Body Fat % - FreeTrainers.com Forums

Group: General Fitness & Exercise

General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 383, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Body Fat %

rafterq Posts: 19 Joined: 2004/08/01	2004/08/03, 11:27 PM How is body fat measured and can you do it yourself or do you need a special instrument? -------------- Only the Dead and Lazy have seen the end of PAIN

oscarg Posts: 198 Joined: 2004/04/05	2004/08/03, 11:32 PM There's several ways of measuring your BF. The most common way is with measurment tape and/or calipers. If you have the tape you can try it that way, just sign up here http://www.mybodycomp.com/, it's free! It's not very accurate...try getting someone to do the measuring as opposed to doing it yourself....but it will give you a good idea of where your at. I prefer getting it done by a personal trainer, they do it for free anyways. You may also ask your docter on your nexy visit.
rafterq Posts: 19 Joined: 2004/08/01	2004/08/04, 12:27 AM Thanks (sry about the double post...my mouse is sticking or something) -------------- Only the Dead and Lazy have seen the end of PAIN
neiltilley Posts: 325 Joined: 2003/03/09	2004/08/04, 03:17 AM also consistent systems help.. don't use mybodycomp.com one month and compare the result with somebody elses borrowed calipers as they will be different. Body composition is only totally accurate in a water tank thing at the hospital. I like mybodycomp.com as it does tell you graphically how out of shape you are overall- like my bicep is 1/2% too big and my calf 1% too small, thighs etc.. all normal and chest too big(great it takes away from the waist line).. So if sensible you can see your weak points at this site and accomodate yourself accordingly- p.s. with weight training the idea would be to be out of shape according to this site such as too big up top and skinny in the middle like Arnie so don't take offence at the results. I like my tanita bodyfat scales which advertise they are within 1% accurate. I use no other so they are consistent even if they might not be accurate. I started 2 years back at 28% and now read 20% so I've watched this it is a good trail even though the gym electrodes say 18% Calipers rely on your measurement of fat folds etc and a compilation of 3 different folds you pulled from the same area- So that's as accurate as your conscience on the day! So a good and religious format of how you take the measure is essential with no little lies to yourself- too technical for me anyway.
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2004/08/08, 07:17 PM I am with neil on the tanita. And as long as you keep using the same method, you will be ok. -------------- "A will finds a way, failure is not an option" Ivan carivan@freetrainers.com Montreal Canada
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/08/08, 11:10 PM The tanita scale may be 1% accurate within a small percentage of the general population. Of course you'll have no way of knowing if your among that small group unless you've already obtained results from a much more reliable method (such as underwater weighing) for comparison. Any skinfold protocol which only uses 3 skinfold locations is almost meaningless.
t-babe Posts: 441 Joined: 2003/02/20	2004/08/09, 03:19 AM the good thing about mybodycomp.com is that it gives you a progress report on how you are doing, so you can look back and see the improvements you've made and it gives you a little boost and also something to aim for.
timmstar Posts: 426 Joined: 2003/12/08	2004/08/13, 09:06 PM neiltilley on that mybodycomp.com site how do you read that Somatogram graph?? lol so confusing :'( and also how do u actually tell wheres it say if your certain muscle group is out of proportion??? 1/2% too biga bicep or 1% too small ankel.. also when you measure your arm on that site to you measure it flexed or soft??? :)