Lost Weight, Higher Fat%

[Freyar]

I'm a bit concerned. I just got an Aria 2 along with my Versa and have been taking my calorie intake very seriously. I'm down about four pounds since I started, but body fat percentage has gone up 1.4% since then. I'm aiming for a 1,000 calorie deficit, but that's also causing some mild dizziness at about 2PM at work. Is there a course correction I need to make here?

[Dominique · Accepted solution]

The relationship between weight and body fat % should be considered over period of times that are long enough. When looking at numbers after several months, you will likely see weight and body fat % move in the same direction.

[Freyar]

Admittedly I'm still very early on, but I'm not wanting to start off badly. I'll give it more time though, thank you.

[bikerhiker]

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@Freyar wrote:
I'm a bit concerned. I just got an Aria 2 along with my Versa and have been taking my calorie intake very seriously. I'm down about four pounds since I started, but body fat percentage has gone up 1.4% since then. I'm aiming for a 1,000 calorie deficit, but that's also causing some mild dizziness at about 2PM at work. Is there a course correction I need to make here?

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I'm just curious.  You said the caloric deficit is causing some mild dizziness at about 2 PM.  Do you also experience alongside with your dizziness:

1, Dryness on your lips and mouth?

2, Feeling of thirst?

3, Feeling of dryness on the tonsil area?

4, Feeling like you may want to vomit but you're not?

5, Feeling like you want to black out?

Thanks!

[Dominique]

Don’t overthink short term fluctuations in body fat %. If your weight is trending down, you can be almost sure you’re losing fat. Focus on losing at a sustainable rate, and not for too long in one, uninterrupted stretch.

[Heather-S]

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@Dominique wrote:

Don’t overthink short term fluctuations in body fat %. If your weight is trending down, you can be almost sure you’re losing fat. Focus on losing at a sustainable rate, and not for too long in one, uninterrupted stretch.

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If this is very new weight loss, couldn’t he just be shedding water weight? That’s fairly common in the early stages of dieting, especially if carbs are being heavily restricted. 

Would love your thoughts @Dominique!

[Freyar]

Could very well be water. I have restricted sodium and energy drinks.

[bikerhiker]

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@Freyar wrote:
Could very well be water. I have restricted sodium and energy drinks.

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A low sodium diet may raise LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels and can lead to potential heart diseases.  You should have at least 1500 to 2300mg of sodium in your diet.  I'm more concerned about your dizziness as this could be an early sign of Hyponatremia or Hypoglycemia or possibly both.

Another possibility is when you have too much sodium in your system, you will feel bloated with water so when you reduce your sodium intake, then you will loose water and this is what happens at the early stages of dieting.  However, you will also loose minerals, most commonly Potassium.  Too little Potassium (hypokalemia) compromises your central nervous system and cause you to be dizzy and then possibly blacking out/paralysis.  I assume that you made certain provisions to get natural means of firming up your potassium intake and balancing into your diet? 

[Freyar]

By restricting sodium, I mean not actively seeking it. I think I'm still
in the range suggested. I've been adding more fruits into my diet,
including bananas, but perhaps it's a caffiene withdrawal? Doing better
today so far, but I don't have raw numbers while at work. I'll review my
recent history when home.

[bikerhiker]

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@Freyar wrote:
By restricting sodium, I mean not actively seeking it. I think I'm still
in the range suggested. I've been adding more fruits into my diet,
including bananas, but perhaps it's a caffiene withdrawal? Doing better
today so far, but I don't have raw numbers while at work. I'll review my
recent history when home.

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Possibly caffiene withdrawal, but check your potassium intake levels should be around 4700mg.  Most Americans do not meet this minimum requirement.

[Daves_Not_Here]

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@Freyar wrote:
Could very well be water. I have restricted sodium and energy drinks.

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Hi @Freyar - With a reduction of sodium and the electrolytes in the energy drinks, I'm thinking your 2 PM dizziness may be dehydration.

By energy drinks, I'm assuming you mean sports drinks like Gatorade, not Red Bull.  In my case, I converted to zero calorie Powerade.

[Freyar]

Red Bull is what I refer to. Used to drink far too much of that.

[Dominique]

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@Heather-S wrote:

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@Dominique wrote:

Don’t overthink short term fluctuations in body fat %. If your weight is trending down, you can be almost sure you’re losing fat. Focus on losing at a sustainable rate, and not for too long in one, uninterrupted stretch.

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If this is very new weight loss, couldn’t he just be shedding water weight? That’s fairly common in the early stages of dieting, especially if carbs are being heavily restricted. 

Would love your thoughts @Dominique!

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Yes, BIA scales like the Fitbit Aria/Aria2 are very sensitive to hydration (which is why it makes sense to weigh yourself first thing in the morning, so that your hydration status remains as stable as possible between weigh-ins). You are correct that switching to a low-carb diet will result in less water being stored, and since water is part of lean mass, that would elevate the relative share of fat mass. @Freyar didn’t say much about any changes he made to his diet, except that he’s trying to reduce his consumption of  Red Bull (good idea IMO!). Hopefully he’s also consuming healthier carbs. The sharp changes in exercising / activity level that are often observed when getting a Fitbit can also affect hydration of the body.