vicious 13
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what do u guys find to be the best/easiest/cheapest way to get body fat tested...i have the scale but its not very accurate
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body fat testing
- Thread starter vicious 13
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Kenny Croxdale
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Measuring Body Fat Percentage
Unfortunately, the only method that is effective in determing one's body fat percentage is dissection.
Other Methods
The other method are flawed
Scale
The scale, as you mentioned, is incredibly inaccurate.
To obtain a good "Ball Park" body fat percentage reading you need to:
1) Be well hydrated. That means, reading later it the day are best.
2) Not have eaten, exercise or showered (showdered stumps me) with in three hours.
Conduction Sensitivity
Scales and the Omron Hand Held Body Fat Device provide the greatest measurement when contact is made.
Thus, scales are scued lower body readings and Omron to upper body readings.
That means if your fat percentage is higher in you lower body the scales will provide you with a higher body fat percentage. It is the same with hand held devices and upper body readings.
Hydrostatic (Underwater) Weighing
Considered the "Gold Standard" it is not so golden.
Residual Lung Capacity
Many places that do hydrostatic weighing, do NOT measure you residual lung capacity. Air in your lungs makes you float.
Fat Floats
Unless your residual lung capacity is calculated, the assumption is that since your floating higher in the water...your fatter than you really are.
Butter
If you really want to see how well fat floats, throw a stick of butter in the water.
Ethnic Group
Another factors is there are different calculations for ethnic groups. One formula does NOT fit all.
Calipers
Calipers are based off hydrostatic weighing. Since hydrostatic only give you a "Ball Park" reading, calipers are going to do the same thing.
Technician
A huge problem with calipers is finding a good technician who has performed hundreds of measurements.
Measurements With Calipers
A good technician will use a tape measure to pinpoint the site. Then use a pen to mark the spot.
Anyone who isn't using a tape measure or pen, is clueless.
Self Measurement
1) Most of the calipers sold in retail stores are junk.
Self measurement isn't realisticly possible.
Ultrasound & Infrared
Both are inaccurate
Bod Pod
Even it is questionable.
Cheap-Easy Alternative Method
1) Tape Measure.
It doesn't provide you with a body fat percentage.
While the other method do, they provide you with a false number.
So, what is the value in having a fase number?
2) Mirror or Picture
As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." And the mirror and picures don't like.
If you look fat, you are fat.
Bodybuilders
I once ask a friend of mine who was a bodybuilder before contest what his body fat percentage was.
He told me it didnt matter. It is all about how you look. The judges NEVER want to know what you body fat percentage is.
Real Life
It is the same in real life. The look is more important than the number.
Kenny Croxdale
vicious 13
Registered
Thank you bro great information... Do u think a bod pod would get me a close estimate the number doesn't really matter as I am very lean and far from fat I just always see guys posting bf and i wonder how accurate it is
Kenny Croxdale
Registered
Bod Pod Accurace
IFeach test is performed correctly according to the recommended guidelines, there is a ± 3% error. Body Composition
IF...meaning that NOT all test are performed correctly.
3% Plus Or Minus Factor
A 3% difference is a fairly big number.
Example: 200 lb Person
That means a 200 lb individual could have 6 lbs more body fat or 6 lbs more muscle.
6 lb of Fat or Muscle
6 pounds of either is a big number.
So, that means the Bod Pod gives you a "Ball Park" figure, nothing more.
Kenny Croxdale
Kenny Croxdale
Registered
Kenny Croxdale
Registered
You're dreaming again, are you?
Sweet dream on that one. I know you hate to be confused with the facts but...
Since you appear to enjoy books with more picture than words, I used an economy research information below.
The Pitfalls of Body Fat “Measurement”, Part 3: Bod Pod
"...one study found error rates of about 2% on average, but errors of up to 6% in individuals. However, other research on the Bod Pod has shown error rates higher than underwater weighing; one study found an average difference of 5.3% between the Bod Pod and a 4-compartment model, and an error rate of up to 15% in individuals!
"One of the reasons the Bod Pod is worse than underwater weighing is because there are more variables that can affect the results."
"...like underwater weighing, the Bod Pod can have errors when tracking changes over time."
"...one person gained 10% body fat but showed a loss of 1% with the Bod Pod. Another person lost nearly 10% bodyfat but showed only a loss of 1% with the Bod Pod. Another person lost about 5% body fat but showed a loss of 11% with the Bod Pod."
Kenny Croxdale
Kenny Croxdale
Registered
Kenny Croxdale
Registered
Post a picture and he will GUESS.
Kenny
Kenny Croxdale
Registered
Croxdale's info is legit here. BF testing is really a crapshoot. Your best results will come from being extremely consistent with the same method, and even then, they're not that great.
If you want to compare your numbers only to yourself (to track which way you're headed every month), I suggest a cheap set of body fat calipers.
Bigbenj - the guessing from a picture method is really inaccurate - lighting, flexing or not, pump, camera lens; they can all throw off measurements. Not to mention some people store more/less fat subcutaneously (under the skin) than viscerally.
If you want to compare your numbers only to yourself (to track which way you're headed every month), I suggest a cheap set of body fat calipers.
Bigbenj - the guessing from a picture method is really inaccurate - lighting, flexing or not, pump, camera lens; they can all throw off measurements. Not to mention some people store more/less fat subcutaneously (under the skin) than viscerally.
i just looked up the pods, there is zero chance in hell i would fit in there, given that the guy on the video is maybe 5'10 at a guess
Bodyology - Exercise Science Studio
Bodyology - Exercise Science Studio
