Body fat percentage?

leighdiane91
leighdiane91 Posts: 225 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
This is probably a stupid question, but how can I figure out what my body fat percentage is? I belong to the YMCA, can they tell me what mine is?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    you can find calculators on the net, but my gym has a BMI scale, see if your gym has one :happy:

    <====== see my print out out
  • larnsperger
    larnsperger Posts: 161 Member
    When I belonged to the YMCA they had someone there who would do the caliper body fat test. I'm sure they can help you out.
  • leighdiane91
    leighdiane91 Posts: 225 Member
    you can find calculators on the net, but my gym has a BMI scale, see if your gym has one :happy:

    <====== see my print out out


    I was under the impression BMI and Body Fat Percentage were different things?
  • leighdiane91
    leighdiane91 Posts: 225 Member
    you can find calculators on the net, but my gym has a BMI scale, see if your gym has one :happy:

    <====== see my print out out


    I was under the impression BMI and Body Fat Percentage were different things?


    Nevermind! I actually looked at your print out receipt thingy and it says it on there. THANKS!!
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    That looks more like a receipt from a tanita scale. Some gyms use those, others use a hand held device, others use calipers. Calipers, if used by someone that knows what they are doing would be the most accurate out of the 3. The best way is to use the bod pod, some universities have that option, but I've never used it.
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    A scale that calculates body fat is only $30 or so at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    A scale that calculates body fat is only $30 or so at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

    I've got one like that. I had to make myself 3 1/2 inches taller for it to give me the same numbers as my calipers were giving me. It was working okay, before, but now my calipers are giving me about 3% less body fat than the scale, again.
  • sarafil
    sarafil Posts: 506 Member
    The best way to do it would be to go to the Y and ask a trainer to measure using calipers. You will want to have the same person take your measurements each time you do it. The scales that show your body fat percentage are typically not very accurate, and calculations aren't either. The most accurate would be a DEXA scan, but not many of us can afford to do that....calipers used by a trained person will give you a good estimate, and you should be able to then track what kind of progress you are making from there.
  • Keto_T
    Keto_T Posts: 673 Member
    If you dont want to ask at the Y then you can try one of these calculators based on various measurements. While not completely accurate, if the same person is taking your measurements each time they will show you a fairly precise pattern. (if it's off, it'll be off by about the same amount each time) It's a quick and cheap way to track. Below is a link to one....there are many out there.

    http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/bodyfat
  • pickledginger
    pickledginger Posts: 172
    > I was under the impression BMI and Body
    > Fat Percentage were different things?

    Very. BMI is just a height-weight chart with a fancier name.

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