what are your methods of measuring bf%?

[kickureface]

say you're trying to track progress on fat loss. how do you guys do it?
some of the methods i hear mostly about are
1. estimating via pictures-hard for good estimates because of the lack of sufficient pictures for body types/%'s.
2. calipers-i haven't tried these but the error seems to be very big, depending on the measurer.
3. waist size measurements-waist fat seems to be the last to go...
4. weight on scale-hard to determine anything for those with muscle/lift heavy
5. some other advanced way

so, what are your thoughts and methods?

 

[kickureface]

what do you look for and how often?

 

[Andromax]

It's just an arbitrary number that is largely inaccurate anyway.

I have my buddy use his calipers. I'm at 15% right now while bulking.

Pictures are also pretty good (mirror)

The waist size is mostly inaccurate, so is the scale.

If you desperately want a good measurement, and don't have a reliable free source, get it done professionally by a trainer. It's not that expensive.

If you post some pics of yourself from your knees to your neck you will get some pretty good estimates from guys on this board for free, however.

Just be sure you aren't wearing some kinky black banana hammock.

 

[kickureface]

i just wanted a simple way of keeping track of progress, so i know i'm getting somewhere after a month or so rather than blindly working out and assuming there is progress.
for me, i find the pictures/mirror estimate simplest.
curious about what other people like to do, too/

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Simple isn't always the best. If you want accuracy check out using a Bod Pod which works by using air displacement. The better health clubs have them and many sports science physicians. If you want something simple at home you can look into a body fitness scale. They're less accurate but look into the ones which also measure water content. It'll give you three different measurements to track and combining those with body measurements should give you a somewhat thorough tracking system.

 

[Shyyhs]

Just use a calipre. It doesn't have to be accurate, just consistent. If you need an accurate number than you're just looking to stroke your ego. Measure yourself with a calipre. Do it again the future the same way and you'll find out how much you dropped.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Just use a calipre. It doesn't have to be accurate, just consistent. If you need an accurate number than you're just looking to stroke your ego. Measure yourself with a calipre. Do it again the future the same way and you'll find out how much you dropped.

Calipers don't work that well if you were really overweight and lost a lot. You're often measuring a lot of loose skin.

 

[Shyyhs]

If you're really really fat, it may lead to calipre not being able to measure folds of fat.

The problems come when you start getting down there in bf%, where the fat to skin width hits a certain point.

 

[joekerr31]

i use the size of my penis.

when my bf is 20% my penis is 6 inches.

when its 15% its 7 inches

when its 10% its 8 inches

and when its 5% its 9 inches.

 

[Throttle]

my experience with scales suggests that they're close to useless, because they are sensitive to hydration & salt levels.

i like pictures/mirror once a month or so. can't hurt to weigh yourself then, too, as further confirmation. as long as you're pushing bigger & bigger weights & your body weight isn't ballooning, you're on the right track.

 

[Maxtro]

I'm using a combination of methods. I have pictures of myself taken at different angles. I have a scale that tells me how much I weigh and what my body fats at. I also use the hand held body fat analyzer at my gym.

Funny thing is that my scale says I'm at 19% and the hand held thing said I'm at 15%.

 

[Throttle]

Funny thing is that my scale says I'm at 19% and the hand held thing said I'm at 15%.

that's well with in the natural variance of both methods... which explains why neither one gives the information that most people are seeking (somebody over 20% doesn't need a scale to tell them they're fat, somebody under 10% doesn't need calipers to tell them they're skinny, and anything in between is well within the natural variance of most methods other than a dunk tank).

 

[BMX]

I had the athletic trainer measure me with calipers back in high school. She was state certified and did it throughout the season even right b4 any of us got to the state tournament. Now it's just mirror and a scale cuz it doesn't matter as much as it did back then (anyone under 5% bodyfat was not allowed to compete).

 

[kickureface]

If you're really really fat, it may lead to calipre not being able to measure folds of fat.

The problems come when you start getting down there in bf%, where the fat to skin width hits a certain point.

skin is fat, basically, which explains how nobody can get to 0%