein requirement.
Multiply LBM by 1.28. That is 22% bodyfat.
Multiply LBM by 1.42. That is 30% bodyfat.
That's a workable goal range.

I hope this is both clear and helpful

[Mal Lady]

Mitra,

The chapter I am using is called "When to move to Phase 2 of the Protein Power Plan. It says that they are using a ideal body composition of 75% lean body mass to 25% fat for women. amd 80% lean mass and 20% fat for men.

I got this whole kit from a good friend. I think she bought it through a TV promotion. Anyway, I guess that all we can do is guess at what's going on and I'll address this problem when I get closer to my goal weight. I appreciate the help that you have tried to provide. It is just numbers anyway. I was trying to deep think and calculate - sometimes that can get you in trouble. I thought that it was going to be more scientific that I probably should make it out to be.

Thanks,
Sharon:)

[Mitra]

If you follow Max's instructions above, you should get the right answer without having to worry about matching different versions of the book. As you say, it's just numbers, and the way you feel, your mirror, your doctor, and your husband will all feed into what you finally decide.

[Mal Lady]

If you follow Max's instructions above, you should get the right answer without having to worry about matching different versions of the book. As you say, it's just numbers, and the way you feel, your mirror, your doctor, and your husband will all feed into what you finally decide.

Yup!

Thanks all that matters. Sorry for the practice if futility. Lot of work for nothing. I'll keep on lc-ing and get to a comfortable weight.:)

Thank-you!
Sharon

[maxlharris]

AHA, it's clear now. You're using the 30 day plan book, methinks. Or the kit thing.

[Peachy]

According to those calculations, my goal weight is between 142 and 157. That seems a little high, but I'll take it. Max, what's the multiplier for 20% bodyfat? I don't know if I can get there at this point of my life, but it would be a good thing to know.

[maxlharris]

Peachy: 1.25
Simplest way to do the math.
Take a hypothetical person who is 100 lbs. Set their composition.
20% bodyfat = 20 lbs fat, 80 lbs LBM.
20 / 80 = .25.
Add 1, because you want to add fat to LBM,
so, 80 * 1.25 = 100.
It works. Very nice.

[Karole]

Peachy, just want to chime in with another ATTA GIRL on the quitting smoking. I wish you all the sucess in the world. I know it won't be easy so come here and vent when you need too. Like Mal , I hope you have lots of great support at the home front. That always helps so much.

Good luck.

[KimmieB]

Good afternoon everyone,

I am eating lunch while sitting at my computer. Finishing up the mushroom asparagus quiche and eating tuna fish on rye wasa. I'm not real fond of the wasa and just might eat the tuna off it instead of wasting carbs on it. I had 3 egg yolk and 3 pieces of bacon for breakfast. I had to eat the yolks b/c my son is bulking up and only eats the whites. I don't mind cause I'm not a egg white lover anyway.

We bought a new-to-us gym set last night. The guy just wanted to get rid of it and he sold it real cheap and included a load of free weights and bars. Now I will be able to do squats and bench press with a machine. We didn't really have a bench with our other gym set and my son was laying on a table with his feet on the couch doing bench presses. We had a lot of furniture moving around to fit a second gym set in the LR. Our LR looks more like the "Y" than a LR. We are lucky the couches are still in there.

I have a roast in the oven for dinner w/ low sodium cream of mushroom soup over top. This will be my first Superbowl without chips, dip, and lots of beer. No parties, but we will be watching the game hoping the Patriots lose. I was born a Dolphin fan and I don't want our perfect season matched.

If one does not eat the minimum amount of protein for the day, will this stall any weight loss? I should be eating 27g per meal according to the chart and I don't think I ever come close to that. Even with a protein shake, I think that only gets me 20 to 22g.

Good luck to you Peachy on quitting smoking! Your body will thank you!

[Mal Lady]

AHA, it's clear now. You're using the 30 day plan book, methinks. Or the kit thing.

Yes, that's what I have. Any differences?

Sharon

[maxlharris]

Yes, that's what I have. Any differences?

Sharon

C l e a r l y

[Ammy]

Wow...quite the BMI discussions today.
I used Mitra's link and it says I'm at 44.4% body fat...Hm....seems a bit high...Ticker Factory puts me at 35%.
I'll have to go up and get my PP book and see what it says.

Anyway...meals are now completed and ecc's/protein are calculationed. The chick-noodle casserole tured out to be 8ecc per serving! Perfect, add some lettuce and all is well!

9:30 4slices turkey bacon, 1 serving hot cereal
12:30ish meatloaf
3:30pm pistachio's
6pm chick noodle casserole, 2cups lettuce, ranch, 1/2 apple

Pro: 105
Ecc: 44
Fat: 91
Cal: 1510

[gitfiddle]

Here's my day:

Breakfast was 1/2 ricotta cheese, blueberries, crushed pecans
Lunch was three swiss/beef rollups and two squares of Lindt Equador chocolate
Dinner was my famous crockpot spicy beef soup and tea

We drove over the fitness center after church and I are now a member! DH has pledged to work out with me but we still have to iron out the details.

Other than that, a little sewing and some TV with DH filled in the holes. Has anyone read about the legislation in Mississippi that will make restaurants turn away obese people? What a hoot!

[Tresses]

Peachy, way to go on working to kick the habit! :D I quit smoking almost 18 years ago. (My then boyfriend/now hubby would not propose to me until I quit - talk about motivation! :lol: ) It CAN be done! Best wishes to you. :)

Today was a busy, but good day. And I was busy enough to not fall into the "I'm bored, I wonder what I can eat?" trap.

Best news...I woke up down a pound to 157! This is below where I got stuck (157.5) and bounced around 1.5lbs for the past 2.5 weeks. :) I hope it's a sign of good things to come.

Mal Lady, we are heading for the same goal, each at 5'4" with medium frames. My eyes started to glaze over during all of the math in this thread because I used the charts and formulas in the original PP book. And of course, I can't locate my book right now. :mad: My LBM is 101. I have 132 in mind for my final goal, but that's mostly nostalgia: it's what I weighed when I got married. ;)

Today's food:
Bfast: 2 eggs, 2 sausauge
Lunch: tuna salad, green beans, 1 sq. 75% dark chocolate
Afternoon snack: smoked almonds and a cheese stick
Dinner (very late for me, around 8:30): Turkey and Jarlsberg swiss on LC toast with leaf lettuce and mayo; red pepper strips and ranch dip.

Time to go hard boil some eggs.

Have a peaceful evening, all. :)

[KimmieB]

Woooooooooooohoooooooooooooooo!!!!!:d

[Karole]

Got your wish, huh, Kimmie. It was a good game wasn't it. That was a super play there in the last quarter.

Fruits and veggies: grapefruit,tomatoes, onion,carrots,celery,mushrooms

Exercise: 3 hours rearrangeing two bedrooms,including taking beds apart, moving mattresses and lifting and tugging on assorted other furniture. That has to count as resistance any way you look at it.The two rooms look good too !! (But I was awfully glad when it was finished)

[KimmieB]

Yes it was Karole! I enjoyed the game more than the commercials, which weren't all that great!

[Mitra]

Wow...quite the BMI discussions today.
I used Mitra's link and it says I'm at 44.4% body fat...Hm....seems a bit high...Ticker Factory puts me at 35%.
I'll have to go up and get my PP book and see what it says.

For me, Uncle Chuck's no 2 (http://www.eskimo.com/~cdickens/FatCalculatorF2.html) calculator, or the one on About.com (http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/library/blbodyfatcalculator.htm) (I think they're the same), or Uncle Chuck's no. 3 calc (which uses more measurements) come out close to the PP results. The ones that use waist only always come out too low. By trying a couple of different ones, you should be able to get a rough idea.

Anyway, checking this info out has been useful for me. I need to do it more often, because I base my ideas of what's a good weight for me on what I weighed when I was younger, which was less than I am now, but all these calculators tell me that I'm fine where I am. I need to be reminded of it frequently until I start to believe it :rolleyes:.

[Anniesnan]

I was going cuckoo reading all the calculations yesterday, but actually did them this morning (haven't in about a year).

now I just need to check to make sure I'm still eating the right amount of protein.


Yesterday was good.

great breakfast, good lunch, great dinner!
More cleaning, cleaning.

Superbowl game - first time I actually REALLY watched. and, ironically, first time I actually UNDERSTOOD the 1st and 10 stuff.

[Ammy]

For me, Uncle Chuck's no 2 (http://www.eskimo.com/~cdickens/FatCalculatorF2.html) calculator, or the one on About.com (http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/library/blbodyfatcalculator.htm) (I think they're the same), or Uncle Chuck's no. 3 calc (which uses more measurements) come out close to the PP results.

Well, after the depressing idea of me being 44.9%BMI, I recalculated using the PP book. It said I was 38%...still sad to me.
The Uncle Chuck #3 put me at 35.8% and tickerfactory put me at 34%.

SIGH...

What REALLY upset me is that my PP calculations put my new ideal body weight at 124-136 (ish, I can't remember the exactly figures).
THAT will NEVER happen. And I do mean NEVER. Not because I can't get down there, but because that would be SUCH an unhealthy weight for me, WAY too skinny...I'd look horrible!! Right now my sister is 150 and is all bones. No fat, no muscle, and she is SMALL boned...I am NOT.

It was also sad to see the differences in my LBM now compared to my LBM 40lbs ago...can my LBM so down 25lbs when I lose 40???? Is that even possible??

I kept relooking at the calculations and thinking I'd done something wrong....:jawDrop::cry::angry::suspicious:...but kept coming up with the same numbers.

Right now I supposedly am 98lbs LBM and 78lbs body fat.
It just doesn't seem logical...

[Mitra]

Amy, none of these numbers is engraved in tablets of stone. The WHO tables used on about.com are similar to the PP healthy weight ranges, except that they have an upper number a few percent higher - in the mid 30s for women, so on those you're pretty much at the healthy area, or within spitting distance. And if you look and feel good, then don't worry about the numbers :).

[Ammy]

yeah, that's what my GF tells me too.

She says the numbers are crazy and that I'm at a good weight.
Honestly, I feel 20lbs overweight at this point. For ME, who at one point weighed 320lbs...I feel great...and if I stayed here, 20lbs overweight, I wouldn't care.

I just sometimes fall into the discussions about BMI...I do really need to skip these discussions...it's like the don't pertain to me. That my true BMI couldn't be calcuated without something like the water method (whtaever it's called, where they weigh you underwater).

[maxlharris]

Amy,

Please do not confuse BMI (a mostly not useful tool) with Bodyfat %age (A more useful tool, although given the difficulty of obtaining it, far from ideal).


BMI: = Height & Weight, with no space for frame or composition or really anything. Just working an actuarial table on Height to Weight Ratios, with some math to make it a smoother curve and render it in english measurements.

Body Fat %age = Some measure of composition, usually done by estimation, though more accurate when done via submersion or tomography.

All math above (and in PP) is geared at Fat %age. BMI, is not a useful tool for anyone but an insurance adjuster or a public health official.

[Ammy]

sorry, you're right...I am discussing 2 different things and putting them together.


My BMI calculations have been so out of wack...I'm still "obese"...and I don't agree with that...which is why I shouldn't even LOOK at them...silly me.


But do you suppose I could lose 25lbs of LBM when I lost 40lbs of weight??

[maxlharris]

It could happen. It seems unlikely, considering protein power. What was your original LBM. The tummy tuck might throw off the math a bit as well.

[Ammy]

That's a good point.

I was 240, and my LBM was about 124. pre-surgery
lost 33lbs, only 2 of those I "lost" from skin during surgery.
Now I'm 207 and my LBM is 98. post-surgery

My waist was the same measurement pre/post surgery, my hips dropped from 47.5 to 42.5 (yikes, that's a lot of skin saggage).

I hadn't really thought about the "tuck" affecting the numbers.

I think I'll stick with my previous calculations of my ideal body weight...178. It's SO much more plausible.

[Mitra]

98 does sound low for you - my LBM is 90 and I'm shorter than you and smallish framed. It sounds as if something's not working in the calculations. If you actually want to check the number, maybe getting it done with calipers at the gym or doctors would work better. Otherwise - just ignore it all :).

[Ammy]

Okay...I'll do my PP calculations one more time tonight, make sure I didn't screw something up.

If I come up with 98 again, then I'm going to ditch the entire thing and trust my numbers pre-surgery that said my ideal weight should be 178 and who cares how much LBM and bodyfat the calculators say I have now...deal?

[Mitra]

Okay...I'll do my PP calculations one more time tonight, make sure I didn't screw something up.

If I come up with 98 again, then I'm going to ditch the entire thing and trust my numbers pre-surgery that said my ideal weight should be 178 and who cares how much LBM and bodyfat the calculators say I have now...deal?

It's a deal :).