BMI & Body Fat Percentage - Confused!

Beetlebum

Hey Guys,

I've just recently joined a gym and was told in my assessment that my BMI is 21 and that my body fat % is 33.

I'm 29 years old, a size 8, I weight 8.5 stone and the fitness instructor told me my fat % was extremely high!

I'm quite petite but have been feeling a bit hefty latley and this news did me no favours. How can I shift this fat and lower the fat percentage?

I'm confused how my BMI is good but my fat levels are dangerously high. I eat well most of the time but chocloate is my downfall (every single day!!). Can't give up my Cadburys but I have been weight training.

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

Dotcomdolly

they are both very different
bmi - is the relation between your height & your weight - simply that and nothing more
Your body fat % (how did he measure this btw, electronically or with callipers?) - is how you body is composed - fat, muscle, water etc.
There's a term for it - "skinny fat" and training moreso than diet is the answer (but junk food like cadburys is not the ideal fuel)
Here's a article on it
http://www.truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives14ML3P1A11.html

brianthebard

Could have measured it wrong tbh. second the question about what method he used?

Dotcomdolly

brianthebard wrote: »

Could have measured it wrong tbh. second the question about what method he used?

the difference between my p.t's callipers and the hand held electronic yoke was 8%!! He said he was going to bin it. So if your p.t used one of these try & see if he , or someone else who is trained, can do you another assesement with callipers.
BUT it could be correct, I've heard of it (healthy bmi/high b.f) before

Beetlebum

brianthebard wrote: »

Could have measured it wrong tbh. second the question about what method he used?

They used one of those hand held machines that send electronic waves through your body (as far as I'm aware).

I don't think I'm overweight but it did worry me finding out my body is more then a third fat! It scares me that teh fat is probably covering my internal organs etc.

I do love my pints of Guinness so I reckon it's alcohol related fat moreso then food fat (if there's a difference!)

Thanks Guys

brianthebard

Beetlebum wrote: »

They used one of those hand held machines that send electronic waves through your body (as far as I'm aware).

I don't think I'm overweight but it did worry me finding out my body is more then a third fat! It scares me that teh fat is probably covering my internal organs etc.

I do love my pints of Guinness so I reckon it's alcohol related fat moreso then food fat (if there's a difference!)

Thanks Guys

Women have high enough fat anyways, and I'm not sure but I don't think those machines are very accurate, someone experienced with a calipers might give you a better reading. Also pretty sure there has to be some fat around your internal organs to survive?

rubadub

brianthebard wrote: »

I'm not sure but I don't think those machines are very accurate,

They are crap, it is worrying that supposedly qualified PT's do not know this. Calipers can also vary depending on the formula used, I have calipers and I think one formula said 12% and the other 18%.

Check your hip to waist ratio
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator/

and this chart
http://www.ashwell.uk.com/shapechart.pdf