Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Muscle? or Fat? or Both?

Before we get into my weigh in today, I just wanted to say thanks for all the comments and tweets about my sister's accident, I really appreciate it.

Well, this morning the scale didn't move in either direction, which I'm attributing to some stress eating and wine drinking from the weekend's events.  I did the usual moving the scale around the floor again today, I've had the thing for probably ten years and I wonder how accurate it is.  But I have a plan. Tomorrow I'm off to the doctor for my yearly physical, and I trust his scale.  Once I weigh myself there, I'm going to do it again when I get home, to see if the numbers match.  And if they don't, I'm making Mike take the scale to work.  He works for a company that does calibration work, so I'm going to have them calibrate my scale. 

I would like to know my body fat percentage.  Here's why. Looking at photos this weekend, I saw this one taken about 8 years ago, and I'm wearing one of my favorite pair of jeans:





Yes, I'm doing a shot, I think maybe a lemon drop. This was back in my NYC/pre-baby days, you can see a race bib on my fridge from some NYRR race.  During that time I hit the gym sporadically, I walked everywhere and ran for exercise.  But what I find interesting, is that I can still fit into those jeans, but I'm a good 12 pounds heavier now.






I know that muscle weighs more than fat, so is it possible that even though I weigh more, it's some muscle and not all fat?  Granted, I have some extra weight in my belly, and I have a bit of a muffin top in the jeans, but my legs and hips fit fine.  Is it a valid theory??? I hope so.


I also hope everyone had a great weight loss week, one person in particular (BDD) is kicking ass. 


I don't have a weight loss factoid this week, but here is a quote from the great Jack LaLane:


"The only way you can hurt your body is by not using it."

23 comments:

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

I'd like to know my BF% too, but I don't know of any place around here to get it done.

I'm getting really disgusted by this whole weight loss thing. It just isn't working.

giraffy said...

Can you get BF% done at a gym, like 24 hour? Hmm. I might.

I'm only down about .2 this week. I went kind of nutso on Sunday after my long run. I was FAMISHED, all day. I could not eat enough. Oops.

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

I am using Lean for Life because somehow in the middle of training for my 50 miler this weekend I put on 6 - 7 pounds when I really wanted to drop 10. Go figure. My hubbs gives me the say "it's muscle" comments but I wonder. After this race I will knuckle down on the diet to see if it's my intake or what I think is the problem, stress.

As to your jeans, I think they looked loose in your seat in the older photo and now they are a bit more snug BUT I do think as we get older we carry our weight differently. But you really do look about the same size as 8 years ago! (amazing!!)

Susan said...

You still fit in jeans you wore 8 years ago? That's awesome in itself. My body hasn't been the same in years... I carry weight differently now. *sigh*

fancy nancy said...

I think knowing your body fat can be very telling....much more than numbers on a scale. I had a workout partner many years ago who was a good 20lbs lighter than me...and also a size 2. Well we had our body fat done and her's was about 15% higher than mine!!!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

Stress is a known factor to limit weight loss, the weekend was out of your control. You are doing great.

Thanks for the shout out, even though I dont think its fair because I am a guy.

Carly said...

I don't think I want to know my body fat%. I'm too afraid to know. Hahaha...
I only lost .2 this week, but I had another stressful week and I'm doing much better since I weighed in on Friday so I'm hoping for a better number.

Lucas R. Tucker said...

My wife asks questions like this all the time. like how come her clothes still fit the same but she has lost 12 pounds. I have always assumed that it is possible to lose fat, but gain it other places, or lose body fat, but gain weight from toning. I'm no expert.

Amy said...

My grandmother never trusted the doctor's scale. She said you could always deduct two pounds from their scale because if you're heavy, they want you to think you're heavier than you are and stepping on the doctor's scale would be more of a wake up call with an extra two pounds. She was funny, that Grandma of mine.

I'd also be curious to know my BF%. You look the same size as 8 years ago to me!

Unknown said...

Body fat Percentage is great to do to see if it really is fat or muscle. I just started dropping weight with clean, CLEAN eating. I mean I haven't had Chocolate in 4 weeks!! OMG! I was getting frustrated. But yes muscle weighs more than fat. I don't care what people say that a pound is a pound...Not true!! You can have 2 similar builds with one being fat and one being fit and still have the same BMI..So get that Body fat testing done!! :)

J said...

We had to take our body fat in college, but I don't know if it was exactly right. It is such a tricky thing! IT would be interesting to know though!

misszippy said...

I love Jack LaLane...he was the best.

You look awesome and I would guess that yes, it's muscle. You're probably not doing so many shots these days, and I know you cook/eat well, so that makes a difference. Not to mention all your training.

Amanda@runninghood said...

Love this quote! So true! I weighted almost a good 10 lbs more in college than I do now because of how much muscle I had! I felt like I looked great but I just weighed more because of the amount of lifting I did back then. I think you look awesome in your "now" picture. How do you feel?

Teamarcia said...

There's much to be said about weight distribution based on age, diet and exercise. I think you still look amazing.
Gotta love Jack rest his very fit soul.

Camilla said...

It really is so tricky, and I feel like my body weight fluctuates a lot, like 2-3 pounds sometimes. I don't know if the fluctuation is just water retention, or if I'm actually gaining/losing weigh. I think it's odd.

Unknown said...

I've been reading the Matt Fitzgerald book, Racing Weight, and it's making me want to get my body fat percentage. I'm also half talked into buying a scale that does it for you.

J. L. said...

Funny. I have the same jeans! And yes, the extra weight I've put on in the last 4 years, even though I'm training, makes my mind go crazy. But I'm wearing the same jeans from 4 years ago. Body fat really is a good measure. And you look better today (more toned.) But sometimes I do think the jeans test is the best. At least I tell myself that. :-)

RunToTheFinish said...

i started doing measurements and at least a scale with BF because I didn't feel like the number on the scale was telling the whole story any more

Lisa said...

Is it Wednesday already? Where did this week go!!! Ummm, I didn't weigh in, but i have very little to be proud of!!! I'm failing - I'm sorry. Have I been voted off the island? Has the tribe spoken? Did the I get the fewest votes and danced my last dance? Sigh!!! I will promise to try to do better (that's crap talk and I know it - I can hear my drill sergents yelling in my ear - soldier you WILL GET OVER THAT WALL RIGHT NOW YOU WILL NOT TRY YOU WILL NOT DO YOUR BEST YOU WILL GET OVER THAT WALL RIGHT GOSH DANG NOW!!!!!).

ajh said...

Love the quote. It is perfect.

Annie said...

Well, I am back to my "starting" weight again, so lets see how the week goes. I did finally add in ab work and push-ups.
Fitting into jeans from 8 years ago, awesome!!!

So glad your sister is ok and things weren't more serious.

Jill said...

Jack is the best - I remember as a little thing my mom doing his exercises on TV - which really dates me!

I'm guessing yes, your BF is much lower now. I used to get my tested weekly when I worked with a trainer and my weight would stay the same but BF lowered and the clothes would be loser.

Oh how I miss those days... :)

Black Knight said...

You look in perfect shape. I think that the weight must not be a problem (or a thought) for you