Hi everyone- I am on stage 2 of NROL4W and I am really enjoying the program- I am seeing some nice results. In the first 4 weeks, I lost about 3% of my body fat, but I am concerned that now, for the last 3 weeks, I have lost weight, but not body fat. I am nursing my newborn, so I have been adjusted my macros to include more carbs - about 50% carbs 35% protein 15% fat, and I take in more calories than prescribed for my weight to account for the calories burned with breastfeeding. Any ideas as to what I might be doing incorrectly? I hate to lose my precious lean muscle! Thanks.
I am using the accumeasure - and my measurements have stayed pretty much the same for the past couple of weeks- they are definitely down overall, but it is the last few weeks of dropping weight- and not fat according to the accumeasure-that I am concerend with.
it's a couple weeks. if you are weight training you're probably not losing much if any lean mass. it's a couple weeks using an instrument that is only somewhat accurate, using a formula which is only somewhat accurate, which may not overcome margin of error, with of course variation and fluctuation in measurement procedure.
I'm not familiar with accumeasure, but I'm assuming it's some sort of handheld or scale-type bodyfat measure?
If so, then Aoife's comments are correct - those are very inaccurate. I'd go by clothing size and measurements rather than that... if you're lifting heavy and maxing out and following the program AND losing weight, I'd say you're probably doing it right and not losing (maybe even gaining) lean mass.
the accumeasure is a caliper. It is only as accurate as you are consistant though and its hard to be consistant without a lot of practise. 1/4" difference in measuring spot can skew your results.
the accumeasure is a caliper. It is only as accurate as you are consistant though and its hard to be consistant without a lot of practise. 1/4" difference in measuring spot can skew your results.
Thanks Morkai.
So to ammend my comments...
If you're doing calipers to yourself, it is VERY hard to be consistent. Even if you have someone doing them for you, if they're not experienced and trained... same thing. Since body fat % is based on measurements of millimeters, you can see how a slight change in pressure or location can make a big difference... It also matters how many sites you're measuring (the more the better, but impossible to do to yourself!)...
The accumeasure is actually pretty good. It's spring-driven, and for a cheapo, is comparable to higher end calipers. It applies the pressure, not the user.
However.
You must be consistent with how you grab your skin folds to have any reproducibility, and women often woefully underestimate how much they should be pinching.
My 0.02.
Oh, one other item... often with an initial quick fat/water loss, there's a stair-step pattern to loss--plateau, down a step, plateau, maybe up a half step, etc.
Ride it out for another couple of weeks, peggreen.
advice-body fat %
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