Ever use a Digital Caliper?

[JoNeS]

So I bought this digital body fat caliper today and I don't think I am using it right. It is telling me that i have 3-5% body fat depending on my pinch of the skin folds. My abs are currently a weak 2-pack, so there is no way thats my bf%. It says take mesaurements on chest, lower side of ab, and quad. Am I just using this this wrong? I have never used a caliper before... anybody?

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

i have a fattrack2 digital caliper
you have to use them exactly how it says in the book, Don't pinch too much, slowly close the calipers together until you hear an audible bleep, that should be enough pressure for it to give you a good reading. I dont know but I think if you have a weak 2 pack then i doubt you're at 3-5% lol i get readings like those when i really pinch hard
Also it's not really accurate but a good measure of progress *IF* you are consistent about the way you measure and the places you measure. My calipers right now tell me i'm at 7% i usually add 2 to this number because i've had it measured by a ftness trainer and she always measures me +2 whatever the fatracks gave me

Good luck

 

[PinkPanther]

Sorry this doesn't answer your question parkerjones, but I was just wondering where you bought your digital caliper. I have been thinking about getting one for a while now, but I am not sure where to get it. Any suggestions??

Thanks

 

[ohashi]

Digital calipers do a 3-point test. That is crap. Just write down the individual measurements, and do 7-point calculations on your own.

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

ohashi where are the 7 points? and how do u calculate?

pinkpanther these are the caliipers i use http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/fattrack.html

 

[ohashi]

Give me a sec, buddy.

 

[ohashi]

Check out this article.

 

[JoNeS]

I also have the fat track 2 by accufitness. The caliper doesn't beep unless I press down the purple button on it. So I don't how much to squeeze or how little to squeeze......

 

[PinkPanther]

Thanks!

 

[EnderJE]

I think digital calipers are crap for the same reason calipers are crap. Its too easy to pinch too much or too little if you're not experienced using calipers. Aside from that, ohasi is right and they only use the three point method.

Why not just get a BI scale? Sure, its off by a few %; but so is calipers. Just use the mirror and common sense when measuring (same conditions, time of day, etc)...