A change in tactics... Fat Pad

I think that’s a good target to try an achieve.

I have just started the Atkins diet with moderate weight training. I have lost 3 pounds so far, and just three days in.

Will keep measuring the weight and penis!

Good job buddy you are certainly heading in the right direction.I basically follow the same principles as the paleo diet.

One tactic that I empoy is not trusting ‘day to day’ weight, but relying on comparing Weekly Averages. If you weight yourself every day on a reliable scale, then average those 7 days, and compare them to the average of the next 7 days, you have a real trend that has the noise eliminated. Seem like you need the patience of a saint to wait 2 weeks to see if something is working. But honestly I would not do without it now. Little fluctuations inn the ‘wrong’ direction can be disheartening and make that bag of chips much more appealing. I find this system protect me from the Bad Craziness that I am capable of…kind of protects me from myself…

Dropping body fat is one great way to get more visible length. Keep in mind going from 25 down to 10% will take some time and dedication, so make small changes instead of a big lifestyle change. Various diets (atkins, paleo, whole 9, low carb) are all great, but they’re very dramatic changes that people have a hard time adjusting to and “relapse” back into their old ways. Start small, cut back on sugar/sweets, stop drinking soda, drink 8 cups of water a day (it seems like a lot but most of us could throw back 8 beers with no problem).

I fluctuate between 8-11% throughout the year and my fat pad is between .25-.5”. It all depends on where we store fat. If you lose fat quickly, the fat pad will more than likely remain there or excess skin could take over as well.

Good luck on your journey!

I agree with this concept if you weigh yourself daily. However, my advice for weighing is DO NOT weigh yourself daily, similar to how we should measure daily. You will get very discouraged if one day you’re down 3 pounds but the next you’re up 4. Water retention, diet, weather, they all can change weight. My rule of thumb is a 3 pound variance (and I’m 5’6” and 157lbs). For someone larger (6’ and above and 200+ lbs), you might want to give yourself a 5 pound variance. Don’t focus on the numbers as much as the look, especially if you incorporate weight training. Those that do weight training will see that their weight may not change but their body is, because they’re packing on muscle while losing fat (and we all know muscle weighs more).

True for a beginner they don’t know enough about water retention and such to handle the scale on a daily basis. I agree with you there.

For a person who has the knowledge though I think it would be best for them to weigh everyday and get an average. That is what I do. What I find when i was weighing once a week is that sometimes I can weigh myself and possibly hold 1 or 2lbs of water on a weigh in day and the next week Im 3lbs down or up (depending on if I’m bulking or cutting) and that can be frustrating. By weighing in everyday I can tell what my weight really is and distinguish the times where I’m just holding more water due to higher carbs or whatever. Or if I’m in the middle of the week while cutting and I haven’t lost anything Ill adjust my diet immediately and get things going again. I definitely suggest weighing everyday but only for a person who isn’t going to obsess about weight fluctuations.

Goin on special diets usually only work in the short term I suggest those that are dieting learn more about macros and calories in vs calories out. Diet down slowly by slowly decreasing calories and not trying to lose 3 lbs per week which is most likely half water weight(unless you are obese). The thing with these special diet is that once your metabolism adjusts you are going to hit a wall and you will wonder what happened. The slow way is the most effective.

Currently I’m trying to use several methods to measure body fat. Not in a rush to loose it fast, as long as the weight is coming off consistently.

My ribs are usually a good indicator of my body fat level, so I have taken photos, waist, arms and leg measurements, weight, body fat according to electronic scales, and public fat pad.

As long as I take these measurements at least once a week should be able to determine if I am still making progress.

Visual indicators are great, and weight as well. But body fat measurements with electronic scales will give you a hint of your delta over time at best, the numbers you get from those are often waaay off because there are too many variables that the scale cannot know.

I’m sure you will make great progress, and find what works for you as long as you stick to it. Good luck :)