+ 9 This is what 30% body fat looks like.
Everyone seems to be bitching about something this week so it's my turn. I've noticed a lot of people with some crazy body fat claims, it's a free country do what you like but it's not helpful to the community. There are people on here who genuinely have no idea about body fat and they look at pictures/profiles and it should give them a realistic view.
I've kept track of my BF with calipers for the last 18 months. In the photo below I am 30% done with calipers at my gym by a woman who is a trainer and a competitor. The little ultrasonic hand hold thing said 28%, but calipers are more accurate. So this is what 30% looks like, 170 pounds, 5'10" and proud of my 30%.
When you (this is not a callout to anyone, but if you think it is then maybe you should think about why) post self pics and hugely exaggerate your BF you're not helping anyone. And I seriously wonder if the people doing this know they are full of it, or are they just confused? So, my question to you all is should they be told they are wrong?
No one likes a hostile environment, I'm not saying call them out, or be a dick about it. But it's odd to me when I see a wild claim and no one says a word.
Here's a link to a calculator that was accurate for me, calipers say 30 this calculator says 30. But you need your measurements. Your best bet is with calipers you can buy them less than $20 or ask a trainer at the gym they will probably do it for you right then.
http://fitness.bizcalcs.com/Calculator.asp?Calc=Body-Fat-Navy
This picture is posted elsewhere, but it's for reference and I'm too damn lazy today to take a new one 
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On the site where i use the bf calculator it shows examples. 30% or even 20% is horrible for a man but its right around where i think women look the best.
Most of the calculators that I've seen will take age and gender into consideration and both will make a significant difference as to whether or not it's considered fit or healthy.
this is a post I agree with , both my wife and I are pts, and competitors. even at the gym there are people who are like oh im such an such body ft and when we tell them they are a little off they get but hurt. I usually don't say anything on here and if I do I usually talk to them through pm. I don't know if id say that tool on that site is accurate by any means but could show progress. nothing will beat correct caliper measurements.
True, that's just one I found that matched for me. It might be a decent reference for some.
After I had my son I was a whopping 46% bf. I knew I was out of shape but when the trainer told me 46% I was shocked. I had always looked to lose weight never paying attention to bf. Now that I'm educated on the topic I can say I look better now at 170 and 30% than I ever did at 130 and 30% Scales are useless but an honest reading with calpiers is a great eye opener.
I stay away from the scales personally and try to get my wife to do the same, I was always told pay attention to the mirror for definition and looking correct, the only time i pay attention to a scale is if I need to stay in or make a weight class other then that its whatever. when some people say "oh im 3 percent bf" I fee like saying no, no your not lol but they don't like that. so I usually tell them through pm that's contest ready bro and is not easy to accomplish so I think you might be off , unless they truly look like what they say then go them.
I think letting them know is a good thing. People have a distorted view of BF. Every Time one of my friends asks me what I weigh, or about my workout I tell them I'm 170 but that does not matter BF does. None of them believe me it's nuts. But like I said, I was that girl for 30 years I put far too much emphasis on the scale. It was actually my husband who finally got sick of my dieting and threw out my scale. At the time I was pissed but it didn't take long to see he was right.
Fuck the scale. I've been paying for getting caught up in the scale these last 4 montsj of dieting. Once I get lean I'm gonna be much more careful frkm now on.