This will sound odd to say, but I can sympathize with Nancy Arnold's plight for her upcoming show. She's locked in this battle trying to trim subcutaneous fat. I had my body fat percentage measured today. I'm at 9%, frankly a great percentage for a 45 year old man, but I feel lousy about it. Why? I had talked myself into believing I would be at 7% or 8% given a weight loss of 14 lbs., and a previous body fat percentage of 12.6%.
It would appear a lot of my loss came from a contracting belly. I have the dreaded apple body shape that leads to early heart attacks for men. Apparently, fat gets packed in around the organs. My 3" decrease at the natural waist line suggests I took a lot of that out, and I was already safe anyway. I probably also lost some muscle, but I suspect not a lot.
The thing is, it's damn hard to live up to these physical ideals that bodybuilders set for themselves. It's also something I suspect you cannot sustain for long. For instance, Tom Venuto, a noted amateur bodybuilder stays right in the range I'm in now during the off-season. I'm hoping this will be sustainable.
Don't beat yourself up about it. You've reached a goal, and set another. Nothing at all to feel lousy about.
Posted by: Scott | April 07, 2006 at 06:40
Not an unreasonable point. I think the focus on aesthetics with Nancy these days is what is doing it.
Posted by: Bud Gibson | April 07, 2006 at 06:48
Jeez, you are doing really well to break the ten.
I'm feeling particularly touchy about this as I've had a nutrionally apalling week :)
Posted by: Steph | April 07, 2006 at 06:53