3.15.2009

The Bod Pod

In 2004, I stepped on the scale at the Rec Center down in Pullman. The number that was displayed on the digital readout was 212 lbs. It was at that point that I decided it was time to start working out, with the goal of actually losing weight. I didn’t feel like I was overweight but the scale did not lie and at only 6’1”, it was time to get healthy. I began eating healthier (a little, since I was still in college) and made it a point to get to the gym multiple times each week.

The progress was very slow but by the time I graduated about 10 months later, I had lost about 20 lbs. In the spring of 2006, I was hovering around 190 and caught this contagious disease called triathlon. Over the next 3 years I have become more fit and healthy than I have ever been before in my life.

Fast forward to last week and I had the opportunity to test my body fat in this crazy contraption called the Bod Pod. I know there are hundreds of things that can go through your head with a name like that but in reality this machine is pretty freaking cool.

“The BOD POD Gold Standard Body Composition Tracking System is an Air Displacement Plethysmograph which uses whole-body densitometry to determine body composition (fat and fat-free mass) in adults and children. It is a complete turnkey system based on the same gold standard operating principle as hydrostatic (or "underwater") weighing, except that the BOD POD uses patented Air Displacement Plethysmography, instead of water, for highly accurate, fast, and safe results. The BOD POD also offers information on Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) as an optional component of every body composition test. This data is provided without requiring the subject to perform any additional testing maneuvers, and a complete assessment requires only about 5 minutes.” http://www.bodpod.com/

The BOD POD and my awesome swim cap thingy.

Since I design landscapes, some of those words are extremely big but the idea is that you get into a gas chamber (not the kind that can kill you) and it determines your body fat and important caloric intake information. With my training get crazier than ever, I really wanted to see my results right now and hopefully get tested again just before Ironman.

So after jumping into the weird space capsule called the, BOD POD and after just a few minutes and some equal weird sounds, I was done. I soon had my results and can now use the information as a base for my food intake and see how my body fat changes in the up coming months.

Here is me holding absolutely still, just in case it affects the measurements.

It turns out my body fat is 9.1%. This was a bit lower than I expected, but with really no base for my guess. On the test date I was 174.5 lbs and it will be interesting to see how much these numbers change between now and June. I am guessing I may lose anywhere between 3-5 pounds but have no prediction on what my body fat will be. I am guessing it will probably be a bit less, but we will see.

The test also provided me with some great information about my caloric intake. The data from the test showed that I burn 1,887 calories a day if I were to lie in bed all day and do absolutely nothing. I have to eat that many to just stay alive. I need to eat 2,415 just to stay exactly where I am with normal daily activities. Since I am training 12-15 hours a week, I am considered very active and need to consume over 4,000 calories just to stay right where I am at. The good thing is that I LOVE to eat but that is freaking crazy.

Training Updates:

Biking: Last week was my first 4 ride week since I began training. Monday and Wednesday consisted of 1:30 and Friday was 1:15. My SI Joint has been acting up but I think it is getting a little better each day.

On Saturday, I decided skip the outdoor ride and jump on the trainer in the early morning and try to get done before noon. This ride was for sure my longest ride EVER with 3:30 in the saddle. It would have been way better to get outside but the weather was unpredictable and with such a long ride, I just choose to stay inside. I would like to thank the Byrd’s for opening up their basement and for them and Tim to join me making the 3:30 ride feel like only 3:25:)

Tim and I followed the ride with a nice 5k brick and my legs felt great. I was interested to see how they would react to such a long ride but they felt fresh and we averaged 8:20’s, not bad if you ask me.

Running: As you read in the previous post Tuesday and Thursday consisted for some freezing runs with the Thompson’s and even though the weather was miserable the company was great. Thanks guys.

On Sunday, I braved the rainy conditions (no way I was running on the treadmill for 1:30) and headed out for my long run of the week. I ran a pretty hilly course and ended up running 11.6 miles in 1:26:47 (7:29/mile). I was able to negative spilt the out and back while averaging 7:38/mile on the way out and 7:20/mile on the way back.

I feel my training is coming along pretty good and can’t wait to see how the race season goes. We are just under a month away from the Snake River Tri and it will be fun to compare the data from last year.

5 comments:

Spokane Al said...

I was hoping for a link in your post or that of Jessie's letting us locals know where to go for a bod pod evaluation.

P.S. It is definitely beginning to look like outdoor riding weather will be arriving momentarily!

Tiffany said...

Love the Bod Pod pics, and you are right, it will be interesting to compare the results post-IronMan!

Nice work on the training. You are very hard core. I can't wait to see your results at Snake River either! I think you're going to have have a great season!

jessithompson said...

The pics of you in the bod pod are awesome! :) You're rocking the training, buddy, and being consistent as hell. Way to go!

Matt said...

Is everyone turning to pod people? Sounds like some great info to build your nutrition from for day to day and easy come taper time too. May have to give it a go to help my caloric intake..

Joni said...

Hi Steve. I am a 48 year old woman who just started back at the gym 3 months ago. I have lost the same 5 pounds several times. I am hoping that the bod pod will give me a better chance at figuring out how not to keep losing the same 5 pounds.