Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below awnyerneas
New member
how the hell do I check it?
bodyfat %
- Thread starter awnyerneas
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awnyerneas
New member
hmmm what if there isn't really a way to get to a gym with an experienced trainer. I'm in a dorm and I lift at the weight room here. The car is a ways away and I dont know of any really good Gyms in the area.
Scotsman
New member
Go to the campus health center and see if they do bodyfat testing. Also a kenesiology department will often run tests and need volunteers. Otherwise go to one of those gadget stores like brookstone and use one of their electronic ones, they aren't super accurate for people who are athletic but it can give you a rough idea.
Cheers,
Scotsman
Cheers,
Scotsman
Tom Treutlein
New member
Do all GNCs have that? I'd really like to try it out.
Griz1
New member
Body Fat % can be checked several ways. To borrow from our old friend Spatts and add some of my own. The most accurate method is to go to a lab and get weighed in water. The hydrostatic method I believe it's called.
Then next most accurate (is NOT the tanita scale peice of garbage....junk!) and most widely used is the caliper method.
Keep in mind that there are numerous formulas to calculate % with calipers. Some more accurate than others. If you use the Health Canada formula, it differs significantly from the standard Govt. formula in the US. Also there are tons and tons of "online" calculators that do this based on as little as 1 measure site, and up to 12 or 15. The more sites does not necessarily mean "better". It comes down to the caculation.
Be damn sure you have a GOOD set of calipers and be damn sure you CALILBRATE them correctly. Just like Spatts said, take 2 or 3 measures of each site to be sure your getting an accuate read (you can even average the 3 readings). Use a partner (ever tried taking a reading off your shoulderblade????).
And most of all keep in mind that no matter how good the math, calipers, or readings, the caliper method is still and ESTIMATE of BF%. The only truly accurate method (as stated before) is an autopsy. Just because your calculation reads 12% it could still be as high as 15% or as low as 8%. Use several good calculators or formulas and average the results maybe if your not too sure. Remember, if your dropping weight it's all relative anyway. Who cares if you went from 15% down to 13%, or 12.5% to 10.5%??? The main point is you DROPPED!!!!! GOOD WORK!
Get it?
P.S. take measurements every two weeks or once a month and do it at the same time, same place, after the same activity to try to maintain similar characteristics at the time (hydration, hypertrophy, weight/shit that day, etc.).
Hope this helps.
Then next most accurate (is NOT the tanita scale peice of garbage....junk!) and most widely used is the caliper method.
Keep in mind that there are numerous formulas to calculate % with calipers. Some more accurate than others. If you use the Health Canada formula, it differs significantly from the standard Govt. formula in the US. Also there are tons and tons of "online" calculators that do this based on as little as 1 measure site, and up to 12 or 15. The more sites does not necessarily mean "better". It comes down to the caculation.
Be damn sure you have a GOOD set of calipers and be damn sure you CALILBRATE them correctly. Just like Spatts said, take 2 or 3 measures of each site to be sure your getting an accuate read (you can even average the 3 readings). Use a partner (ever tried taking a reading off your shoulderblade????).
And most of all keep in mind that no matter how good the math, calipers, or readings, the caliper method is still and ESTIMATE of BF%. The only truly accurate method (as stated before) is an autopsy. Just because your calculation reads 12% it could still be as high as 15% or as low as 8%. Use several good calculators or formulas and average the results maybe if your not too sure. Remember, if your dropping weight it's all relative anyway. Who cares if you went from 15% down to 13%, or 12.5% to 10.5%??? The main point is you DROPPED!!!!! GOOD WORK!
Get it?
P.S. take measurements every two weeks or once a month and do it at the same time, same place, after the same activity to try to maintain similar characteristics at the time (hydration, hypertrophy, weight/shit that day, etc.).
Hope this helps.
wnt2bBeast
New member
good post bro..some really good points..earlier in my cutting phase i got bogged down on trying to pinpoint bf and come up with a target bf %..you know what i dont care as long as my diet is progressing, im dropping weight but not too fast..im happy..the new goal is to diet down until the abs show whether thats 6% or 10% for me doesnt matter..
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