Body Fat %

likehlikeo
likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
edited November 15 in Fitness and Exercise
I used the army method and the caliper method to measure my body fat % (or rather estimate).
I'm 6.06 tall (female) and weight 149 pounds. it came out as 12%. this seems rather optimistic, as there are these photo "charts" on the net, where you can see, what a body with a certain % of body fat should look like. I can start to see my abs a bit on the upper portion of my stomach, but 12%...?? I might go and have it checked with a more "scientific" method by a doctor (need my bloodwork anyways, since I get it checked out once a year for vegan reasons)...

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    By 6.06, do you mean 6'6" (6 foot 6)? I started to say that 12% is likely low but if you are 6'6" at 149 pounds, it may be closer than I initially thought.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    edited March 2015
    Those charts are not a one size fits all since no one carries body fat the same exact way.
  • likehlikeo
    likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
    Ah, sorry, metric system here..I'm 185cm and used google to convert this. It is 6 foot and then ,01 of a foot hahaha :o (I have no idea about foot and inches obviously)
  • likehlikeo
    likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
    yopeeps025 wrote: »
    Those charts are no a one size fits all since no one carries body fat the same exact way.

    Yeah, that's what I thought as well...I'm intrigued to visit a doctor and check out a better method (I bet it costs a ton her ein GER)...

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Doing it yourself involves a lot of measurement error. Better to have an experience person do the measurements. 12% is pretty low (like pro bodybuilder competition weight for a female) so I'm sure that your BF estimate is way off.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

  • likehlikeo
    likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
    yopeeps025 wrote: »
    Those charts are no a one size fits all since no one carries body fat the same exact way.

    Yeah, that's what I thought as well...I'm intrigued to visit a doctor and check out a better method (I bet it costs a ton her ein GER)...

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    likehlikeo wrote: »
    Ah, sorry, metric system here..I'm 185cm and used google to convert this. It is 6 foot and then ,01 of a foot hahaha :o (I have no idea about foot and inches obviously)

    Aha. Just slightly under 6'1" (6 foot 1 inch) :)

    Hmm. Like @yopeeps025 said, not everybody carries their fat in the same way. I kind of loathe those photo charts because I feel like, for women at least, they give a skewed view of body fat. I took all of the formulas from this article and have a running spreadsheet that calculates my body fat using all of them, just for the sake of comparison and so that I can see relative changes. Maybe try out a few of those formulas if you are interested.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    likehlikeo wrote: »
    yopeeps025 wrote: »
    Those charts are no a one size fits all since no one carries body fat the same exact way.

    Yeah, that's what I thought as well...I'm intrigued to visit a doctor and check out a better method (I bet it costs a ton her ein GER)...

    I have no clue of cost on that side of the world. I don't even know if the bod pod is available either.

    Three options that give ok results for BF% are: Bod pod, DEXA scan, and hydrostatic weighing.
  • clehman71
    clehman71 Posts: 139 Member
    It also depends on your workout/life style. If you do weight lifting, assuming a diet designed for fat loss and muscle retention and gain, you can have a lower bf% at the same weight as someone who that just weighs that amount without weight training. Also at the same time, remember those pictures have probably been photo shopped or they did a little diuretics to get the definition to show better.
  • likehlikeo
    likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
    I just checked this out...hydrostatistic weighing is possible but too expensive for a check out of curiosity. Well, I will just use the "mirror method" again ;) I love charts and statistics and found a measuring tape while moving house at the weekend...I'm not a professional body builder at the end, so no pro methods for me I guess ;)
  • likehlikeo
    likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
    clehman71 wrote: »
    It also depends on your workout/life style. If you do weight lifting, assuming a diet designed for fat loss and muscle retention and gain, you can have a lower bf% at the same weight as someone who that just weighs that amount without weight training. Also at the same time, remember those pictures have probably been photo shopped or they did a little diuretics to get the definition to show better.

    No lifting here (I carried a few boxed at the weekend and my arms are still non-functional...)...I walk a lot and bike, cardio stuff, but no liftig (so far, I want to start and get nice muscles though)...
  • KellyLouiseGibson
    KellyLouiseGibson Posts: 175 Member
    Hey People. I need advice on how to get a toned flat stomach. I eat right and I exercise a lot. Ive lost 2 stone and am on my way to being a size 10. This last bit of tummy fat is difficult. Please help :-).
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    kellygibbo848 wrote: »
    Hey People. I need advice on how to get a toned flat stomach. I eat right and I exercise a lot. Ive lost 2 stone and am on my way to being a size 10. This last bit of tummy fat is difficult. Please help :-).

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Doing it yourself involves a lot of measurement error. Better to have an experience person do the measurements. 12% is pretty low (like pro bodybuilder competition weight for a female) so I'm sure that your BF estimate is way off.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    ^^^^^^

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