Body Pod gave very high body fat percent

Salil · 05-07-2008, 08:53 AM

Hello Friends,
I used to get my body fat percent measured at the gym every 3 months usign calipers and my body fat was first 12% and then it fell to 8%. However, as my previous posts mentioned I didn't have a six pack abs and had a chubby face. Also I noticed when I was hiking or mountain biking, my endurance seemed to be lower than other people who didn't seem as fit as me. I was very surprised with this. I cut out white rice from my diet, started eating salads and grilled chicken. I would do cardio with a high heart rate,about 75 - 80% of my max heart rate about 3 times a week. I am a rated table tennis player and I played table tennis 4 times a week, which used to be pretty good cardio too. I know most people are unaware that table tennis can be a tiring sport but when played right a player has to move very fast and cardio fitness is vital. With regular ab exercises everyday,within 2 months or so my abs started showing. I still don't have a lean face though. I probably lost some muscle mass since I didn't lift weights at all other than leg exercises. I assumed that my body fat would have fallen to maybe 6% or something and decided I must go back to weight training.
Before that I decided to measure my body fat accurately using a body pod Life Measurement, Inc. BOD POD. I got the shock of my life. The machine which is supposed to be very accurate showed that I had 20.8% body fat which is border line of normal and excessive. I couldn't believe these results because no body would ever call me fat. The technician told me that most people are surprised by the results but it is the most accurate. Does any one have a similar experience? Is there a chance that these machines could go wrong? Should I go for a second reading via some other method like underwater body fat testing?

NeilPearson · 05-07-2008, 10:34 AM

Sounds like just a number to me. If you are happy with yourself, why do you care?

BulkMeUp · 05-07-2008, 11:52 AM

When did you do the test? on an empty stomach after the bathroom in the morning would be best. During the day your bf can fluctuate a lot.

Salil · 05-07-2008, 12:32 PM

I went in the morning on an empty stomach and after the bathroom.

**P-funk** · 05-07-2008, 01:49 PM

who cares what the numbers are?

If you look good. If you are happy with how you look. If you feel healthy....those are more important that a number from the bod pod, or an underwater emmersion test or a caliper test.

fufu · 05-07-2008, 03:08 PM

Yeah, just use those numbers as a gauge for progression.

No reason to worry where numbers are set at.

Salil · 05-07-2008, 03:45 PM

do any of you guys know of a sports facilities that does an underwater immersion test in North Carolina, USA?

Witchblade · 05-07-2008, 04:46 PM

You have abs showing? Then you don't have 20% bf.

05-07-2008, 08:53 AM	#1
Salil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 43	Body Pod gave very high body fat percent Hello Friends, I used to get my body fat percent measured at the gym every 3 months usign calipers and my body fat was first 12% and then it fell to 8%. However, as my previous posts mentioned I didn't have a six pack abs and had a chubby face. Also I noticed when I was hiking or mountain biking, my endurance seemed to be lower than other people who didn't seem as fit as me. I was very surprised with this. I cut out white rice from my diet, started eating salads and grilled chicken. I would do cardio with a high heart rate,about 75 - 80% of my max heart rate about 3 times a week. I am a rated table tennis player and I played table tennis 4 times a week, which used to be pretty good cardio too. I know most people are unaware that table tennis can be a tiring sport but when played right a player has to move very fast and cardio fitness is vital. With regular ab exercises everyday,within 2 months or so my abs started showing. I still don't have a lean face though. I probably lost some muscle mass since I didn't lift weights at all other than leg exercises. I assumed that my body fat would have fallen to maybe 6% or something and decided I must go back to weight training. Before that I decided to measure my body fat accurately using a body pod Life Measurement, Inc. BOD POD. I got the shock of my life. The machine which is supposed to be very accurate showed that I had 20.8% body fat which is border line of normal and excessive. I couldn't believe these results because no body would ever call me fat. The technician told me that most people are surprised by the results but it is the most accurate. Does any one have a similar experience? Is there a chance that these machines could go wrong? Should I go for a second reading via some other method like underwater body fat testing?
Salil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 43

05-07-2008, 12:32 PM	#4
Salil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 43	I went in the morning on an empty stomach and after the bathroom.
Salil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 43

05-07-2008, 01:49 PM	#5
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,436	who cares what the numbers are? If you look good. If you are happy with how you look. If you feel healthy....those are more important that a number from the bod pod, or an underwater emmersion test or a caliper test.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! http://ivonneberkowitz.blogspot.com/....check out Ivonne's new blog! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

05-07-2008, 03:08 PM	#6
fufu fiendish thingy Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,235 Photos: 7	Yeah, just use those numbers as a gauge for progression. No reason to worry where numbers are set at.
	fufu's 1337 Journal Your diet will set you free.

05-07-2008, 03:45 PM	#7
Salil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 43	do any of you guys know of a sports facilities that does an underwater immersion test in North Carolina, USA?
Salil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 43

05-07-2008, 10:34 AM	#2
NeilPearson Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,284	Sounds like just a number to me. If you are happy with yourself, why do you care?

05-07-2008, 11:52 AM	#3
BulkMeUp ..is bulking up! Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cana-dah Posts: 5,283	When did you do the test? on an empty stomach after the bathroom in the morning would be best. During the day your bf can fluctuate a lot.

05-07-2008, 04:46 PM	#8
Witchblade Succinct Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Holland Posts: 4,365 Photos: 2	You have abs showing? Then you don't have 20% bf.
	My Linkdump [LSFW] IM Official FAQ [WORK IN PROGRESS]

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