Measuring bodyfat

[Generic MALE]

I bought a pair of calipers. Does anyone know of a good website that teaches how to do the pinch test - what areas etc?I have done underwater weighing twice but it is expensive and inconvenient so I thought I would try to do my own pinch testing.

 

[Dave949]

Pinch testing (calipers) is quite an inacurate method for BF percentage. It is OK to use to see if your are putting on a lil fat or losing a lil fat but kinda usless for your (actual) BF %.

People who sell them or use them on clients will swear by them but there is a obvious bias going on there.

Hydrostatic is the way to go. Yes, it is a lil pricey but you WILL know what your actual BF % really is.

IMHO..... I would rather rely on the mirror than calipers. I use the mirror and the mirror never lies !!!

Pump on .....

 

[georgie24]

yup the mirror is the best way

 

[Bulldog_10]

Pinch testing (calipers) is quite an inacurate method for BF percentage. It is OK to use to see if your are putting on a lil fat or losing a lil fat but kinda usless for your (actual) BF %.

People who sell them or use them on clients will swear by them but there is a obvious bias going on there.

Hydrostatic is the way to go. Yes, it is a lil pricey but you WILL know what your actual BF % really is.

IMHO..... I would rather rely on the mirror than calipers. I use the mirror and the mirror never lies !!!

Pump on .....

Wrong answer bro. Calipers are very good, if used correctly. Obviously you want to go with hydrostatic weighing or DEXA, but he already said that type of thing is too expensive and inconvenient.

Bro...do a search, I'm sure you'll find those equations somewhere...it shouldn't be too hard. Or buy a book (ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription has it, and I think the essentials of strength training and conditioning has them too).

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Bulldog is right about ACSM - look for the book. Also, it's not the easiest thing to do yourself. Might want to think about having a trusted friend/workout partner/significant other help you. But the same person needs to do it everytime to be valid and reliable.

Calipers ARE a good method of tracking BF assuming person is doing it correctly and it takes time to get a feel for how to do it. But it is very useful and eay to do on a regular basis. It has a margin of error of +/-2%.

 

[Dave949]

Wrong answer bro. Calipers are very good, if used correctly.

Exactly.........if used 100% correctly !!! And even if used correctly your still in the plus / minus 2 or 3 % and that is in the best of circumstances. The error margin can go higher (5%) if one is just a (little) off.

I respect your and Daisey`s opinions on calipers. I personally feel there is too much of an inaccuracy potential which = unreliable.

Pump on .....

 

[Bulldog_10]

Looking in the mirror is more accurate?

 

[Jafar]

What do you all think of this site?

www.mybodycomp.com

I think it's pretty accurate myself.

 

[Bulldog_10]

Just by looking at it quickly, I'd say that it might be useful for some people, but probably not for people interested in bodybuilding. Sort of like BMI, ok for normal people, but the numbers are all fucked up when you apply it to people with greater than normal muscle mass.

 

[Dave949]

Looking in the mirror is more accurate?

For testing on what your actual BF % is ? Absolutely not.

But if you know your (actual) BF %, a trained eye can tell if your % is going up or down (ever so slightly).

I am always at 11.4 to 11.6 % (hydrostatic). I can look in the mirror and judging by the sharpness on the outside of my abs and also on my quads, I can tell if I am going up or down % point or so.

Would it be an actual reliable figure ? No. and that was simply my contention with calipers. As stated in my original response I did use the word actual in parenthesis. If your happy with a range of +/- 2 - 5 % than its all good and this debate/discussion is moot. I (personally) would not be sastisfied with +/- 2 to 5 % (IF) done 100% correctly.

Pump on .....