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BMI question:

EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/01, 12:28 AM Are BMI calculators always correct? Because I am 13 I'm 5'6 and i weigh 140 pounds, but I am so lean and I have a huge amount of lean muscle, I have a ripped body and I know i have a low amount of body fat because there is nothing jiggling on my stomach and plus my muscles show easily. But on the calculator, it says that I have 22 percent body fat, that is only 3% for being overweight... is there any suggestion of how I can get a more accurate feedback? should i perhaps lower my weight in the info to submit by a few pounds or something? any help i would appreciate it!!!! ---------------------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2002/09/01, 02:21 AM BMI doesn't work since it doesn't know if your "mass" is made out of muscle or fat...... You'll need another calculator OR just use the mirror!!!! -------------- - Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/01, 01:28 PM do you know what calculators would be good? -------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/09/01, 09:20 PM I never trust them they are made up by people that never took the mass of real lifters so they are always skewed -------------- Life comes by only once....Live it to the fullest!
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/01, 10:16 PM isnt there like a thing where you can go to a doctor, and then put you in this pool of water or something? and then they can tell? I dont know i herd this somewhere... -------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2002/09/02, 02:30 AM I have a "Accu-Measure" pince in my gym. This smart thing is suppose to calculate your fat % I still don't trust it too well thou. For the competition I use the mirror. The hardest place for me to get lean is in my legs so when I start to see my legs cutting up nicely then I'm on the right track. -------------- - Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/02, 11:03 AM k thanks;)
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2002/09/05, 09:42 PM If you have availability of calipers at your local gym, that would be the way to go. If you used the calculator on this site, I think it always says you are obese or close to it!! LOL...Does not take into account muscle weight I don't believe. Believe your eyes. If you do an internet search you will find many bf calculators, but there is nothing like calipers.
bigdavid Posts: 139 Joined: 2001/04/05	2002/09/07, 09:04 PM scales that measures body fat...they say 99.99% accurate.. i got one i think its good ...here is site to see what i mean.. the one i got is made by a company called Tantra . http://shop.store.yahoo.com/tekscale/bathroom-scale-electronic-digital.html
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/10, 05:13 PM k thank you:) -------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
dang Posts: 76 Joined: 2002/09/06	2002/09/12, 12:51 PM The best way to check body fat is to use a pair of calipers and do a 7 point check on your body. There are web sites that let you enter the pinched thickness of the 7 measured points on your body and from that it tells you what your body fat is. This gives you a pretty good estimate. I just usually pinch the places with my fingers and do a rough estimate of what the measurement is. The scales that measure body fat are made for the average person and so are weight/height/age calculators. They don't take into account a high level of muscle mass. I weigh 185 and I'm only 5'6". I just calculated mine and I get a BMI of 29.6 which means I'm way overweight and just a pound or two from being obese. Funny since I can see abs just fine and I'm actually quite cut at the moment.... Damn... I better start loosing some weight and eat some more tuna :) Remember... the mirror never lies...
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/12, 04:38 PM can you buy calipers anywhere? and how much they cost? or they only availible at gym -------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."
bigbike Posts: 47 Joined: 2002/05/11	2002/09/12, 06:03 PM Actually, my Tantra scale says in its instruction manual that it is NOT accurate for Bodybuilders or Weighttrainers who have muscle mass. It says it will indicate a higher than actual percentage of fat due to the density of the muscle. ============ Quoting from bigdavid: scales that measures body fat...they say 99.99% accurate.. i got one i think its good ...here is site to see what i mean.. the one i got is made by a company called Tantra . http://shop.store.yahoo.com/tekscale/bathroom-scale-electronic-digital.html ============= -------------- I refuse to tiptoe thru life, only to arrive at deaths door quietly.
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2002/09/12, 07:30 PM damn! according to the BMI, i should be carrying around my own personal defibrillator because i'm so freakin' obese! sheeeeeesh! -------------- Michael "Trample the weak; hurdle the dead!"
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/09/12, 07:36 PM LOL I found it funny that the BMI says I am dead cause I am so fat...but the doctors want to know why my cholestral(spelling I know) is so good and why I have no other problems associated with obesity.....Cause I lift!!!!! They do not get it! -------------- Life comes by only once....Live it to the fullest!
dang Posts: 76 Joined: 2002/09/06	2002/09/13, 11:14 AM I found the link to that "7 point" check I was talking about for measuring bodyfat. Doing these aren't the most precise things, but it's great for comparing yourself to see if you are improving or taking a step back http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/BodyComp.html This one isn't too bad. I just pinch myself and estimate what the thickness is in mm. It then gives you your lean body weight and your fat weight. You can buy plastic calipers at places that sell protein or order one online. I've seen them for about 20$
EGChic207 Posts: 288 Joined: 2002/03/25	2002/09/13, 11:15 AM yea I think the way of testing fat% from height ratio to weight is stuck in the 1930's or whatever...Cause women i think back then never even thought of lifting weights neither do I think men used resistance training either... -------------- Tiffany Der #10 "You have to make it through the rain in order to see the Rainbow........."