Is this even possible?

[scotticus]

Okay, so I started my journey back to fitness about a month ago. I took some initial measurements, one of which was BF with body fat callipers. I clocked in @ 19% (measuring 3 sites on the body, 3 times - in order to ensure that my measurements were consistent).

When I got out of the shower today, I thought "what the heck" and busted them out again today. It would now appear that I'm coming in at about 14.5%. I did the 3x3 measurements again, just to be sure.

This seems a bit crazy to me, so I'm wondering if it's possible given that:

- I have not missed a single work out in 4 weeks

- I lift three times a week, do sprints once, and do a light 5K run or yoga once, and just have fun on one day (skateboard, long walk, or whatever)

- I take at least 1 day off per week (sometimes 2)

- I've been going as hard as I can on all of my core workouts (weights, sprints, yoga)

- I have been relentless with my diet (I'm easily doing better than 95% paleo, as long as you don't count protein shakes and black coffee)

If anyone with some experience in cracking down can chime in, I'd really appreciate it. I'm pretty sceptical and think an outside opinion (to either prove or disprove) that this kind of rapid recomposition is possible would be super.

Thanks!

[Guest Carjack]

Your body has stopped retaining excess water and you're likely losing roughly 2 pounds of actual fat a week.

[scotticus]

Your body has stopped retaining excess water and you're likely losing roughly 2 pounds of actual fat a week.

Thanks - I hadn't thought about the water factor. That said, if 2lbs per week IS possible, than that would make 8lbs total and based on my starting weight of around 193lbs, that would be around 4%... Craziness!

[Guest Carjack]

2 pounds a week is what people normally lose when going hardcore.

1 pound a week is more normal since most people aren't hardasses about their training, and anything like "I lost five pounds in three days!" is just them losing water weight in the beginning, which they'll gain back the first week of unhealthy eating.

[andygates]

Bodyfat measurements have pretty large error bars, too. In my experience they vary +- 1 to 1.5% around trend. You're going hardcore, so don't get headgamed if the next number is up even if your eyes and feel say that that's a lie.