iMan323

This isn't exactly a training post but there was nowhere else to put it, so here it goes. Yesterday, I bought digital bodyfat calipers made by Accufitnes. The model is called FatTrack II. I haven't been able to get more then 2 consistent readings at a time. According to this thing my bodyfat level is somewhere between 11% and 23%, hehe. Is this thing a genuine piece of s#it, or is it just my measuring technique that sucks? I think I'm doing everything as it says on the instructions....but I still feel that somebody made my wallet $50 bucks lighter for no good reason. It's a 3 point test, to ensure that I'm measuring the same sites every time, I marked them with a ball pen. I need help...

OceanDude

Dude! You paid like $30 too much - big time fat reduction in the wallet man! You can get these online a lot cheaper with an internet search.

Technically speaking they are NOT bad when you get the gist of how to use them properly – within 2% error rate.

I had similar problems when I first got mine – its all operator “cockpit” error. What you want to do is pinch true subcutaneous fat and NOT body tissue or muscle at the chest, abdominal and thigh positions. Being somewhat uncoordinated I had to resort to “pre-pinching” with my right hand (fore finger thumb) then using the left had to actually let the calipers measure the pinch. This was the only way I could prevent from accidentally pressing the silly little blue trigger button at the wrong time with the single hand/caliper technique they mention in the instructions. I got to be very consistent with this after a little practice. I also recommend that you consider the BF measurements so taken to be “relative” measurements rather than as absolute measurements. In other words use changes solely for the purposes of gauging relative improvements in fat loss on say a bi-weekly basis. Figure on at least 2% error in these calipers. Also, bear in mind that this is ONLY subcutaneous fat and is not entirely indicative of visceral/organ and intramuscular fat buried deep inside tissue (which can be substantial). Although I am uncertain if the computational tables take this into average consideration – I am inclined to think not.

Be cautions of this. I have seen many people initiating body transformation efforts (and carrying a lot of initial bf at 30% and greater) get very dismayed when no major changes are seen in the first 3-4 weeks of intense training and dieting. It is my conjecture that the organ fat is reduced substantially in such individuals before any noticeable subcutaneous fat reduction is registered by the calipers. This is pure opinion and I don’t have a handy reference to back this up. However, the electronic type of fat measuring devices may in fact take into consideration organ fat as well - but they are notorious for having repeatability problems due to electrolyte levels in body, dehydration levels etc. But all in all this lil Fat Track II is a nifty and inexpensive device and I have found it to be invaluable.

"Doc, If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself..."

Est unusquisque faber ipsae suae fortunae.

We Americans scoff at the likes of African witch doctors yet spend 100's of millions of dollars on fake reducing systems.

The only regular exercise he gets is stretching the truth.

His intellect is not replenished, he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts...