Day 15 - BMI and Body Fat %
I finally got my Body Composition measured professionally today. The beginning figure of 20.5 that I posted in my About section was calculated from my height and weight by my online coach and should be fairly accurate. Before I get into my current numbers, let's talk about a few terms. BMI - Body Mass Index BMI is a ratio of weight to height, typically in kg/m2 (note: that's meters squared). Since most Americans do not use the metric system you can divide your weight in lbs by your height in inches squared and multiply that number by 703.
Body Fat %
This is a more obvious value. Body Fat % is the percentage of you total body weight that is composed of fat. This value determines fitness more so than BMI, because it illustrates how much of our body is fat, versus bone, water, and muscle. There a a few ways to measure body fat %. I used Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA).
FFM - Fat Free Mass
This is simply the weight of you body that is not composed of fat - bones, water, muscles, etc.
The Importance of Good Numbers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set a recommended range for BMI and Fat % based on a person's gender and age. Falling within these ranges helps prevent certain health issues, including high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, certain cancers, diabetes, and more. It's also important to note the importance of body fat. Body fat helps protect your organs, regulate body temperature, store nutrients, and more.
My Numbers
BMI: 19.2
Recommended: 18.6-24.9 (based on the CDC)
Body Fat %: 24.8
Recommended: 21-33%
FFM: 100.21 lb
Total Weight: 133.21lb (Measured at my gym this afternoon. I usually weigh in the mornings on my personal scale at home)
One of my original goals listed in my About section is to achieve a BMI of 18.5. In order to achieve that, I'd need to weigh 126. I'm thinking Body Fat % may be the better value to set goal for, because I want to increase my ratio of muscle to body fat, not lose weight. More than these numbers, I know what my goal look appearance is and how strong and healthy I want to be at the end, so that will be my focus.
Have any knowledge to share on this topic or a personal story about your goals? Message me from the Contact section! If you share information regarding these measurements, I will update this blog to include it. If you share a personal story with me, please let me know if I may share it. If not, I'd still love to hear your story for myself! Thank you!