We get it. Measuring body fat is the Bari equivalent to eating your vegetables as a kid; you know it’s good for you, but you just can’t seem to get into it.

If you’re one of those unique people who actually enjoys watching your numbers then you already love our measurements system. But if you fall into the 99 percent* of people who would rather read “War and Peace” than track your body’s changes, today’s post is for you.

*This number is pulled out of thin air, but I’m pretty sure it’s accurate.

During our measurements appointments, we take ultrasound readings of four different spots on your body, coupled with inch measurements from your ankles to your shoulders and every target area in between. All of these numbers and data leave us with an overall picture of your health that is much more accurate and insightful than the single-number story that your standard old scale tells us.

But what do these numbers mean? And why do they mean more than the number on the scale? Good questions, young grasshopper. Let’s dig into what your measurements are telling you and why paying attention to your fat is actually TONS of fun (see what we did there?):

Body Fat Redistribution
At Bari, we fixate less on your weight and more on what your weight tells us about your health. We look closely at the composition of fat mass (excess fat) versus lean mass (muscle). Why? Because muscle is more dense than fat (a.k.a. one pound of muscle takes up less space than one pound of fat), and it’s also a caloric overachiever (the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn).

Herein lies the key to truly redistributing your fat: The more you tone up those muscles, the more you’re going to shed that excess fat. With our ultrasound system, your body’s redistribution changes are trackable. We can see how your fat is giving way to stronger muscles, and we can better understand how your unique body tends to change from the inside out. All of this gives us the information we need to tailor a Bari Prescription just for you. That makes your Bari double header of MACRO and MICRO a one-two punch to the myth that you can’t change your “body type.”

Visceral Fat
The most dangerous kind of fat is the one that accumulates around the midsection. Visceral fat is deep fat that wraps around your organs and increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even dementia. What a blast.

When we take your measurements, we scan this part of your waist and literally look into your body to measure the thickness of your visceral fat. And we use this scan to check in after a few weeks to see how much your visceral fat has decreased. Your trainer will use this information as a check-in to make sure all the components of your program are paying off. You will use this information to feel superhumanly awesome that you are changing your body and decreasing your risk of disease. How’s that for power?

Body Fat Percentage
This might be the most satisfying number to watch drop. Your body fat percentage is based on your overall weight. For the average woman, a healthy amount of fat is anywhere between 20 and 25 percent. When we track this along with your circumference measurements, you get a full body picture of your progress. When we look at body fat percentage, we are also tracking increased bone strength, overall muscle tone, and even how well you’re hydrated. We track the body fat percentage against these other elements to fully understand how your workouts have been working for you and to make sure you don’t plateau. It is the ultimate high-five.

We know that calculating fat thickness is not everyone’s cup of (BariLEAN) tea. But when you know what you’re looking at, it can actually be kind of fun. And having access to such specific information can improve the way you workout, create a better body image, and efficiently measure your results. What’s not to love about that?

Ready to measure up and create an action plan for achieving results? Book a measurements appointment with a Bari trainer today.