What is bodyfat?

About.com has this very official sounding definition of body fat:

“Body fat is a compound comprised of glycerol...and fatty acids which is required as a concentrated energy source for our muscles. Fat is a storage substance for the body's extra calories and it fills fat cells...that help insulate the body."

Want that in normal language? Basically when it comes to weight loss, or evaluating fitness level, the body can be divided into two categories, body fat and lean mass (bone, muscle, organ tissue, blood, etc.). Your trainer will tell you what your body fat percentage is on your first Woohoo visit, in other words, what % body fat you are compared to what % lean mass.

Ok so it's like that BMI thing I've heard about, right?

Your doctor might have colorful charts, but BMI (Body Mass Index) is actually not an accurate measure of health. BMI is calculated using a simple height to weight ratio and sometimes taking gender and age into consideration. It's a decent tool for statisticians who are trying to measure an entire population's health, but when it's not accurate for individuals because it doesn't take body fat into account. Athletes, who weigh more because of their muscle mass, are often categorized as “overweight” on a BMI chart, even when they have a low body fat %.

So body fat is all bad, right?

Actually, no. It's not going to be news to anyone that Americans on the whole are overweight. When it comes to body fat, most of us have more than we need (and want). But some body fat is necessary for health. This essential body fat is 10-12% in women and 3-5% in men.

Wait why is more body fat necessary for women?

It's that child bearing thing again ladies. For normal reproductive functioning a certain amount of body fat is required.

So how do I know what my ideal body fat % is?

Good question, but there isn't one right answer. There is a range of what is considered healthy in terms of body fat. For women the healthy range is anything from 12-30% and for men it's 6- 25%. Your Woohoo trainer can give you a number to aim for based on your fitness and appearance goals. It's also important to remember that your muscle mass has a big affect on your appearance. A runway model may have the same body fat % as a body builder, but they are going to look dramatically different because of their lean mass.

Body fat % becomes a really helpful tool when it comes to measuring changes in fitness. When you start Woohooing it up in our micro gym you'll loose fat, but you'll also gain muscle. So your scale might not be an accurate measure of your progress. But when you have your body fat checked, you get a concrete number that your Woohoo trainer can help you interpret to understand your progress.

Having a lower body fat is about looking good, right?

It is January, the month when countless Americans resolve to lose weight. A lot of the incentive behind weight loss it appearance related, I want to fit into my favorite jeans again, look great on the beach on my next vacation, get super fit to impress my spouse, etc. Woohoo Fit is all about finding the motivation that keeps you going, but it's important to emphasize that maintaining a healthy body fat % matters beyond how you look in the mirror.

Most of us are pretty familiar with the dangers of obesity, but even being overweight is problematic. Body fat doesn't just sit below the skin, in overweight people, it crowds internal organs and stores dangerous toxins. To summarize, having a body fat % above the healthy range lowers overall body function because your body isn't as efficient and makes you susceptible to health problems,

Ok I'm sold. I'll start eating low fat so I can get to my target body fat %. Good plan, right?

Getting into specific nutrition is a whole other blog, but we wanted to make sure to bust the common misconception that eating low fat is the key to lowering body fat %. Aim for a diet that includes plenty of healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, avocado, eggs) and ask your Woohoo trainer for more specific dieting tips.

Have a body fat question that we missed? Ask Eva: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).