Lost half a stone, body fat percentage went UP

Well... just what I say above. I was doing really well and feeling slimmer. Started at 154lb, now 147, but my body fat percentage has gone UP from 33% to 35% which pushes me into fat-dom. How can this be? Have I metabolised a bone?

I'm sure one of you lot will be able to explain this. I haven't been eating too little so body should not have eaten own muscles. Have even been weight training.

Confused of London

x

LMAO at "metabolising a bone" ... so funny!  But seriously ... how did you measure each time?  Were you using the same machine/calipers?  Maybe they're not calibrated properly or haven't been well maintained.  Over how long did you lose this weight? If you're strength-training and visibly gaining muscle it's surprising that your BF% would go up ... although I'm not a trainer or anything and not sure exactly how significant a 2% jump is.

If you're using one of those electronic scales to measure body fat, they're certainly not accurate enough to measure a small change like that.

Hello,

I admit I *did* use different machines. But would have expected to see a general downward trend. The first was at a health check with a nurse who probably had the better machine (a hand held thing). The second check after weight loss was on my boyf's bathroom scales - you are supposed to enter height, but he refused to believe I was taller than him (boys! chuh!) so probably sold me an inch short.

Perhaps I should believe the first reading... still had rather hoped to see a lower number...

Most likely it was the machines you used.

You say you have been weight training - what are you doing?

Well I used to run, but have an injured hamstring so can't do much in the way of cardio at the moment. I've been lifting upperbody weights. I lift as heavy as I can 3 times a week. Both machines and freeweights. Each day I isolate a muscles set and focus on that.

I have one of those scales that tell you what you Body Fat % is and I weigh myself on the same scale every day.  My weight goes down my body fat goes up almost every day.  I can get off and get back on my weight will stay the same and my body fat will change.  I have come to the conclusion those scales don't work. 

I had my bodyfat tested with calipers and it came out 21.5%.  when I weight myself on scale that did bf% it said 33%.  Do not ever trust a scale bf%.

Yea those things have huge errors! Not to mention if you are no even using the same way both times.

Body fat % uses a calculation based on your hydration level. So if you are hydrated/retaining water one day and de-hydrated the next you will see different values. If you have the scale at home you can play with it throughout the day.  That way you will know what the fluctuation rate is for you.