Talk Cancer

Question:

Rudy, I’ve joined a new gym that offers caliper body fat analysis instead of the machine analysis. They made a big point about how it isn’t accurate if you get measured after eating or drinking anything in the morning. I’m assuming that since I’m low carbing my body water percent is lower than normal anyway so this will skew the figure. Is this true? If so, is there an adjustment you make to counteract it. I dont’ really feel like discussing this with the chirpy 20-year old Exercise Science majors who staff the place, all fresh from their "nutrition" classes at the U (which is still violantly hostile to low carb.) I mostly just want a reference point to use to see what changes happen with another 3 months of exercise. — Jenny 168.5/141.5/138.5 Third Goal 9/1998 – 8/2001 and 11/10/02 – Now http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each month *  Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings * Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats * Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * NEW! Exercise Starting from Zero

Response:

I’ve joined a new gym that offers caliper body fat analysis instead of the machine analysis. They made a big point about how it isn’t accurate if you get measured after eating or drinking anything in the morning.

Well, if you get tested at the same time of day after having eaten roughly the same amount of food it might not be strictly 100% accurate, but it would definitely provide a consistent figure (and reference point). I’m assuming that since I’m low carbing my body water percent is lower than normal anyway so this will skew the figure. Is this true? If so, is there an adjustment you make to counteract it. I dont’ really feel like discussing this with the chirpy 20-year old Exercise Science majors who staff the place, all fresh from their "nutrition" classes at the U (which is still violantly hostile to low carb.)

Heh, that’s why I took the machine test. Anyway, I believe the machine test I took also measured the water content of my body. My gym said their machine (electrical device) was extremely expensive ($3500 _more_ than their previous device). I mostly just want a reference point to use to see what changes happen with another 3 months of exercise.

You’ll have no problem with that. Vad Paleo/Neanderthin since Oct. 2002 Eats meat, vegetables and fruit, nothing more, nothing less. (Most of the time)

Response:

 I had a caliper- measured body fat analysis and it was helpful to me, because although my overall BMI was within normal limits, all my fat is around my middle and I found that I really need to change my shape to reduce my risk of stroke and heart attack. I’ve already had cancer and have been cancer free for 7 years now. So I really want to keep that situation going! I have one of those "apple" shapes but since being on a low carb diet, it is really changing! I’ve lost about 4 inches in my waist. Although I think I may need a "skin tuck" at some point – if I win the lottery or something! Anyway, I found the whole fitness analysis helpful – they pointed out areas where I need to be stronger and what I can do to accomplish that. I have been working on posture and core body strength. Laurel

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve joined a new gym that offers caliper body fat analysis instead of the machine analysis. They made a big point about how it isn’t accurate if you get measured after eating or drinking anything in the morning. Well, if you get tested at the same time of day after having eaten roughly the same amount of food it might not be strictly 100% accurate, but it would definitely provide a consistent figure (and reference point). I’m assuming that since I’m low carbing my body water percent is lower than normal anyway so this will skew the figure. Is this true? If so, is there an adjustment you make to counteract it. I dont’ really feel like discussing this with the chirpy 20-year old Exercise Science majors who staff the place, all fresh from their "nutrition" classes at the U (which is still violantly hostile to low carb.) Heh, that’s why I took the machine test. Anyway, I believe the machine test I took also measured the water content of my body. My gym said their machine (electrical device) was extremely expensive ($3500 _more_ than their previous device). I mostly just want a reference point to use to see what changes happen with another 3 months of exercise. You’ll have no problem with that. Vad Paleo/Neanderthin since Oct. 2002 Eats meat, vegetables and fruit, nothing more, nothing less. (Most of the time)

Response:

Laurel, Congrats on 7 years of being cancer free! That has to be so comforting. I had two surgeries for melanoma last fall and though the doctor tells me I am fine now, I keep running into "helpful" people who tell me about friends and relatives who were told the same thing and are now dead. <sigh I’ve got the apple shape too and the waist area seems to be the very last to lose weight. I finally lost another half inch in the waist this month, but that’s after losing a good ten pounds since the last measurement change. However, I’m told that the real problem fat is around your inner organs (and heart) and I hope some of that ten pounds is from losing there. — Jenny 168.5/141.5/138.5 Third Goal 9/1998 – 8/2001 and 11/10/02 – Now http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each month *  Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings * Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats * Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * NEW! Exercise Starting from Zero

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had a caliper- measured body fat analysis and it was helpful to me, because although my overall BMI was within normal limits, all my fat is around my middle and I found that I really need to change my shape to reduce my risk of stroke and heart attack. I’ve already had cancer and have been cancer free for 7 years now. So I really want to keep that situation going! I have one of those "apple" shapes but since being on a low carb diet, it is really changing! I’ve lost about 4 inches in my waist. Although I think I may need a "skin tuck" at some point – if I win the lottery or something! Anyway, I found the whole fitness analysis helpful – they pointed out areas where I need to be stronger and what I can do to accomplish that. I have been working on posture and core body strength. Laurel I’ve joined a new gym that offers caliper body fat analysis instead of the machine analysis. They made a big point about how it isn’t accurate if you get measured after eating or drinking anything in the morning. Well, if you get tested at the same time of day after having eaten roughly the same amount of food it might not be strictly 100% accurate, but it would definitely provide a consistent figure (and reference point). I’m assuming that since I’m low carbing my body water percent is lower than normal anyway so this will skew the figure. Is this true? If so, is there an adjustment you make to counteract it. I dont’ really feel like discussing this with the chirpy 20-year old Exercise Science majors who staff the place, all fresh from their "nutrition" classes at the U (which is still violantly hostile to low carb.) Heh, that’s why I took the machine test. Anyway, I believe the machine test I took also measured the water content of my body. My gym said their machine (electrical device) was extremely expensive ($3500 _more_ than their previous device). I mostly just want a reference point to use to see what changes happen with another 3 months of exercise. You’ll have no problem with that. Vad Paleo/Neanderthin since Oct. 2002 Eats meat, vegetables and fruit, nothing more, nothing less. (Most of the time)

Response:

I’ve joined a new gym that offers caliper body fat analysis instead of the machine analysis. They made a big point about how it isn’t accurate if you get measured after eating or drinking anything in the morning.

I suspect that their concern would be that your TOTAL body weight would be up a couple of pounds and that would in-turn effect the calculations on what your BF/LBM pounds end up being.  They’re going to get the BF% from the caliper test and then work out your BF/LBM pounds from that number and your total body weight. I’m assuming that since I’m low carbing my body water percent is lower than normal anyway so this will skew the figure. Is this true? If so, is there an adjustment you make to counteract it. I dont’ really feel like discussing this with the chirpy 20-year old Exercise Science majors who staff the place, all fresh from their "nutrition" classes at the U (which is still violantly hostile to low carb.)

What gets measured in caliper test is the subcutaneous fat between the skin folds.  Being LC might have a very small measure of difference on your skin’s thickness, but I would say that its so small as not to matter — remember caliper measurement has an error range of 3-5%, or higher depending on the tester.  On LC your muscles are likely to hold less water (due to less glycogen) that that effects bio-impedance test — the Tanita scales are often way off for LC people.  What would really matter is where you are in your glycogen levels when you’re tested.  If your muscles are very depleted when you’re tested, then you get tested a few months later right after a carb-up day, then its going to look like you’re added LBM when you really haven’t — you’ve only filled you’re muscles with glycogen and water.  So I’d say test when you’re really depleted. What they should have told you that’s important is that you shouldn’t exercised before being measured.  You skin folds will be greater due to the skin’s response to trying to cool the body down from exercise — your skin will have a greater thickness from dilation.   A couple of suggestions: – Have the same person test every time. – Make sure they test the same area at least 3 times, more if they’re getting a wide range of mm reading. – Try to get a 7 site test if possible.   — Rudy – Remove the Z from my address to respond. "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"  -Emiliano Zapata Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:  http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

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