most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-22T06:39:11Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/19886 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror Sara 2011-01-20T21:46:38Z 2013-01-30T20:36:16Z

<p>I have been eating paleo 80-90% of the time since June. When I cheat it's usually with sugar in the form of candy/chocolate. </p> <p>I recently had hydrostatic body fat testing done and I am at around 11% body fat (I am female). I recognize that this is very low. I'm relatively athletic and work out 3-4 times a week doing Crossfit.</p> <p>Here is my question. Despite having had a sharp increase in muscle mass over the past few months, I still have a ring of fat around my middle. I have no muscle definition there and continue to jiggle. This is in sharp contrast with the rest of my body. Given my workout schedule, etc., I had expected that I might see some definition around now. </p> <p>Any suggestions on how to address my belly fat issue? Do you think this is related to diet? Diabetes and premature cardiac death run rampant in my family, so my difficulty losing the belly fat is of concern, above and beyond my vanity. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19889#19889 Stephen-Aegis 2011-01-20T21:53:35Z 2011-01-20T21:53:35Z

<p>Cortisol. </p> <p>Stress.</p> <p>Solution: Sleep, ALOT more. Shoot for 10hrs. Take a nap. </p> <p>Take steps to reduce chronic stress beyond that. My last step to seeing my abs was sleeping more.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19891#19891 ILovePrimal 2011-01-20T22:06:41Z 2011-01-20T22:06:41Z

<p>Myotic Crunches and Cat Vomit (4 Hour Body) </p> <p>(I might be kidding)</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19893#19893 gone2croatan 2011-01-20T22:43:28Z 2011-01-20T22:43:28Z

<p>Do you happen to take hormonal birth control?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19894#19894 Travis Culp 2011-01-20T22:48:28Z 2011-01-20T22:48:28Z

<p>11% seems far too low for a female.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19895#19895 David Leitner 2011-01-20T22:49:50Z 2011-01-20T22:49:50Z

<p>I would support the recommendations on sleep, cortisol, and other hormones, but at the same time, sometimes lower ab fat is just the last to go.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19896#19896 Jon Thoroddsen 2011-01-20T22:50:18Z 2011-01-20T22:50:18Z

<p>Few female athletes go below 14% bodyfat. 11% is extremely low for a woman! </p> <p>Is it possible that you just have loose skin from dieting, or is it even possible that you have body dysmorhpia? Please check with a doctor! </p> <p>Also, the flabby bits - as pointed out by Stephen-Aegis - might be caused by cortisol. Too much exercise and/or starvation will increase cortisol levels in your body.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19898#19898 sherpamelissa 2011-01-20T22:55:07Z 2011-01-20T22:55:07Z

<p>Did you lose a lot of weight to get to this weight/body fat? I have excess skin that "jiggles" that I will probably never get rid of. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19903#19903 Aaron Curl 2011-01-20T23:33:41Z 2011-01-20T23:33:41Z

<p>I remember a year ago Mark Sisson from Marks Daily Apple did a bodyfat test. I don't know if you have ever seen him or not but he is ripped. He asked readers to guess his bodyfat and the average guess was 6-7%. The test showed 11% (I just remember the actual being really high) if I remember correctly. Any way long story short, the results could be off. It's a machine ran by a human so errors can occur. If it's correct then congrats on the results!</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19910#19910 mari 2011-01-20T23:57:23Z 2011-01-20T23:57:23Z

<p>I really doubt this is correct. I am at 18-20 percent body fat and a size 4. You would probably also present with amenorrhea, which you don't mention.</p> <p>And in the end, what does a number matter? As I think you are seeing with the scale, a mirror or tape measure is a much better gauge of progress. I've gained about 15 pounds in the last few months, but no increase in body fat. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19913#19913 Michelle olds 2011-01-21T00:12:40Z 2011-01-21T00:12:40Z

<p>11% is VERY low for a female!! I do think those machines have glitches. I eat stricly paleo, do crossfit 2-3 times per week and I am very small, not a hard body but i have a flat stomach, wear a size 4 pant. Anyway when I started crossfit my body fat was 28%, I had one this same test done and the result came back that I was 30% bodyfat and at risk!!! I'm not in denial, I know the machine was wrong, there's not way possible. I'm in better shape now then I have every been and when I was out of shape I was at 28%. I would try to do it again if you can.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/19942#19942 Resurgent 2011-01-21T03:55:38Z 2011-01-21T03:55:38Z

<p>The fact that you are so worried about not losing that belly ring of fat is perhaps the reason for cortisol and stress in my opinion. Just let go for a while. Go about your life with wild abandon and focus on other things, while maintaining the lifestyle you are leading now. It took me over 8 weeks to lose some stubborn spots, but what ultimately helped was just not thinking about it. Easier said than done - but worth a try. And I would second Stephen's suggestion on sleep.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/20297#20297 jbone 2011-01-24T20:33:20Z 2011-01-24T20:33:20Z

<p>Doing too much cardio can be taxing and doesn't necessarily reduce bodyfat. You're on the right track with increasing your lean muscle mass. You should check out Body By Science for more on the topic.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/130315#130315 AnnaK 2012-06-25T04:21:17Z 2012-06-25T04:21:17Z

<p>I'm a size 00/XS, 5'7, weigh in at 119 lbs, and I consistently have 11-12% body fat on a Tanita scale. I also still have a tiny fat deposit under my belly button after having a child. I have pretty serious muscle everywhere else, and my stomach is completely flat except for the tiny lower belly "fat roll" that stubbornly sticks around.</p> <p>I just wanted to let you know that it is possible to be at a super low body fat percentage and still have trouble spots - that fat has to go somewhere, right?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/175084#175084 CB 2013-01-22T03:43:08Z 2013-01-22T03:43:08Z

<p>I also just tested at 11% which I believe (because I have gained almost 9 lbs and 11% is an increase over 7.5%). I also have a big (relatively speaking) belly -- 26-27" despite the fact that I am 4'11" and 91 lbs. I have always been an apple rather than a pear, but it is hard for me to believe that my body fat is still too low when my waist size is consistently 4-6 sizes higher than my bust or hips. Maybe it's the sleep issue, I definitely don't get enough. I'm post-menopausal, so birthing a kid or lack of periods not an issue. I found your site as I'm trying to figure out do I really need to put on more fat, and can I do that without it all going to the belly?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19886/body-fat-doesnt-match-up-with-mirror/176841#176841 Louise 2013-01-30T20:36:16Z 2013-01-30T20:36:16Z

<p>I'm also at 11% body fat, it's stress and cortisol levels after training. You need to take Glycine in your protein shake after training 5g should do it. I had the same problem, my corisol level came down, my belly fat did too! Also watch your sugar intake, straight to the tummy!</p>