Body Fat Calculator vs. BF scales

Antlady69

Two (!) different online body fat calculators give me a 30% body fat reading, while my scales at home measure 20%.

I know that both are inaccurate - the online calculator because it's just a calculator that has no real physical contact with you; and the scales because they only measure the lower part (legs) of your body, and because they aren't necessarily calibrated correctly.

But which measurement should I believe (slightly) more: the one from the calculator, or the one from my scales?

I'm asking because if the 30% estimation is closer to the truth, I know I need to focus MORE on losing the body fat.
BTW, I have no way of measuring myself with a caliper, and I haven't the faintest idea what 20% and 30% body fat look like; therefore I can't judge myself. I have to rely on one of the approximate figures given by either the online calculator and the scales. How do I know which one is more reliable?

ixap

Google image those two bf percentages and you'll get a rough idea of which is closer

MoreBean13

Agree with ixap.

Also, just buy a caliper- they're like $5 on amazon or $2 on ebay. You won't get accurate readings right away but you can start learning and using it, watching videos on youtube etc. Fancier =/= better.

DavPul

I don't get the preoccupation with the number. Look in the mirror. If your abs were cut and rippling, but your scale said 30%, would you care? Conversely, if your scale or online calculator said 13%, but your belly was hanging over your belt, would you stop working out because you reached your goal?

I find scales to be criminally inaccurate and if I'm looking for a number I use a measurements calculating method. But I don't concern myself with the actual number. Whatever it says is whatever it says. But I do record that number so I can compare both the measurements and the number at a later date.

So if the numbers calculate out to to 19% last month, and this month say 18%, I'm happy. Is my BF% actually 18%, don't know, don't care. I just want the number to trend in the right direction.

Antlady69

Thanks for all the advice, I'll google for the BF images. Now I'm curious

Dave, you're right, numbers are just that - numbers. I could take either number as my starting BF percentage, and just keep checking my BF at weigh-ins with the same method. I was just a bit irritated by the big difference of the two methods.

diadojikohei

I used both the online body fat calculator and my scales at home, the online gave me a reading of 31.5% while my scales give me 28.6%. Personally I'd rather take the bathroom scale measurement, but also I can measure myself regularly using the same scales. it's useful as a guide and a reference and as long as it's going down I'm not too fussed at the actual reading!
Chose one method and stick too it, even though 28.6 is in my ''healthy'' zone, I know I need to lose 14 lb and tone up, but it gives me a starting point.

Good luck and don't get too bogged down by the numbers!