Almost at my goal but need help

[Workout4Lyfe19]

Hey guys, my name is Austin out of Smyrna, TN. I'm getting ready to join the US Army but I was told my BMI is too high. About 2 weeks ago I weighed in at 231.6 pounds with a BMI of 30%. I have recently dropped 9 pounds weighing 221.4 pounds with a BMI of 27%. The recruiter says i need to be at 24% to qualify for the weight standard, so I'm close, but can't seem to get rid of the last 3%. Can someone help me?

[faithbrah]

bmi or bodyfat percentage? bmi isn't a percentage and says very little about your body composition - most bodybuilders are overweight according to bmi

either way, you need to keep eating in a caloric deficit

[Workout4Lyfe19]

It's body fat percentage. It's very difficult for me to eat the right foods because I am homeless. That's a reason why I'm joining the military. I eat what I can get my hands on...

[faithbrah]

It's body fat percentage. It's very difficult for me to eat the right foods because I am homeless. That's a reason why I'm joining the military. I eat what I can get my hands on...

it's not really about eating the right foods, it's about eating less calories than you burn. it can be difficult if you're "forced" to eat junk, but completely possible

i know it sounds obvious, but literally eat a bit less than you normally do, or start counting calories if possible

[Workout4Lyfe19]

So how long give or take do you think that 3% will be gone? I get taped for body fat again on Thursday

[faithbrah]

So how long give or take do you think that 3% will be gone? I get taped for body fat again on Thursday

maybe a month i guess? assuming you'll be in a deficit

[Workout4Lyfe19]

A month!? it's literally all water weight how is it gonna take a month? It's 3%

[TolerantLactose]

A month!? it's literally all water weight how is it gonna take a month? It's 3%

If it's water weight, you could lose that in a few hours. It's not water weight.

[Luclin999]

A month!? it's literally all water weight how is it gonna take a month? It's 3%

If it were water weight, then a long walk in the summer heat would drop it.

If you are at 27% BF by "taping" then you are likely a bit higher than that (since taping is both inaccurate and tends to underscore BF percentages) so either way you have a ~lot~ of actual fat to lose which isn't going to happen "by Thursday".

Maybe by a month from Thursday, but not in two days.

Also, keep in mind that no matter what your body fat percentage, if you are not physically fit enough to handle basic training you will not do very well at all in the Army even if you manage to squeeze in under some technical qualification.

[Ghawk21]

Are you sure its BF% and not BMI?
https://usarmybasic.com/army-physica...ight-standards
Everything seems to be height and weight which would be BMI.
Either way you just need to lose some more weight. Are you doing any training ahead of time? Running? You could ask about signing a medical waiver and commit to losing more weight during training ( I think?). If you're going in fat and completely out of shape you may just wash out of training anyways.

[Luclin999]

If you're going in fat and completely out of shape you may just wash out of training anyways.

^^^ That.