Weightology Weekly 1(3): The Pitfalls of Body Fat “Measurement”, Parts 1 and 2
This issue represents the beginning of a multi-part series on body fat testing. In this issue:
- Part 1: Body fat testing is not a measurement; rather, it is a prediction. It is a prediction with significant error, an error larger than most people realize. Click here to learn more...
- Part 2: Underwater weighing has long been considered the "gold standard" of body fat testing. However, it is more deserving of the bronze standard. Click here to learn why...
Parts 3 and 4 to come in next week's issue!
James,
Thanks for your posts. Are you aware of any evidence that suggests decreasing skin folds, or even body fat, is beneficial for performance (specifically tennis)?
I know the theory: less body fat = greater relative strength/power, etc, but am not convinced the relationship is that easy.
Grant
I don’t really take any or even follow the industry of supplements, but any opinion on BCAA’s? Maybe I’m just out of the loop but seems I’m starting to see them mentioned all over the place.
Thanks
BCAA’s are one of those supplements that seem to come and go in regards to popularity. However, the bottom line is that there is no good scientific evidence that BCAA supplementation is any more beneficial than consuming a protein that is high in BCAA’s (such as whey protein). I’ve never seen any data to justify the expensive of individual BCAA supplements over regular sources of protein.
Cool, kind of what I was thinking.
I’ve been using Sun Warrior rice protein instead of Whey, any thoughts?
One issue with isolated rice protein is the low lysine content compared to animal proteins. In growing infants, hydrolyzed rice protein needs to be supplemented with lysine and threonine; otherwise the infants won’t grow properly. Looking at the amino acid profiles, the Sun Warrior rice protein you mention is low in lysine compared to animal sources. There currently isn’t any data comparing rice protein to other proteins in regards to fitness-related things, such as muscle building or appetite control.
In general I personally favor a mix of proteins in the diet.