body fat composition

arbntmare · 03-04-2002, 10:12 AM

i just went to the stupid gym for athelets at uva, and they said i had a body fat composition of 17.5, it sounds way off for me cause a few years ago i did it accurately and i was around 20 or so... but that was when i weighed 30 extra lbs and when i couldn't bench but 90 lbs, and couldn't run worth jack... now i bench 180-200, and i can run forever... does it sound right ?? i know that ability to lift weights and body fat composition is not that related but still.. 17.5? i thought i would be in 12 range or something, i am going to go to the hospital and check it out.. but anyways dude checked it by using my stomach, chest and leg muscle.. also i just tried to get my body fat composition half a year ago and i got around 14% that is why i was surprised when i heard 17.5... the 14% i think was done more accuraetly because it tested my triceps, stomach, chest, upper leg and lower legg i believe... what is the most accurate way to test for body fat composition??

Scotty the Body · 03-04-2002, 10:34 AM

So they used the calipers both times? Your age may have also make the diffrence to, when I went from 29 to 30, my BF went up by 4% because of the diffrent age bracket on the chart.

How do you look in the mirror, thats what I use mostly now for my BF %, getting measured makes for a good guidline though.

Triple Threat · 03-04-2002, 03:56 PM

You should also find out what the percent error is for the method that was used. For calipers, I believe that the error is plus or minus 3%. Therefore if you are getting a 17.5 reading, your body fat is anywhere from 14.5 to 20.5%.

**Prince** · 03-04-2002, 08:49 PM

I thought I remember calipers having a 5% +/- for error. You should use calipers as a measuring tool for progress, not for a accurate bf %.

arbntmare · 03-04-2002, 09:02 PM

well i guess then i need to go to the hospital.. cause i am never going to have the same person do it everytime so every person will change my bf%!

**Prince** · 03-04-2002, 09:11 PM

buy your own calipers.

arbntmare · 03-04-2002, 09:46 PM

u gotta be kidding me hehe.. i am college student, one of the reasons i like to workout.. its cheap!, even the supplements, they last for 30 days and only cost about 20 bucks.. u can't even find a better bargain anywhere heh

**gopro** · 03-06-2002, 06:47 PM

Best method is hydrostatic weighing.

Triple Threat · 03-06-2002, 07:30 PM

The most accurate method is an autopsy. There is a nasty side effect to this method, though.

realdeal · 03-06-2002, 08:20 PM

i dont even worry about my bf. when i do competitions people ask me "whats your bodyfat?" and the reason why i dont bother is because if i think i look good and everyone thinks i look good then thats all that matters. but if it makes you feel better to hear a number then by all means go by it. its the same with the scale. who gives a sh*t how much you weigh.

Lightman009 · 03-08-2002, 01:29 AM

I did a hydrostatic weighing, and it was quite accurate- 14.8% And yeah, depending on who did the caliper test the results can vary.

03-04-2002, 10:12 AM	#1
arbntmare StudentDentistTeethPuller Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 309	body fat composition i just went to the stupid gym for athelets at uva, and they said i had a body fat composition of 17.5, it sounds way off for me cause a few years ago i did it accurately and i was around 20 or so... but that was when i weighed 30 extra lbs and when i couldn't bench but 90 lbs, and couldn't run worth jack... now i bench 180-200, and i can run forever... does it sound right ?? i know that ability to lift weights and body fat composition is not that related but still.. 17.5? i thought i would be in 12 range or something, i am going to go to the hospital and check it out.. but anyways dude checked it by using my stomach, chest and leg muscle.. also i just tried to get my body fat composition half a year ago and i got around 14% that is why i was surprised when i heard 17.5... the 14% i think was done more accuraetly because it tested my triceps, stomach, chest, upper leg and lower legg i believe... what is the most accurate way to test for body fat composition?? Last edited by arbntmare : 03-04-2002 at 10:35 AM.
	No Pain, No Gain

03-04-2002, 10:34 AM	#2
Scotty the Body I'm Dead Sexxxxy!! Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 4,970	So they used the calipers both times? Your age may have also make the diffrence to, when I went from 29 to 30, my BF went up by 4% because of the diffrent age bracket on the chart. How do you look in the mirror, thats what I use mostly now for my BF %, getting measured makes for a good guidline though.
	Cool

03-04-2002, 08:49 PM	#4
Prince the one & only Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 33,510 Blog Entries: 25 Photos: 313	I thought I remember calipers having a 5% +/- for error. You should use calipers as a measuring tool for progress, not for a accurate bf %.
	SBMuscle.com - Discount Supplement Superstore AlltheWhey.com - Bulk Protein Powders CEM Products - Research Chemicals & Supplements MusclePharm - Complete Nutritional Arsenal BigBackGrips - If you lift weights you've got to try these grips!

03-04-2002, 09:02 PM	#5
arbntmare StudentDentistTeethPuller Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 309	well i guess then i need to go to the hospital.. cause i am never going to have the same person do it everytime so every person will change my bf%!
	No Pain, No Gain

03-04-2002, 09:11 PM	#6
Prince the one & only Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 33,510 Blog Entries: 25 Photos: 313	buy your own calipers.
	SBMuscle.com - Discount Supplement Superstore AlltheWhey.com - Bulk Protein Powders CEM Products - Research Chemicals & Supplements MusclePharm - Complete Nutritional Arsenal BigBackGrips - If you lift weights you've got to try these grips!

03-04-2002, 03:56 PM	#3
Triple Threat ... Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lost Posts: 9,402 Photos: 4	You should also find out what the percent error is for the method that was used. For calipers, I believe that the error is plus or minus 3%. Therefore if you are getting a 17.5 reading, your body fat is anywhere from 14.5 to 20.5%.

03-04-2002, 09:46 PM	#7
arbntmare StudentDentistTeethPuller Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 309	u gotta be kidding me hehe.. i am college student, one of the reasons i like to workout.. its cheap!, even the supplements, they last for 30 days and only cost about 20 bucks.. u can't even find a better bargain anywhere heh
	No Pain, No Gain

03-06-2002, 06:47 PM	#8
gopro NGA/IFPA Pro Bodybuilder Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Florida Posts: 10,497	Best method is hydrostatic weighing.
	Monthly columnist for Muscular Development and Ironman magazines. VPX Sponsored Athlete/Board Rep www.prrstraining.com Time to GROW Without Plateau! Personal Training Gopro is available for online personal training, dietary guidance, and contest prep coaching. Send me a PM or e-mail if interested. Thank you.

03-06-2002, 07:30 PM	#9
Triple Threat ... Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lost Posts: 9,402 Photos: 4	The most accurate method is an autopsy. There is a nasty side effect to this method, though.

03-06-2002, 08:20 PM	#10
realdeal Amateur Bodybuilder Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 367	i dont even worry about my bf. when i do competitions people ask me "whats your bodyfat?" and the reason why i dont bother is because if i think i look good and everyone thinks i look good then thats all that matters. but if it makes you feel better to hear a number then by all means go by it. its the same with the scale. who gives a sh*t how much you weigh.
	Keep Educating, KNOWLEDGE is the POWER

03-08-2002, 01:29 AM	#11
Lightman009 UCSB Student Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 300	I did a hydrostatic weighing, and it was quite accurate- 14.8% And yeah, depending on who did the caliper test the results can vary.
	Just Shut Up and LIFT.

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