Body Fat %

 What body fat percentage should a woman (age 45) be shooting for?

good question, I dont know.  I thought it was in the low 20`s.  I will watch your post for feedback.
let me know what you find out.

 Im shooting for the low end of a nomal BMI. Why not? lol

http://www.livestrong.com/article/134363-the-normal-percenta ge-body-fat-women/

Overview

Many things play a role in a person's body composition, including gender, diet, fitness level, genetics and activity level. When evaluating body fat, it is important to remember that it's not only high levels of fat that can be a risk, but also levels that are too low. The optimal level of body fat isn't always the lowest and varies with each individual.

Low

This classification usually encompasses elite female athletes. For women ages 19 to 29, anything under 19 percent is considered low. Women ages 30 to 39 should be under 21 percent, while women in their 40s should be under 24 percent to be classified as low body fat. Woman 50 years old and older who are less than 28 percent body fat are included in the low body fat category.

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Healthy

Most women who exercise regularly and are in good condition are included in the "healthy" body fat range. Women ages 19 to 29 whose body fat is between 19 to 22 percent are included in the healthy range. Also included are women ages 30 to 39 with body fat between 20 to 24 percent. Women in their 40s with body fat between 23 percent and 27 percent, and women 50 and older with body fat from 27 to 31 percent are well within the healthy range of body fat.

Acceptable

Women with body fat in the acceptable range are those that could improve their body composition and overall wellness by decreasing it slightly, but also don't have any health-related problems caused by excess body fat. The acceptable ranges for classification are between 22 percent and 25 percent for women agess19 to 29, 23 percent and 28 percent for women in their 30s, 26 percent and 31 percent for women in their 40s, and between 31 percent and 34 percent for women ages 50 and older.

High

The "high" body fat category is transitional in nature between the acceptable and obese categories. Only a small percentage of women are included in this category, as most fall either above or below this category. The ranges for this classification are between 25 percent and 30 percent for women ages 19 to 29, 26 percent and 32 percent for women in their 30s, 29 percent and 34 percent for women in their 40s, and between 34 percent and 38 percent for women ages 50 and older.

Obese

The obese category is the most important and dangerous classification. Women who are in this category should work with health-care professionals to do whatever is necessary to get their body fat reduced to the acceptable range. Many health-related medical conditions are associated with obesity and they include but are not limited to heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, certain cancers and others. Women ages 19 to 29 who are above 30 percent are in the obese category. For women in their 30s, the number is anything above 31 percent, and the percentage for women in their 40s is anything above 33 percent. As women go through menopause, it effects weight gain and loss which makes it harder to stay under the 37 percent classification line.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/134363-the-normal-percenta ge-body-fat-women/#ixzz1MmUz8WQw

Thanks Brandilynn!

*squeeze*

WHOOT!  YOUR FACE!  I LOVE TO SEE IT!

Don't know about women (body-fat wise), but my Dr. has me shooting for 20% - which ties directly to my "goal" for weight loss.  I'll still be about 250 lbs., but I'm 6'1" w/a large frame as well.  Hell, I graduated from HS 48 years ago at 240, so that seems right.  Currently down 135 lbs. at just under 6 mos. post-op. LBs are falling like rain....
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Wow - that's fascinating.

I've worked out a lot as I've lost weight and my current body fat is 22% - I'm 44 so this puts me in the low category - from my all time high of 49% which was in the obese category.

I get my body composition done monthly at the nutrition shop - I highly recommend it if you want to understand what is happening to your body in relation to composition - % fat, muscle etc - it makes you realise that it's not all about the number on the scale or the BMI charts.

Amazing what difference you can achieve by working at it.

Thank you! That is exactly what I was looking for - and consistent with what my trainer told me (after I posted the question here). He said he'd like to see me 22-25%. That's a lofty goal from where I am now (assuming my Tanita scale is right). I'd really like to find a place to have it measured hydrostatically (if I said that right) - to verify.

You are very welcome!  Its good to have composition, cuz it helps me to know that there is just no way I could stay/be at middle or low BMI (middle of my normal would be 133 lbs, and I have 130 pounds of LEAN on me alone). 

It also helps ease the mindfuck that if I just lost *x* pounds, anything would be any different - except the wrankly parts would be more wrankly and the more deflated parts would just be sad.  :} 

I also think that going forward it is going to help, not because I hope to be some amazing athlete, but because I can keep track of how much lean versus fat on me is, so pounds mean different things to me, than if I were just weighing on the scale, ya know?

I have the hydrostatic weighing done every 6 months now.  I am thankful to be able to and its worth the 70 bucks or so a year that it will cost!