What does my body fat percentage appear to be?

distinctlybeautiful

(I posted this a couple days ago in the forum on gaining weight but didn't get much response, so I thought I'd try posting here in a busier forum. It might also be a more appropriate forum since I'm not actually ready to bulk yet.)

I don't know if I'm correct to be skeptical or if I just can't see it yet, but the BodPod put me at 21% body fat. According to their information, that puts me in the lean category, and the tester thinks I can drop down to around 18% by losing 5ish more pounds of fat. I'm so eager to bulk, but I don't want to get my hopes up. I still can't quite believe that I could be so close. I know looking at pictures is just a guessing game, and I know it's ultimately up to me when I'm feeling ready to bulk. I would just like some outside opinions about what my body fat percentage appears to be. Thanks!

Machka9

I found this body fat calculator interesting ...

http://m.free-online-calculator-use.com/military-body-fat-calculator.html



This chart was also informative ...






(I got this information from this thread:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10414940/ladies-were-you-shocked-by-your-body-fat/p1)

Kdp2015

I don't think you look 21% but I can't see your stomach clearly, maybe more like 19% your upper body is quite muscly and your legs quite small - what's your weight and height?

RosieRose7673

I suck at guessing body fat %.

I just wanted to pop and and say I love your tattoos!

bioklutz

With the clothing and angles it is hard to tell. Probably between 20-22%

From this article:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html
If you’re above 15% body fat (about 24-27% for women), diet first. If you can get to the 10-12% (19-24%) body fat range or so, I think you’ll be in an overall better position to gain mass

If you wanted to drop a few pounds before bulking - so that you have a little more of a buffer and could bulk a little longer it would be fine to do so. But if you wanted to start now - you are in a good range to do so.

If you have been eating in a deficit for awhile I would spend a 1-3 months in maintenance before starting your bulk.

cnbbnc

I posted on your other thread but just had another thought. Have you plugged your measurements into the navy body fat calculator? I've done that and think it gave me a fair estimate. Might give you another number just for comparison sake.

Sued0nim

Need to reshoot in a bikini I'm afraid - you look good though

SideSteel

Visual estimations are tough even with proper attire (typically bikini or similar for females, short shorts or underwear for males). There's absolutely no way anyone could get remotely close (other than lucky guess) when you're fully clothed.

allenpriest

What kind of question is that?? From a small picture on the internet? ?

Ok. 123% or less. probably more than 10%


More importantly -- why does it matter. You are either comfortable with where you are or not. The numbers are not that important.

distinctlybeautiful

Thanks y'all I'm not quite ready to take those pictures yet.

Kdp2015 wrote: »

I don't think you look 21% but I can't see your stomach clearly, maybe more like 19% your upper body is quite muscly and your legs quite small - what's your weight and height?

I'm 5'6.5" and 143 pounds.

cnbbnc wrote: »

I posted on your other thread but just had another thought. Have you plugged your measurements into the navy body fat calculator? I've done that and think it gave me a fair estimate. Might give you another number just for comparison sake.

Thanks! I just checked it out. I'm planning to take my measurements in about a week and a half, so I may come back to it.

RosieRose7673 wrote: »

I suck at guessing body fat %.

I just wanted to pop and and say I love your tattoos!

Thanks! I'm getting a new one this coming weekend! A big hip and thigh piece.. I can't wait! I'm nervous too though.

allenpriest wrote: »

More importantly -- why does it matter. You are either comfortable with where you are or not. The numbers are not that important.

I'd say objective measures are pretty important when it comes to something as subjective as self-image. For me, anyway.

Kdp2015

You're lucky, I'm the 147 at 5'10 and I don't look as lean as you!

SezxyStef

distinctlybeautiful wrote: »

Thanks y'all I'm not quite ready to take those pictures yet.

Kdp2015 wrote: »

I don't think you look 21% but I can't see your stomach clearly, maybe more like 19% your upper body is quite muscly and your legs quite small - what's your weight and height?

I'm 5'6.5" and 143 pounds.

cnbbnc wrote: »

I posted on your other thread but just had another thought. Have you plugged your measurements into the navy body fat calculator? I've done that and think it gave me a fair estimate. Might give you another number just for comparison sake.

Thanks! I just checked it out. I'm planning to take my measurements in about a week and a half, so I may come back to it.

RosieRose7673 wrote: »

I suck at guessing body fat %.

I just wanted to pop and and say I love your tattoos!

Thanks! I'm getting a new one this coming weekend! A big hip and thigh piece.. I can't wait! I'm nervous too though.

allenpriest wrote: »

More importantly -- why does it matter. You are either comfortable with where you are or not. The numbers are not that important.

I'd say objective measures are pretty important when it comes to something as subjective as self-image. For me, anyway.

The navy one is bogus..it gave me 22% and there is no way I am that low.

Best thing to do if you can is get a dexa scan...if no for that too...don't worry about it too much.

distinctlybeautiful

SezxyStef wrote: »

distinctlybeautiful wrote: »

Thanks y'all I'm not quite ready to take those pictures yet.

Kdp2015 wrote: »

I don't think you look 21% but I can't see your stomach clearly, maybe more like 19% your upper body is quite muscly and your legs quite small - what's your weight and height?

I'm 5'6.5" and 143 pounds.

cnbbnc wrote: »

I posted on your other thread but just had another thought. Have you plugged your measurements into the navy body fat calculator? I've done that and think it gave me a fair estimate. Might give you another number just for comparison sake.

Thanks! I just checked it out. I'm planning to take my measurements in about a week and a half, so I may come back to it.

RosieRose7673 wrote: »

I suck at guessing body fat %.

I just wanted to pop and and say I love your tattoos!

Thanks! I'm getting a new one this coming weekend! A big hip and thigh piece.. I can't wait! I'm nervous too though.

allenpriest wrote: »

More importantly -- why does it matter. You are either comfortable with where you are or not. The numbers are not that important.

I'd say objective measures are pretty important when it comes to something as subjective as self-image. For me, anyway.

The navy one is bogus..it gave me 22% and there is no way I am that low.

Best thing to do if you can is get a dexa scan...if no for that too...don't worry about it too much.

I had it tested in the BodPod.. my eyeballs just don't quite trust it yet..

distinctlybeautiful

Kdp2015 wrote: »

You're lucky, I'm the 147 at 5'10 and I don't look as lean as you!

Thanks! I try to do a lot of heavy lifting.

frankiesgirlie

Before I read your post and just by looking at the photos I guesstimated 20%. I'm certainly no expert, but that's my impression.
You're doing a great job, that's for sure.

Machka9

distinctlybeautiful wrote: »

I'm 5'6.5" and 143 pounds.

Well for reference then ...

I'm 5'6", 125 lbs with a BMI of about 20.5. And my body fat percentage is 22.5% based on my scale and about 25% based on that military site I linked in my first post.

I'd guess your body fat percentage would be slightly higher than that.

lorrpb

The Bod Pod surely is more objective than we are!

Machka9

lorrpb wrote: »

The Bod Pod surely is more objective than we are!

I just looked this up and it turns out I've got a body measurement place with a "Bod Pod" in the city where I live!

(I've spent much of my life living in fairly remote areas that don't tend to have stuff like this, so it kind of takes me by surprise when I actually find things. )

scoii

You look like an athlete in the last 2 but in the hello kitty stuff you seem to have a little bit of excess on your tummy.

I'd go with 21-23

distinctlybeautiful

lorrpb wrote: »

The Bod Pod surely is more objective than we are!

I know.. it's just that I moved to a new place, so I'm not going to the same machine I'd been going to, and like I said, I just can't wrap my head around it.

scoii wrote: »

You look like an athlete in the last 2 but in the hello kitty stuff you seem to have a little bit of excess on your tummy.

I'd go with 21-23

Thank you! It's definitely mostly my stomach that makes me question it.