Several questions ....

[Indigohill]

I'm new to this website, but really like it. My questions are:

1. what causes the difference between calculated BF and recorded BF --- BTW I was shocked when they did the calipers at the gym --- took the measurements in 4 places. EEEKKKKK.

2. why is the second time LCing more difficult ?

3. how do you realistically set a target weight? I went to fit-day and got the ranges, but am stuck on the frame size question. I vaguely remember someone telling me that if you make a circle of index finger and thumb around the wrist bones of the opposite arm, that is how you get your frame size. For instance, if your fingers don't meet, then you're large ... if they just touch, then you're medium and if they overlap, then you're small. Anyone else hear of this ?

Thanks for any help!

[bkloots]

1. Don't know. Caliper measurements depend on the operator, calculations are an estimate at best. Don't worry about it.
2. Don't know. Be patient. Don't worry about it.
3. Don't know. What's your lowest adult weight where you felt good? There's no such thing as an "ideal" weight. We're all different, and a healthy weight for you could be anywhere within that huge range the charts show. Don't worry about it.

Just stick to the day-to-day plan, and your body will take its own sweet time moving to its healthy state.

[Earthgirl]

1. Don't know. Caliper measurements depend on the operator, calculations are an estimate at best. Don't worry about it.
2. Don't know. Be patient. Don't worry about it.
3. Don't know. What's your lowest adult weight where you felt good? There's no such thing as an "ideal" weight. We're all different, and a healthy weight for you could be anywhere within that huge range the charts show. Don't worry about it.

Just stick to the day-to-day plan, and your body will take its own sweet time moving to its healthy state.

I just noticed your stats! Wow! Way to go! I'm encouraged!

[bkloots]

Thanks. I've been LC (Atkins) for three years, with some plateaus and backslides of varying lengths of time. Really committed now that I'm more or less at goal.

I say "more or less" because I stopped losing about a year ago, and couldn't find a way to drop the additional 5-10 lbs. So...I stopped worrying about it.

Make it a way of life, and you won't regret it. It does need to be a kind of hobby, though, because not paying attention to our eating habits is what got us in trouble in the first place. It's a new way of living. Enjoy it.

[Elizellen]

The 'wrist' thing isnt very accurate as when I started Atkins in 2003 my finger and thumb wouldnt reach and now they overlap by at least one nail!
So I have gone from large frame to small frame!!

[Indigohill]

Well, after considering what was a weight which I carried for a length of time as an adult --- was 140 ... actually I held that weight through most of my 30's until heart issues and infertility. I didn't "like" my instinctive response. That was 10lbs less than my target. Just too much. Heck, all of sudden I'm up into the needing to lose 30lbs group. Predujice? Nope. Just pure fear.

Interestingly, I did "google" the wrist/frame issue. I got the same response which I've gotten for 30 years --- I may be almost 6' tall, but I have small frame. This I do feel comfortable with ... one of those facts of life which we all "know" but don't always like.

The target weight for small frame at ~ 5'10" is 141lbs. Sigh. Yes, I do know that if I can be muscular and run a 10K at 150, I will be thrilled.

Funny how our "instinctive" responses are sometimes the most true. So, yes, the weight didn't add on in 2 weeks and won't come off in 2 week. But, I like the outlook of my life becoming or "re-becoming" an active person who's life is not ruled by carbs ... This is a life, not a diet.

Thanks for the input