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Taking inspiration from Sonja's annual body comp blog entry I decided to do one of my own.
I usually go by how I feel, how my clothes fit, and what I see in the mirror, but once in a while I get on my trusty Tanita body comp scale to get some actual numbers. Now, the impedence method of body fat analysis isn't accurate, but it's accurate within itself, i.e. if you always use the same scale at the same time of day it will tell you if you're up or down. At least that's my understanding.
Anyway, when I first started training in February I was coming off a long time off of biking and running due to some serious IT band issues. I had been swimming FREQUENTLY, almost every day, but never for more than an hour, so I really wasn't in shape. At my starting point I was 111 pounds and 26% body fat. Ouch.
So many months of training later and a Half-Ironman behind me, I decided to weigh myself right before the Lake George Triathlon. 108 pounds and more importantly down to 23% bodyfat. (For perspective, I'm 4'10" and the short, compact, muscle-y type that actually looks unhealthy under 20%. That's just how my body rolls.) I looked lean and mean and just plain FELT better than I did at the beginning of the season.
I weighed again right before the half-marathon, but everything has pretty much stayed the same. My goal is to maintain my weight through the off-season (more time to cook healthy now!) and toe the line at IMLP at 103-105 pounds and 20-21% bodyfat. There. I've put it out there.
And speaking of putting it out there, here's some pics. Should be fun to compare again at the end of NEXT season.
So I would love to hear your thoughts about weight/body comp and performance, especially for a super hilly course like Ironman. My usual attitude is to eat mostly right, splurge sometimes, train hard, and let the weight fall where it will.
Thoughts?
3 comments:
I like your body comp idea! I got my body fat tested a couple of years ago when I "thought" I was in shape. It was high (like borderline obese). I was crushed. Tried never to think about BF% again. Now, a couple of years later and a total body transformation I realize she was probably closer to right than I thought.
I went Paleo in March of this year and I am leaner than ever before (and 20 lbs lighter than I ever thought I would be). I'm currently 5'8" and 135, and my weight has only been up down +/- 1-2 lbs for the last 5 months. I just finished a 1/2 mary in September and am training for my first 26.2 in January. Then HIM in June.
I PR'd my Oly time by almost 40 minutes last June, and I know weight was a factor because I had limited training time due to a recovery from a stress fracture in my foot. I hope to hit the podium at the same race in 2012.
P.S. I am an accounting desk jockey by day - do you worry about sitting for so long?
Wow, if you body FAT is at 20%, mine is way higher. You are a lot closer to a 6 pack than I am :-).
Di - Yep, I'm a desk jockey myself (IT Guru). Luckily I work from home which allows me to get up and walk around, etc. when I need to stretch my legs. I definitely lead a sedentary lifestyle outside of training though.
MIke - Right now it's actually 23% - 20% is my goal. And I'm one of those people who always looks like she's carrying less fat than she really is. That's why I look so terrible if I go below 20%.
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