Body composition getting worse: help !?

(Scott) #22

The BF measurement is determined from what I understand as a conductivity from one foot up the leg and down to the other. If this is true hydration and salinity could affect the number. I look at it as a trend, much like weight, and while I want it lower I don’t get very excited by a blip on the display. Two days ago I went up two pounds and this morning I went down two. All good!

(Karim Wassef) #23

The images here show my change tracking

#24

@Karim_Wassef OK, got it !
It’s non linear but the trends are clear.

I’ll try measurement instead of just the impedance scale and I’ll add my improvement in weight training.

Thanks for all the advices ! It’s very reassuring.

@Rclause I admire your calm ! When the scale is up, I’m always worried even if I try to not think about it.

(Karim Wassef) #25

Just to help put things on perspective… I fasted for 19 days consecutively and I had several days where both weight and fat % would go UP for two to three days in a row… keep calm

(Carl Keller) #26

Cortisol, the stress hormone, can cause weight stalls or gains, even when you are doing everything perfectly. It’s important to try to minimize the stress in your life to truly be healthy.

(Karim Wassef) #27

Check out Peter’s criticism of DEXA even around hydration and muscle glycogen x 4 = water error

30mins in

#28

Thank you for sharing all these tips about measurement !

I really think that Peter Attia is a bit condescending and pompous, especially when he talks about Dave Feldman’s work or the carnivore diet. But I appreciate the info about the lack of precision of any kind of measurement.

So I think that the more I can lift without my waist widening (beside occasionally bloating), the best it is.

(Allie) #29

I’m at the stage of trying not to worry about the number going up as my goal is mainly muscle gain now, although I’d still like to lose a few more pounds of fat but guess that’ll happen in time with the metabolic speed up that goes with the muscle gains. My instinct always took me back to the idea of needing to limit / reduce food when the scale went up but that is not the right approach when I want to gain muscle so I’ve had to rethink and keep myself in check.
It is hard not to stress seeing the number go up because lifelong conditioning is that the number should be as low as possible so I get why it’s stressing you out, but keep focused on the long term goals and try not to let numbers control you.

#30

You are sooooooo right for the numbers. It’s hard.
The tricky part is to eat enough to build muscles but also be in a kind of caloric deficit to tell your body to use the fat storage.
I’ve heard that you need 20/30g of leucine per meal in order to build muscle. So I try to eat lean meat but I’m really enjoying my eggs and bacon.
Do you have a thread with your muscle gain ? I’d like to see what you’re doing in order to improve.

(Allie) #31

No I don’t. I have thought about it but never got around to it as I struggle enough keeping up with online commitments already :joy:

Really I have no plan, just working hard on eating intuitively rather than out of habit. I do Intermittent Fasting and aim at having at least sixteen hours each day food free, but when my body is demanding nourishment I go with its request rather than sticking rigidly to the timer. Same goes for gym - I have a five day plan and aim to work hard Mon to Friday leaving Sat & Sun as rest and recovery, but again if my body is telling me it needs something different, I go with it.

This week hasn’t gone to plan at all so far. I worked hard in gym Mon & Tues (with Tues being leg day) then Weds my body was demanding extra food and rest, same yesterday, and today I’m fasting and will just do an hour of yoga this evening as my body really is in need of rest and recovery at this time.

#32

Well, thank you for the insights ! It’s always interesting to see others training routine.