Understanding About Your Body Fat Percentage
Most people just look at their bodies in terms of weight and use this measurement to determine whether they are healthy or not. However, there is much more to it than just that. Your body fat percentage is another measurement that is of great importance and one which actually tells more about your general health than your weight does. When you lose weight, you want to lose fat and not muscle, and your body fat percentage is the calculation that tells you how much fat and how much muscle your body has. Someone who is very skinny may have a high body fat percentage and thereby are actually quite unhealthy whereas someone who is larger may have a lower body fat percentage and more muscle and thereby actually be healthier.
How it Works Your body fat percentage is, quite simply, the percentage of fat that your body contains. A certain amount of fat is necessary, in order for your body to function properly, but of course there is a point where you have too much. Knowing your body fat percentage can be incredibly helpful, in particular because it can help you to determine if your present weight loss goals are realistic or not. So before you ever decide to lose weight, you need to remember that body weight consists of both lean body mass and body fat, and so you always need to calculate your body fat percentage and take that into consideration first. In order to calculate your body fat percentage, there are a few specific measurements that you are going to have to take. When taking these measurements, remember that all of the skinfold measurements need to be located on the right side of the body and the measurements should be taken in millimeters. Also remember to apply the calipers about one centimeter from the fingers and at a depth that is about equal to the thickness of the fold. Also, the best way to get the most accurate results is by repeating the procedure three times as the measurements may vary and take an average. Then once you have these measurements ready, you need to use your skinfold measurement, as well as your age, gender and weight to calculate your approximated body fat percentage. The average man will have about 15-17 percent body fat, while the average woman is between 18-22 percent. The scores for athletes tend to be lower for both men and women. Where to go From Here Once you have established what your body fat percentage is, if it is higher than average, you should create a proper and effective workout plan and try to lose some of that body fat. In order to lose fat off your body and not muscle, you will have to do specific exercises and eat the proper food, and so unless you are thoroughly researched in this area you may want to speak to your doctor or a specialized nutritionist who will be able to help you out in this situation.
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