If you are trying to lose weight, you must understand that it is very important to calculate your body fat as well as knowing how much you weigh. The reason for this is that most people need to reduce fat rather than actual pounds. While some fat is important to your body, having too much of the unnecessary amount is not healthy.
Needed fat takes care of such things as regulating your body temperature, protecting organs and tissues, and is the primary source for storing your body's energy. This is known as essential fat. The percentage of essential fat is higher in women than in men. Women need more fat than men because of childbirth demands on the body, as well as other hormonal functions. The percentage of essential fat in men is 2 percent - 5 percent. In women, the percentage is 10 percent - 13 percent. However, the recommended minimum of total body fat percentage is bit higher than the aforementioned numbers.
In order to know where you fall on the body fat charts, you will need to calculate your body fat. There are several ways to do this, from a do it yourself skin fold test, to online calculators. The skin fold test is not quite as accurate as other methods. Basically, you are pinching some skin at different body locations, which is measured. This can show the changes in body composition over time, even if it's not a totally accurate method of calculating body fat.
The Height and Circumference method is used by the U.S. Marine Corps as well as the U.S. Army. This is conducted by measuring males around the neck and waist. Hips, waist and neck are measured on females. The figures from these measurements are compared to a specific chart showing height and weight. It is used primarily due to its convenience and low cost. Another form of this method to calculate your body fat is the YMCA formula. This one employs just body weight in pounds, and waist measurement in inches.
While the above are tried and true methods of finding your body fat, there are many online calculators that do the work for you. The only information you need to know is your height, weight, and, depending on which calculator site you use, your waist and hip measurements. The site that uses the Navy method is found at http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/. This may turn out to be the easiest, and most accurate, way for you to calculate your body fat.
Before you decide that you need to lose weight you should understand your weight and how it works, and understand your body fat. Don't forget under that fat is muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat. You only want to loose fat and not your lean body mass, so if you are trying to lose weight to rapidly remember over 7 pounds you are losing muscle! You have to loose 4000 calories to lose 1 pound.
Fat is one of the many components that make up your body, along with muscle, water, organs and bones. Fat is one of the components that you can control. You do need some body fat to function normally. Storage fat is the fat that is necessary. This sits under your skin and in your muscles and protects your organs.
Where does fat come from? Excess calories in the body that aren't burned throughout the day store as fat. If you are very active during the day you can burn more of the fat storing calories. Make sure you understand what your calorie intake is so you are not putting yourself in a situation where you're building fat onto your body.
Your body always seems to be placing the fat in one area. This is based on your genetic code. Females usually gain fat around the thighs and hips, where as males gain it in the midsection. Find exercises that work for those specific areas and don't over work your self. The best way to lose this fatty tissue anywhere is to jog. Jogging not only makes you loose the fat but turns it into muscle as well.
After you find out your body fat percentage it is essential to know how much fat you need to lose. Many people mistake weight for fat.?Weight consists of water, tissues, organs, bones. You do not want to loose water weight for a few reasons. Number one when people go to the sauna or steam room to loose weight what they don't realize that it is not fat they are burning. They are just getting rid of the water in their body. When they step out 2 pounds lighter and think they have succeeded in reality they haven't. As soon as they consume a liquid with any calories in it, it will immediately be stored as fat. When they consume water later that day the weight will be put right back on.
The normal essential fats for a woman are 10-12% and for men it is 2-4%. The acceptable amount of fat for a woman is 25-31% and for a man it is 14-17%. If you are a woman once you have 32 plus percent body fat you are considered obese. For a male it is 25 plus percent.
I am going to give you the formula to find your body fat percentage. It is different for men and women.?For women it is a little more complicated. First take your body weight and multiply it by 0.732 then add 8.987. Second measure your wrist and divide it by 3.140. Next Measure your waist at the navel and multiply by 0.157. After that measure your hips at the fullest point and multiply by 0.249. Then measure your forearm at the fullest point and multiply by 0.434.?Now add all of these factors together to find your lean body mass. Next take your total body weight and subtract the number you just got (lean body mass) to find you body fat weight. Lastly you take your body fat weight x 100 and divide by total body weight.
The body fat formula for men is much simpler.?Step 1 Take your total body weight multiply by 1.082 then ass 94.42. Next steps 2 measure your waist and multiply it by 4.15. Your lean body mass is step 1 ? step 2. Your total body fat weight is. Your total body weight minus lean body mass. To find body fast percent is the last step. Body fat weight x 100 divided by total body weight.
Once you have figured out your body fat percentage you will know how much you need to loose. Make sure you lose the body fat safely. There is an all natural pill called Lipoway to help support body fat loss without side effects.
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Jason Hobbs has sinced written about articles on various topics from Golf Guide, Protein Diet and Adware. If you would like to see a personal review of visit the authors site. Jason Hobbs's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.
Steven A Johnson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hoodia, Fibromyalgia and Osteoporosis. Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For information and Greens products and other life-enhancing nutrients please visit his website. Steven A Johnson's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.