posted Wed, 11/18/2015 - 05:28
2383
What is my BF%?
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You can see a current picture in my profile. I have self administered several different caliper tests at home to determine current % but I think results should be higher. As you can see from picture I am much leaner on extremities and upper chest than my ample handles in the middle.
What do you think my BF% is?
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keep in mind calipers always yield the lowest percentage of body fat in compared to every other test. Also 3 and 5 point testing are not appropriate, use a 7 site test. triceps, abdominal, chest, thigh, sub-scapular, suprailiac, midaxillery.
On average 12% is when abs are visible, very blurry but separation is present so I would say on a skin fold done appropriately you would score 15 to 16 (my guess)
Hard to say really.
Everything above 15% is getting harder and harder to estimate. I would say definitely above 15% but you never know.
Even DEXA scans has a tendency of beeing -5/+5% off and this is the most accurate measuring device.
What do you need BF% for? When you have the feeling you're too flubby, lose weight, if you feel comfortable already why change something?
I rather try to decide what to do by the mirror and how I feel then focusing on a certain number, which won't change anything anyway.
Sorry, wasn't a real estimation but I hope it helped anyway :-)
I am a noob, been doing a lot of research over the last few months and In regard to side effect from higher body fat, I was looking for other opinions to what my number is.
I see. No problem with that I guess. Anyway, in one Video of Eric Helms, he shows what a DEXA scan said about his BF% weeks prior to a show. It showed 12% ( I guess it was) and he was already really lean!
What I'm trying to say is, would you still cut bodyfat when it would say a certain number which doesn't please you or which normally isn't "supposed" to be lean? Probably not. Go for what you're pleased with by appearance and take the BF% just as a tool :-)
BF calipers can be off a few percent. As long as your consistent you can measure progress. If you live near a big city you can usually find a good deal on a bod pod visit.
When you are talking about a physique, calipers are the most honest assessment and most accurate way to measure progress hands down. Reason being it measures the thickness between the muscle and the skin... and the bottom line is the thickness between the muscle and the skin is what determines how defined you are. All other testing however accurate they may be mathematically do not accurately depict or determine the level of physique you actually have
Need to disagree.
First off, most folks have no real idea on how to use a caliper properly. Measurements are getting screwed because of inconsistency.
Further the measurements can widely vary on a daily basis due to different outside factors, room temperature, excess water, above mentioned wrong/inconsitent usage, too long of a pinch when measuring, etc.
The most accurate measurement is simply the DEXA scan and even they can vary by -/+5%. Eric helms mentioned this and I lay much believe in his statement, due to he's a bb coach, bb himself, PHD in science and nutrition, etc.
But, calipers are a valuable tool (only a tool) and pretty cheap. So there's nothing wrong in getting one just be aware about that the numbers are a vague prediction and nothing to be fixiated on.
EDIT: While I was typing it, you already posted some of what I mentioned. Good boy ;-)
bro we are talking about visually looking at a physique when we judge people, whether at the gym or on stage and the definition we can see with our eyes is determined by the the thickness between the muscle and the skin, precisely what the caliper measures. The actual body fat means nothing, Dexter Jackson is more shredded then Jay Cutler because between Dexter's muscle and his skin there is nothing and that is all that counts.
Nothing else measures better and frankly nothing else matters then whats between the muscle and the skin, this is the only variable that tells you how defined you are
bigmurphTry measuring ur self and use online calculator maybe you will get a better results but that's close to what I guessed
bigmurphWhat did you come up with ob your caliber tests i carry 20 percent if I just guessed for you i would say 10ish
Caliber tests come out to 13 to 15% . I see 20% in mirror. I am debating within myself whether I am performing the caliber test incorrectly or if I have a distorted self image.
From the pic I'd agree with your perception, around 20%.
They could be right. Just make sure ur not squeezin the calipers to hard, to get the caliper to snap...
details... details...
5'-10
47 yrs
180 Lb
I'd say, somewhere between 20 and 22..