Body Fat assessment

[emilynichole]

Hey everybody!

I finally got my body fat checked today. She did skinfold measurements in 3 places: triceps, a little above my hip bone on my abdomen (called suprailium on the sheet she gave me), and thigh. My body fat measured at 16%. She said I was considered "athletic."

Does this seem like enough measurements? For some reason, I pictured them measuring a few more places on my body. So I'm not too trusting of the results!

Overall, I think I'm pretty happy with it (for now). I haven't been training seriously for too long yet (almost 2 months) and my diet still slips fairly often. I'm getting better though. I know a lot of yall are anywhere from 9-14%, but am I in a decent place for just beginning?

Any input about the test or my results would be appreciated!

 

[SpyWizard]

hm.. normally it's 9 point, but 3 from the same area...

arm/top pec
hip as you described
and calf..
Body Fat Calculator this will help, just so long as they take from the same area every time, and by the same person..

anyone else??

and at that % you are lean no doubt unless your genetics are great..

but it's a tool to show progress more than anything...

 

[emilynichole]

She took the measurements from the 3 areas twice...but that was it. Thanks for the link!

 

[pinkiron]

Wether the 3 or 7 skin folds, it boils down to about the same thing, give or take 1%. Both methods, including 2 other methods, of calculations were developped by the same two brains: Mr.Pollock and Mr. Jackson back in the late 70's and early 80's. But as with all body fat assesment, it's not 100% accurate. The margin of error with calipers is between 2-3%. Some say even more. What's most important is if you like the way you look. If you are aiming for a certain % of body fat, your best bet is to track your percentage everytime you get tested. That way, you'll probably end up reaching your goal "look" before you reach your goal "number"... Hope this helps!

By the way, I think 16% with just a few months of training is great! Good job and keep it up!

 

[emilynichole]

Wether the 3 or 7 skin folds, it boils down to about the same thing, give or take 1%. Both methods, including 2 other methods, of calculations were developped by the same two brains: Mr.Pollock and Mr. Jackson back in the late 70's and early 80's. But as with all body fat assesment, it's not 100% accurate. The margin of error with calipers is between 2-3%. Some say even more. What's most important is if you like the way you look. If you are aiming for a certain % of body fat, your best bet is to track your percentage everytime you get tested. That way, you'll probably end up reaching your goal "look" before you reach your goal "number"... Hope this helps!

By the way, I think 16% with just a few months of training is great! Good job and keep it up!

Thanks! I figured there was definitely a margin of error to take into account. I'm really not too concerned with the number since I'm not aiming for a specific percentage. I just thought it would be a good way to my track progress along the way.

 

[hesnobradpitt]

Thanks! I figured there was definitely a margin of error to take into account. I'm really not too concerned with the number since I'm not aiming for a specific percentage. I just thought it would be a good way to my track progress along the way.

Yes its a great way to keep tabs on your progress , and if things are working or not .

Your % is very good em , but as said don't place to much on the calipers .

Brad.

 

[emilynichole]

Yes its a great way to keep tabs on your progress , and if things are working or not .

Your % is very good em , but as said don't place to much on the calipers .

Brad.

Thanks! You're right...too much emphasis on the calipers could definitely be a bad thing...especially with my OCD tendencies!

 

[hesnobradpitt]

Thanks! You're right...too much emphasis on the calipers could definitely be a bad thing...especially with my OCD tendencies!

lol@OCD Tendencies, yeah me to


Brad.

 

[RottenWillow]

Hey everybody!

I finally got my body fat checked today. She did skinfold measurements in 3 places: triceps, a little above my hip bone on my abdomen (called suprailium on the sheet she gave me), and thigh. My body fat measured at 16%. She said I was considered "athletic."

Does this seem like enough measurements? For some reason, I pictured them measuring a few more places on my body. So I'm not too trusting of the results!

Overall, I think I'm pretty happy with it (for now). I haven't been training seriously for too long yet (almost 2 months) and my diet still slips fairly often. I'm getting better though. I know a lot of yall are anywhere from 9-14%, but am I in a decent place for just beginning?

Any input about the test or my results would be appreciated!

Any bf assessment, even hydrostatic testing, is just a guess really. They are potentially most valuable in trying to assess change over time. Provided you are consistent with how and under what circumstances you have your bf assessed, then they can pretty reliably track bf changes. If you have the same person do your skinfold with the same caliper again in a month and there's a change, the difference will probably be a good measure of your change in condition.

 

[emilynichole]

This thread has gotten me thinking about assessing the changes in our bodies. What do yall rely on most to assess changes? Do you use BF%, pictures, scale, measurements, increase/decrease in strength? A combination? I've never taken progress pictures of myself (I think I'm a little scared...), but I know people that rely on them heavily. I'm just curious to hear what yall are doing!

 

[slat1]

Congratulations! 16% is awesome!!!

 

[emilynichole]

Congratulations! 16% is awesome!!!

Thank you so much!

 

[SpyWizard]

Craziest thing i ever saw.. a PT instructor during a workshop came up to me while 2 girls were trying to learn to use calipers, put his hand on my chest/shoulder said 14% damn if he wasn't right..

He did it to several people and was spot on..

 

[Tatyana]

Hey everybody!

I finally got my body fat checked today. She did skinfold measurements in 3 places: triceps, a little above my hip bone on my abdomen (called suprailium on the sheet she gave me), and thigh. My body fat measured at 16%. She said I was considered "athletic."

Does this seem like enough measurements? For some reason, I pictured them measuring a few more places on my body. So I'm not too trusting of the results!

Overall, I think I'm pretty happy with it (for now). I haven't been training seriously for too long yet (almost 2 months) and my diet still slips fairly often. I'm getting better though. I know a lot of yall are anywhere from 9-14%, but am I in a decent place for just beginning?

Any input about the test or my results would be appreciated!

9-14% body fat is competition condition for a woman and really low body fat.

It depends on your age and genetics, however typically between 12-14% is essential bodyfat for women, below this you stop menstruating. Maintaining a bodyfat where you have amenorrhoea (no period) can lead to long term issues.

My avatar is a competition pic when I was between 9-12% bodyfat and dehydrated for the day of the competition.

Anything under 20% is considered athletic.

Normal bodyfat for a woman is 20-25%, so you are doing really well.

What are you goals?

 

[emilynichole]

9-14% body fat is competition condition for a woman and really low body fat.

It depends on your age and genetics, however typically between 12-14% is essential bodyfat for women, below this you stop menstruating. Maintaining a bodyfat where you have amenorrhoea (no period) can lead to long term issues.

My avatar is a competition pic when I was between 9-12% bodyfat and dehydrated for the day of the competition.

Anything under 20% is considered athletic.

Normal bodyfat for a woman is 20-25%, so you are doing really well.

What are you goals?

Thanks for the information! I guess I'm doing better than I thought I was! My goals are to gain more muscle and strength (while hopefully maintaining a similar BF%). I've never thought about competing or anything. It's just more of a lifestyle change for me...and I absolutely LOVE training, eating well, and watching my body change

 

[RADAR]

This thread has gotten me thinking about assessing the changes in our bodies. What do yall rely on most to assess changes? Do you use BF%, pictures, scale, measurements, increase/decrease in strength? A combination? I've never taken progress pictures of myself (I think I'm a little scared...), but I know people that rely on them heavily. I'm just curious to hear what yall are doing!

Hi Emilynichole,when i was competeing i would use calipers,Tape measurements and Pictures to guage my progress, now i just take pics,that give me an idea where i am when i want to get in shape for summer, you're doing very well at your percentage.


RADAR

 

[emilynichole]

Hi Emilynichole,when i was competeing i would use calipers,Tape measurements and Pictures to guage my progress, now i just take pics,that give me an idea where i am when i want to get in shape for sommer, you're doing very well at your percentage.


RADAR

Thanks!

I think I'm going to start using photos...I always look so much different to myself in pictures than I do in the mirror. The mind is a strange, strange thing...!

 

[RADAR]

Mirrors will lie to you also, I have a top of the line mirror in the bathroom,however i look squinty in the mirror in the cheaper mirror in the back shower room.


RADAR