how accurate...

[jpt]

are those bf calculators that you plug in your weight, height etc....and hold it out at arms length to get a reading? ended up wasting my money and getting one....the first few times i got different readings...all btwn 10.5%-12.3% it settled in around the 11.3% after like 5 straight times....cvs didn't sell those calipers that i originally wanted.

 

[looking to lean]

are those bf calculators that you plug in your weight, height etc....and hold it out at arms length to get a reading? ended up wasting my money and getting one....the first few times i got different readings...all btwn 10.5%-12.3% it settled in around the 11.3% after like 5 straight times....cvs didn't sell those calipers that i originally wanted.

lil off topic, but...

I bought an electronic body weight scale that is 'supposed' to measure fat % as well. I gotta think its little inaccurate cuz I was calculated at 58%. too funny. I must be really obese.

 

[poysyn]

normally arent very accurate as there are way to many variables involved.. (hydration being a big factor)

Mine normally reads 9.5%, and I know I'm not that low..

Someone posted saying that it read 24% when they were actually 6..so only 18% off!

 

[*Bunny*]

There are so many contributing factors that can go in to accuracy of measuring body fat, and the methods used.

The different methods measure different things … and if you get the same # for every test (which is really something I’d like to see one day just because it would be interesting)

Body Composition Methods:

Skinfold Measurements
Underwater Weighing
Bioelectrical Impedence
Bod Pod (Air Displacement)
Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
Near Infrared Interactance (NIR) Futrex 5000

(Got those from an OLD link somewhere)

IMHO, I would go to a gym have the same person do it ever 2-3 weeks if you want a noninvasive, quick way to track & use that to measure your progress, instead of sitting at home pinching yourself every day wondering HTF did the % go up 3% … etc

With that said, the accuracy of skinfolds can even be deceptive from operator sources of error, subcutaneous fat/water, and so on and so on …

Use photos, the mirror, your clothes, & a tape measure as your guide.

$.02

 

[jenscats5]

I have a Tanita scale that you stand on & the instructions say that the stand-up models only measure your BF% from the waist down & the hand-held ones only measure BF% from the waist up.....


And with mine, when I was getting ready for my show - it still showed me as being close to 30% BF with a 6 pack of abs a few days before the show.....LOL

 

[rick_hfh]

I have bought the hand held body fat tester, the Omron HBF 3 million. It was a bad investment. It has stuck at 18% since I started cutting and I have lost about 25 lbs. I also bought the scale that said it had an athletic setting, but didn't. It also tells hydration percentage, and body weight. I get 38% bf on a good day??? And my hydration percentage is like 40% when the body is 75% water. I also have the fat track II digital gold. It is only as accurate as the user. Ive measured from 6 to 20% in the same day. It is kinda weird there is a little blue button on the top of the caliper arm. You have to push it and hear a beep when the reading is taken. Some times you have to pinch harder than hell. I have had it done by personal trainers and it kinda hurts. The digital one has left bruising from me pushing so hard.

 

[pintoca]

I have a Tanita scale that you stand on & the instructions say that the stand-up models only measure your BF% from the waist down & the hand-held ones only measure BF% from the waist up.....


And with mine, when I was getting ready for my show - it still showed me as being close to 30% BF with a 6 pack of abs a few days before the show.....LOL

that's only cause you have a fat ass Jens.

The thingies are innacurate to come up with a specific number, at best, use them, under the same conditions, regularly to track a tendency, not a final number

 

[jenscats5]

that's only cause you have a fat ass Jens.

Well that was rude..... Then again, the norm around here anymore anyways.......

 

[pintoca]

Well that was rude..... Then again, the norm around here anymore anyways.......

nothing wrong with having a fat ass, you know.

How is the leg coming along? squatting already?

 

[jenscats5]

nothing wrong with having a fat ass, you know.

How is the leg coming along? squatting already?

Nope - still not allowed to do any weight-bearing exercises or cardio other than the stationary bike....