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Body fat percentage

Discussion started by chri5mc
Groups → Coaching and Training Group → Body fat percentage

Subject Description

What do you use to measure body fat %?

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chri5mc

Hi All

I started this discussion as i am eager to know how everyone measures their bodyfat and what the best method they think is?

 

I use the calculator on livestrong.com but i do realise it is a rough estimate and is not so exact.

 

Please leave your thoughts!

Posted by chri5mc on Mar. 09, 2010 at 08:26AM
Bogleg

Calipers

I use calipers and measure a bunch of different spots.  I found an excel spreadsheet a few years ago that has 8 BF caliper-based formulas in it.  So I log the results for a variety of spots and it populates the numbers for all 8 different formulas and gives me the average number.  Works pretty well.  I check it every Friday.

Posted by Bogleg on Mar. 09, 2010 at 12:02PM
Honda_Insight

Body Fat Scale

I got a new Taylor 5579s scale at Sam's Club for $20. It is really cool looking and weighs to the nearest 0.2 pounds and shows % body fat to the nearest 0.1%. This is much better resolution than my old Tanita scale which was to the nearest .5 lbs and 1% on body fat. Don't know what my REAL % body fat is! Tanita says 18%, Taylor says 28.1%, and Fat2Fit calculator (http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bf/) says 21.5%. Consumer Reports says body fat scales aren't very accurate.Then I decided that working out 5-6 days per week must qualify me for the "athlete" setting on the new scale. With that, my body fat reads as 22.5%. Much closer to my other two reference points (and less of a slam to my psyche.) I can say the Tanita readings reflected my weight loss progress for the past several months, but I don't think I would count on any body fat scale for an estimate of my "true" percent body fat.

Posted by Honda_Insight on Mar. 10, 2010 at 06:31PM
Matilda444

Body Fat

I use the Withings scale.  So nice to have the numbers automatically uploaded!  On occassion I get a wonky body fat %, but I don't take any single number very seriously.  I watch trends/averages over time.  I'm not as concerned with my specific body fat % as I am that it's (slowly) moving in the desired direction.

Posted by Matilda444 on Mar. 11, 2010 at 08:05AM
sewblue

I  use scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html to calculate my body fat % and also a caliper and they are just about the same 

Posted by sewblue on Mar. 11, 2010 at 08:37PM



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