There seems to be as many opinions and misinformation floating around about personal weight that I thought we might share and perhaps open our minds a bit. Here are the questions that I feel will provide useful info:
Age
Sex
Height
Present weight range (many people vary 3-4 lbs over a day)
Ideal weight range for optimum health (your opinion)
Ideal weight range for optimum swimming performance
What steps are you taking, or will you be taking, to lose or
gain the weight difference between present & optimum.
I'll start
54
M
6'1"
220-224
190-194
182-188
Drastically cut down drinking & desserts; resume active training
Originally posted by DanSad
Speaking of body fat percentage, does anyone have a scale that measures body fat? I have a Tanita brand scale but don't put too much faith in the numbers it provides. I do use it to gauge whether I'm going up or down in percentage. The reason is because it uses a very subjective option when setting the scale. You enter gender, height, and then select whether you're a non-active adult or an athlete. The funny thing is that the scale measures weight in increments of 0.5 lbs so it seems like it's an accurate machine but then there's that completely unscientific setting of non-active versus athlete.
I use a Tanita scale as well, and like you use it to notice changes (rather than an absolute value). The weight is probably accurate. The body fat percentage only goes to the one percent level, and they point out in the instruction manual how much body composition can change during a 24 hour period, so its not like they are trying to trick anyone on the accuracy.
Oh, the numbers...
36, 6' 5"
225 (being at 239 convinced me to start Master's swimming)
205
195 (high school weight, don't think I'll reach this again)
I'll know I'm in good shape once I start gaining weight (muscle) instead of losing it (spare tire).
Originally posted by DanSad
Speaking of body fat percentage, does anyone have a scale that measures body fat? I have a Tanita brand scale but don't put too much faith in the numbers it provides. I do use it to gauge whether I'm going up or down in percentage. The reason is because it uses a very subjective option when setting the scale. You enter gender, height, and then select whether you're a non-active adult or an athlete. The funny thing is that the scale measures weight in increments of 0.5 lbs so it seems like it's an accurate machine but then there's that completely unscientific setting of non-active versus athlete.
I use a Tanita scale as well, and like you use it to notice changes (rather than an absolute value). The weight is probably accurate. The body fat percentage only goes to the one percent level, and they point out in the instruction manual how much body composition can change during a 24 hour period, so its not like they are trying to trick anyone on the accuracy.
Oh, the numbers...
36, 6' 5"
225 (being at 239 convinced me to start Master's swimming)
205
195 (high school weight, don't think I'll reach this again)
I'll know I'm in good shape once I start gaining weight (muscle) instead of losing it (spare tire).
