What's the best way to calculate your body fat percentage?

hadapurpura

What's the most accurate BFP calculator online? What's the most accurate way to calculate BFP? I've gone to an online BMI calculator that's also a body fat percentage calculator, and I typed all the stats, but the results are not what I expected. According to that, I only need to lose about 12 lbs to reach 20%, but I'm seriously aware I have way more than 12 lbs of fat extra in my body (other than the fat the body does need).

Rae6503

I've heard, of the enter your measurement type ones, that the Navy one is best.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-calculator-navy

Also, this site is helpful to look at pictures, except none of the women at higher body fat percentages have muscle.

http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

carrie_eggo

I've heard, of the enter your measurement type ones, that the Navy one is best.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-calculator-navy

Also, this site is helpful to look at pictures, except none of the women at higher body fat percentages have muscle.

http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

^^Yes.

I like this too for pics...someone posted it earlier today.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/body_fat_categories.htm

servilia

I've heard, of the enter your measurement type ones, that the Navy one is best.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-calculator-navy

Also, this site is helpful to look at pictures, except none of the women at higher body fat percentages have muscle.

http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

They have muscle, it's just hidden under the excess fat i.e. higher BF%

CMmrsfloyd

So far I have been using 2 online calculators that each use very different measurement points, and assuming that reality is somewhere in between the 2. One is on the fat2fitradio.com and the other is on scientificpsychic.com. I'm mainly using them to track how things are changing since I've started working out.

Rae6503

I've heard, of the enter your measurement type ones, that the Navy one is best.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-calculator-navy

Also, this site is helpful to look at pictures, except none of the women at higher body fat percentages have muscle.

http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

They have muscle, it's just hidden under the excess fat i.e. higher BF%

I have a higher body fat percentage (25%) but a lot more visible muscle than these ladies...

aaronburgess

The best way is to use calipers. You can purchase some from bodybuilding.com real cheap and they come with instructions. You can do a 3 point measurement that will give you fairly accurate measurements. The more accurate way is to go to a gym and have a trainer do it. I have my trainer do a bf analysis about twice a year.

Rule of thumb: If you are a female and you can see an outline of your abs that means you are probably at about 12-15%. Anything under 20% for a female is very good. For a male I would say that anything under 15% is really fit.

People like having low bf but it is really hard to keep it in single digits for long and live a normal life. I've been as low as 8-9% and I was pretty ripped but I also could not sustain my workouts and had trouble sleeping. Unless you are competing there is no need for a woman to get below that 12-15% range.

Keep in mind that BF% measurements are also a range. It has some subjectivity to it. Additionally, if you have not put on some muscle you might not want to get too low because you will look depleted and unhealthy.

servilia

I've heard, of the enter your measurement type ones, that the Navy one is best.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-calculator-navy

Also, this site is helpful to look at pictures, except none of the women at higher body fat percentages have muscle.

http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

They have muscle, it's just hidden under the excess fat i.e. higher BF%

I have a higher body fat percentage (25%) but a lot more visible muscle than these ladies...

The 25% and 30% pics on that site are way off. The "25%" woman looks more like 30% at LEAST and the "30%" woman looks mor elike 40%.