Fair way to measure achievement in fat/weight loss comp
Fair way to measure achievement in fat/weight loss comp
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Discussion

SilverLink

Original Poster:

49 posts

156 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
So myself and two mates have decided to have a competition from Monday until Xmas day to see who can lose the most fat/weight. Now trying to be fair what would be the fairest measurement to compare and the best way to measure this?

We had thought of using weight loss but surly the guy that weighs 16 stone has the advantage over the guy that is only 13 stone. And what about if one does free weights (and possibly has some decent muscle gain) vs one of us only doing cardio? So that led us on to body fat % loss, again is this fair or would we have to work out another percentage? And should we use the body fat/weight machines at boots? Are they any good? We would all use the same one at the same location to avoid variables.

Any suggestions how to go about this?

LimaDelta

8,398 posts

247 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Increase in BMR expressed as a percentage?

BenM77

2,835 posts

193 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all

% of weight loss is the easiest.

SilverLink

Original Poster:

49 posts

156 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
I don't think either of those suggestions allow for muscle gain (free weights) compared to the guy just doing cardio? Please tell me if I misunderstand.

BenM77

2,835 posts

193 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all

Between now and Christmas I wouldn't sweat the difference between bf% loss and weight loss. If you all go on a calorie deficit then the muscle gain is not going to be as significant as the weight you lose IMO.

Weight loss % is the best leveller if you all have different starting weights. The bigger guy needing to lose more weight than the smaller guy smile

LimaDelta

8,398 posts

247 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
SilverLink said:
I don't think either of those suggestions allow for muscle gain (free weights) compared to the guy just doing cardio? Please tell me if I misunderstand.
Metabolic rate increases as you build muscle.

SilverLink

Original Poster:

49 posts

156 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
LimaDelta said:
SilverLink said:
I don't think either of those suggestions allow for muscle gain (free weights) compared to the guy just doing cardio? Please tell me if I misunderstand.
Metabolic rate increases as you build muscle.
Ok didn't realise that but how would we measure it? The online BMR calculators are no good as only ask height, weight, age etc and wouldn't know difference between 2lb muscle gain and 2lbs fat added.. Or am I doing this all wrong?

LimaDelta

8,398 posts

247 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
SilverLink said:
Ok didn't realise that but how would we measure it? The online BMR calculators are no good as only ask height, weight, age etc and wouldn't know difference between 2lb muscle gain and 2lbs fat added.. Or am I doing this all wrong?
Your local gym should have a little gizmo to measure it properly for you.

SilverLink

Original Poster:

49 posts

156 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
LimaDelta said:
SilverLink said:
Ok didn't realise that but how would we measure it? The online BMR calculators are no good as only ask height, weight, age etc and wouldn't know difference between 2lb muscle gain and 2lbs fat added.. Or am I doing this all wrong?
Your local gym should have a little gizmo to measure it properly for you.
Only prob is that we don't all belong to the same gym. Thats why I think we are limited to using a machine at boots or somewhere accessible to the public.

LimaDelta

8,398 posts

247 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
SilverLink said:
LimaDelta said:
SilverLink said:
Ok didn't realise that but how would we measure it? The online BMR calculators are no good as only ask height, weight, age etc and wouldn't know difference between 2lb muscle gain and 2lbs fat added.. Or am I doing this all wrong?
Your local gym should have a little gizmo to measure it properly for you.
Only prob is that we don't all belong to the same gym. Thats why I think we are limited to using a machine at boots or somewhere accessible to the public.
Go three ways on one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tanita-BC1000-Composition-...

Or just fight each other to the death on Christmas Eve?

goldblum

10,272 posts

196 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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Bodyfat %: Use skinfold calipers to measure the thickness of a fold of skin with underlying layer of fat. This is a quick, reasonably convenient, fairly accurate assessment of bodyfat %. Take measurements from up to 7 areas... The fat percentage value obtained by skinfold equations is typically within 4% of the value measured during hydrostatic (underwater weighing, the benchmark evaluation of Bf%) weighing. Use the same tester each time for every person, obviously.

mattikake

5,110 posts

228 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
^ yep skinfold calipers. You can buy them for a few quid on amazon. You'd need a conversion table and a calculator to work out the BF% but it's easy enough.

If you live near Northampton I can do measurements. Takes less than a minute.