| Training Discussion Ask workout questions or share your knowledge. |
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04-11-2007, 05:52 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Local AR Realtor
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Posts: 1,184
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Body Fat Calipers
Well I just ordered Precision Nutrition, and I am now looking for a good pair of Skinfold Calipers. Any Suggestions?
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04-11-2007, 06:24 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Cambridge, Ohio
Posts: 392
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The Lange calipers.......$250 at PowerSystems.
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04-11-2007, 06:35 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Local AR Realtor
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Posts: 1,184
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HOLY CRAP!!!  Okay, decent AFFORDABLE pair. But thank you for your reply.
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Your accomplishments can only be as big as your heart.
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04-11-2007, 07:24 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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Who?
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hartford, CT
Posts: 1,022
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Lange claipers are the standard used in gyms, but hard to use on yourself. The second thing is, you have to calculate the measurements into a formula that is usually accompanied with the kit. Although pricey ($250), they are accurate.
I like the Skyndex. The Skyndex are calipers adn have a digital readout built-in the handle to give you an instant readout after the 4th measurement. If yuo look at Alan Aragon's new avatar, he is holding a SKyndex caliper. They are even more expensive...$450.
You can probably go on Ebay and find a good pair for a bit cheaper. If you are going to use BF% for yourself (at home), I woudl just go with a Omron Bioelectrical Impedence Analyzer. yes, they may be off by about 5-7%, but if its just for you to check on progress...than it could be the way to go. They run about $50.
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04-11-2007, 08:08 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Cambridge, Ohio
Posts: 392
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For at-home use for me and my wife, i use the Slim Guide skinfiold caliper. It's only $25. Not as reliable as expensive models, but probably more accurate than some of the electrical impedance devices. You can find it and other devices at this link:
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/store-skinfolds.htm
After I take measurements, I enter them here to calculate the %:
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
John, do you think entering measurements from the Lange on the site linked above is just as accurate as using the formula provided with the Lange calipers? I just assumed it was the same formulas, and it saves some calculating on the tester's part.
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04-11-2007, 08:36 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 36
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I just recently bought the FatTrack II calipers, and they work really well, they are digital and have the Jackson/Pollock 3-site test built in.
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04-12-2007, 07:58 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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needs more estrogen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Southern Cali
Posts: 661
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by John Izzo
If yuo look at Alan Aragon's new avatar, he is holding a SKyndex caliper. They are even more expensive...$450.
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Yup. It's what I use on my clients. On myself, I use the mirror + my wife's insults, I mean, comments.
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04-13-2007, 07:00 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Seņor Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 7,164
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Well, people, unless jj is a professional nutritionist or PT, lets try to keep it within end user reason.
JJ, I'd say the fat tracks are good options. There is the pro model for approx $70 that does 7-pt sampling, but that means you need to have someone do a point on your back.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/fat.html
The same company makes a 3-pt, bundled with their myotape product for about $30. The 3-pts means you won't have to ask for a second person to help, plus you get the tape for girth measurement.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/fattrack.html
Lastly, there is the manual model, for about $14, and can do any amount of sampling, because it's manual and not programmed.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/accu.html
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04-13-2007, 02:59 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Dispenser of Knowledge
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Modesto, California
Posts: 1,013
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Just FYI I got a pair of free Accu-measure calipers with my PN kit. You will probably get one as well.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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04-14-2007, 03:48 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Local AR Realtor
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Posts: 1,184
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Cynic
Well, people, unless jj is a professional nutritionist or PT, lets try to keep it within end user reason.
JJ, I'd say the fat tracks are good options. There is the pro model for approx $70 that does 7-pt sampling, but that means you need to have someone do a point on your back.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/fat.html
The same company makes a 3-pt, bundled with their myotape product for about $30. The 3-pts means you won't have to ask for a second person to help, plus you get the tape for girth measurement.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/fattrack.html
Lastly, there is the manual model, for about $14, and can do any amount of sampling, because it's manual and not programmed.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/accu.html
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Thanks for the links Cynic, I'll definately look into all of these. Thank You to everyone else that has posted. I didn't know that PN came with a pair. I guess I will see how the ones that come with it work. jvernacchio do you know how well the ones that came with PN work? Are they farely accurate? Thanks again!
jj
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Your accomplishments can only be as big as your heart.
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01-14-2008, 10:00 AM
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#11 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,438
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bumping this ... has anyone used the fat tracks that Cynic references above? My Tanita bf scale is worthless. Would like a more accurate measure without having to spend 450 for calipers. Anyone had good experience with these?
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01-14-2008, 10:06 AM
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#12 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 712
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How difficult are the calipers to use. I was told once, that if you didn't have enough practice with them, that you tend to "over-pinch" the tissue. Meaning you not only grab fat, but also the underlying muscle.
Can a newbie, get reliable results?
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01-18-2008, 08:10 PM
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#13 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bacardio
How difficult are the calipers to use. I was told once, that if you didn't have enough practice with them, that you tend to "over-pinch" the tissue. Meaning you not only grab fat, but also the underlying muscle.
Can a newbie, get reliable results?
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I'm not a newbie to working out, but am to using calipers. I just spent a while messing with it. One reading was almost 13%, another was 12, and two were 11.5. Not sure I'm really very good at it yet ...
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01-18-2008, 08:19 PM
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#14 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by liftintexas
I'm not a newbie to working out, but am to using calipers. I just spent a while messing with it. One reading was almost 13%, another was 12, and two were 11.5. Not sure I'm really very good at it yet ...
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Those are pretty consistent results, but what is your body fat really at. Did you have a "professional" do it for you so you know what you should be getting????
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01-18-2008, 08:26 PM
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#15 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bacardio
Those are pretty consistent results, but what is your body fat really at. Did you have a "professional" do it for you so you know what you should be getting????
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12.6 was the last time a professional did it over one year ago. Based on diet, consistency and what I can "see," I would guess around 11.5 is close. Somewhere between 11 and 12.
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01-18-2008, 08:59 PM
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#16 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by liftintexas
12.6 was the last time a professional did it over one year ago. Based on diet, consistency and what I can "see," I would guess around 11.5 is close. Somewhere between 11 and 12.
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Thats pretty good then.
I was checking out a couple of the other threads about calipers and measuring body fat, and JP was mentioning that he uses the Omron HBF-306 for measuring body fat - for getting consistent results for the purpose of progress watching, but not completely accurate readings. So I have been trying to decide which way to go.
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01-19-2008, 12:06 PM
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#17 (permalink)
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Chick Magnet
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,534
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jj
Thanks for the links Cynic, I'll definately look into all of these. Thank You to everyone else that has posted. I didn't know that PN came with a pair. I guess I will see how the ones that come with it work. jvernacchio do you know how well the ones that came with PN work? Are they farely accurate? Thanks again!
jj
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I agree with Cynic here that we don't need overkill, just something to track progress.
The problem with the calipers posted is that you have to apply a constant pressure when you measure. I have both the calipers that come with PN (which I think are junk) and the fat track digital ones. Both can be really unreliable because you will tend to pinch harder or softer each time.
A better option is these: Amazon.com: Slim Guide Skin Fold Caliper: Health & Personal Care They are spring loaded so that once you take you figure off the trigger its a constant pressure each time. Plus they are fairly cheap, its what I use the majority of the time now. (Yes I own three pairs of calipers, how lame is that?)
Danny
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