How exactly does one measure one's own bodyfat percentage? I had always thought that the only way to do this is by going to a doctor. I was just reading Mike Roussell's website, however, and he mentioned that one can measure one's own bodyfat percentage.
All you need, Roussell writes, is a scale and a bodyfat calipher:
"You can find a pair of calipers just about anywhere and the Body for Life website has a great tutorial that walks you through the measurement process."
What exactly is a bodyfat calipher and where can I find one? I'd love to measure my own bodyfat percentage, as I'm cutting and have never done it before.
scales with BF feature or hand held electronic: They may be consistent from time to time. They are not particular accurate giving a true reading. It is important to hold as many variables constant when you use them. Same time of day, water drinking, meals, toilet times, exercise.
Calipers: I have read that really good users of calipers may be using them to confirm their (sometimes unconscious) estimates of your body fat. Remember everyone stores fat differently and in different places. In addition if you are more than a little overweight you have internal fat which calipers can never see. That said consistent readings using the same locations and methods will give useful information
Specific Gravity by water weighing: This is said to be the gold standard. I have my doubts. The web site I use says that if you are neutrally buoyant after a complete respiration you are around 12% BF. I am neutral with a normal intake, which would indicate 10%, which is wrong, I am probably 13. Also if your are black or athletic the chart doesn't work. I may be somewhat athletic, although that is not a word I would use to describe myself.
MRI: This allegedly is the new gold standard.
Summary: The above methods may be useful. So will keeping track of the sizes of clothing you wear (hold constant for looseness, baginess of course), and the mirror tells a lot. Damn
Anyway I have come to the conclusion any of the above, if they give consistent readings, are a tool in estimating your BF, which reading is not as important as the mirror and your clothes.
This all may be controversial, but maybe of some help, Rob
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K-Court - I could not accurately compare myself to any of those folks, they are body builders. Maybe some of the members of this forum who accurately know their BF could post some pictures on this thread. Rob
You can do a 1pt caliper test by yourself, but its a sketchy result...about as reliable as a Tanita or similar bio-impedence scale. nothing less than a 4pt should be taken very seriously, and even then, a 7 or 9pt test is ideal (or a hydrostatic test, or a DEXA scan if you can afford it)
I'd have to disagree that this person would be in the 20+% range 'with little to no muscular definition'....this guy is about 2-3 days of carb-cutting away from being pretty shredded. http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attach...postid=2272262
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Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
I'd have to disagree that this person would be in the 20+% range 'with little to no muscular definition'....this guy is about 2-3 days of carb-cutting away from being pretty shredded. http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attach...postid=2272262
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K-Court - I could not accurately compare myself to any of those folks, they are body builders. Maybe some of the members of this forum who accurately know their BF could post some pictures on this thread. Rob
Now we just need to talk about building some mass.... maybe all that HIT isn't really doing the trick huh BFG?
; - )
BTW, are you saying that you think BFG is 13-14%BF? If so, you are way high.....
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
Now we just need to talk about building some mass.... maybe all that HIT isn't really doing the trick huh BFG?
; - )
BTW, are you saying that you think BFG is 13-14%BF? If so, you are way high.....
Should have added a pronoun there, my BF is likely 13-24. BFGs pic, and I hope others will add some pics to give us some illustrations of what various BFs look like.
Now we just need to talk about building some mass.... maybe all that HIT isn't really doing the trick huh BFG?
; - )
BTW, are you saying that you think BFG is 13-14%BF? If so, you are way high.....
that was December at the end of 22 weeks cut with no loss of lean muscle mass but as you would expect glycogen was depleted. After that I added 14 lbs of lean muscle mass in 6 months
It was a stage of the game and playing to genetics and basic bilogogical systems to gain the advantage. You should have seen me a week later after a refeed :p Why add mass to a frame that is fat? You are only kidding yourself far better in my book and far healthier to rid the unhealthier body fat and know you can actualy achieve it than add more on and leave yourself in a worse position either through injury, lack of commitment or lack of ability
But each to their own Dos
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BFG
"The time for talking has passed, actions are speaking louder than words."
that was December at the end of 22 weeks cut with no loss of lean muscle mass but as you would expect glycogen was depleted. After that I added 14 lbs of lean muscle mass in 6 months
Pics?
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
People tend to drastically UNDERestimate their BF percentages, to no fault of their own. What you get with calipers can (and probably will) be totally different than what you would get with an electrical impedence.
For instance, with calipers, I came in at 6.5% BF a few weeks ago. There is no WAY on God's green earth that I am that low. See that pic of me to the left? That was taken a little over a year and a half ago....when my conditioning was MUCH better than it is now. Even then, I would say I was about 9%.
People have no idea how low 6% is. So, when I see guys claiming they're 10% BF (yet they can't even see their abs)....they're full of shit.
People tend to drastically UNDERestimate their BF percentages, to no fault of their own. What you get with calipers can (and probably will) be totally different than what you would get with an electrical impedence.
For instance, with calipers, I came in at 6.5% BF a few weeks ago. There is no WAY on God's green earth that I am that low. See that pic of me to the left? That was taken a little over a year and a half ago....when my conditioning was MUCH better than it is now. Even then, I would say I was about 9%.
People have no idea how low 6% is. So, when I see guys claiming they're 10% BF (yet they can't even see their abs)....they're full of shit.
Id say you were nearer 8 there Mr at a push but hard to say when you are stretching up like that
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BFG
"The time for talking has passed, actions are speaking louder than words."
Hey - thanks guys for all the great responses and ideas. This is a very interesting thread. I will follow-up on some of the leads you guys have all provided.
Measuring Body Fat %?
Linear Mode
