Help!! Too low body fat percentage

[LindsayT 579]

I'm almost a year and a half since my RNY (November). I've lost about 135 give or take (I bounce between 125-130lbs). I haven't lost any fat free body mass since month 3, and have actually gained 5lbs of fat free mass since May. At my 1 year, in May, my body composition said I was at 18.1% body fat which is on the low end of "lean" I did another one last week because I was feeling off (tired, muscle cramps, brittle nails, headaches) My body fat percentage was at 12.3% which translated into roughly 16 pounds of my overall weight (130 at the time of the test) being fat. Anything under 15% is "at risk". I eat, what seems like all day long, I get my calories, Protein, healthy fats, Fiber. I take all my supplements. All my blood work I've had this year for random things and specifically for post surgery, has been normal. Nothing, other than feeling off, pointed to this. I do have an appointment with nutrition and my bariatric team this week. But wanted to see if anyone has gone through this, heard of this... Anything? My initial thought is how my body is absorbing nutrients, but again, my labs have been normal.

[ms.sss 15,219]

first, you dont mention that you are having any ill effects, but to be on the safe side, and to alleviate any angst, i'd suggest going to see ur doc.

second, are you getting these measurements from a DEXA scan (the one where you lie down and they pass an xray type machine around you); or a bioelectrical impedance device (like those that u stand on or hold onto) or skin calipers? (the first is the most reliable & accurate , the latter two, not so much)

third: my yearly DEXA scans never matched my at home body fat measurement scale on the same day. a couple times my at home showed more, but the other 4 times showed less ON THE SAME DAY....so i always take the results from at home with a grain of salt (many times over the years, it reported that i was less than 5%...and thats just not true...ever! lol)

fourth: my last DEXA scan last year was around 18-20%, if i recall correctly , and my doc was not concerned...i felt fine so i wasn't concerned either.

[LindsayT 579]

34 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

first, you dont mention that you are having any ill effects, but to be on the safe side, and to alleviate any angst, i'd suggest going to see ur doc.

second, are you getting these measurements from a DEXA scan (the one where you lie down and they pass an xray type machine around you); or a bioelectrical impedance device (like those that u stand on or hold onto) or skin calipers? (the first is the most reliable & accurate , the latter two, not so much)

third: my yearly DEXA scans never matched my at home body fat measurement scale on the same day. a couple times my at home showed more, but the other 4 times showed less ON THE SAME DAY....so i always take the results from at home with a grain of salt (many times over the years, it reported that i was less than 5%...and thats just not true...ever! lol)

fourth: my last DEXA scan last year was around 18-20%, if i recall correctly , and my doc was not concerned...i felt fine so i wasn't concerned either.

I have an appointment already this week. My body composition is done via bodpod at my bariatric clinic. So the accuracy is pretty spot on. At 12%, it's very concerning.

[SpartanMaker 722]

I don't know if this is your issue or not, but one thing I've seen from others in a similar situation is that they still eat like fat people trying to diet. If that's you, you need to completely change your mindset. Your job at this point is to GAIN weight, so dietary fat and carbs are your friends. A key change would be to look for and eat more calorie dense foods like rice, potatoes, Peanut Butter, full fat dairy, etc. If you eat meat, look for fatty meat, not lean cuts. Calories are your friends right now.

Just my .02.

Edited 1 hour ago by SpartanMaker

[LindsayT 579]

2 minutes ago, SpartanMaker said:

I don't know if this is your issue or not, but one thing I've seen from others in a similar situation is that they still eat like fat people trying to diet. If that's you, you need to completely change your mindset. Your job at this point is to GAIN weight, so dietary fat and carbs are your friends. A key change would be to look for and eat more calorie dense foods like rice, potatoes, Peanut Butter, full fat dairy, etc. If you eat meat, look for fatty meat, not lean cuts. Calories are your friends right now.

Just my .02.

I do. That's the problem. I do need to be careful with fatty meats because they make me nauseous. And carbs fill me up too quick so I end up eating that meal in rounds. I literally just got done eating a biscuit with butter and honey. Part of my Breakfast is about 14oz of full fat fairlife milk with my morning supplements and then oatmeal after or a half a bagel with Peanut Butter. I promise, I eat...a lot.

[SpartanMaker 722]

Have you tried smoothies? I find even with my restriction, I can down 500-600 calories in smoothie form, vs maybe 300-400 cals of most other things before I'm full.

You can load it up with fruit, Peanut Butter, Protein Powder, etc. to suit your tastes.