Body Fat %

BIA, military calculator (tape measure), and 7 point caliper measurements all put me between 12.7% and 14.3%. Looking at pictures, I think I look more like 16%. I've worried this is actually too low, but after looking into health risks, etc, I think I'm really pretty healthy. Essential body fat for a woman, as you listed up there, and I've seen it elsewhere, is 10-13% and as long as I'm above that and continue to get a period, that's a pretty good indication that I'm healthy and have proper hormone function. I've looked into health risks associated with low bf, and don't think that any of them are that concerning for me. I still have very regular monthly cycles, so hormone function should be good. I eat on average about 1850 cal a day and net about 1750 and get plenty of vitamins, so I don't think malnutrition is a risk. I do plenty of high impact activity (hiking, climbing, construction, mosh pits, horseback riding, lifting), and don't bruise easily, so I don't think bone density will be a problem for me. Those were the main risk factors I've found associated with low bf, and I had to dig to find those. If anyone knows of any others that I should look out for, let me know. Otherwise, I will stay happily at my 13-14%.

probably hovering around 10-11%. 5% is a little bit extreme and hard to maintain for long periods though I think 7 or 8% is a better suitable ranger for males.

i just got measured by a professional on tuesday. i am at 30%. my goal is to lose 10% body fat in 20 weeks. he said this is possible (he coaches body builders).

6-8%

21% goal is 18%

No idea, never had mine professionally measured. I think I'm close to 30% though, so teetering between average/obese. I look about 20 lbs heavier than I am if that's any indication lol

Wow. Some of you are in stellar condition.

I'm going to buy some calipers today so I can start those measurements. How do you do the military one?

Use the calipers if you're curious. The military method is nowhere near as accurate. They estimate from waist and neck measurements for men, and IIRC waist, neck, and hip measurements for women. I was in a combat arms unit so I rarely had to tape women; I know they used at least one more measurement for women, but the specifics elude me.

The military one uses height, weight, neck, waist and hip measurements. I've been told that it's one of the most accurate of the tape measure calculators, but that seems counter-intuitive for me since it uses less data points than some of the other tape measurement calculators. Fat2fit' site has several calculators: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ This is also a good one: http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html .

I agree that calipers are better. Honestly, I didn't start trusting my numbers until I had the BIA, tape measurement calculators, and calipers line up consistently.

for my birthday i got a scale that you enter your stats to memory- everyday when you weigh it gives you your body % fat, BMI, Weight, and % water in your body. i don't think i would get accurate results from a caliper as i have had gastric bypass and lost almost 160 lbs and have a good deal of loose skin.
i wonder if my scale is affected by my loose skin? The trainer at my gym did a reading through handheld device and it was 21.4% and my scale averages about 29%- big difference.
would feel much better about myself to know that 21% was the accurate reading!

Aw ****!!! 19% for me, and now after reading this, I feel terrible about myself. Thanks for nothin, NeverStray.

for my birthday i got a scale that you enter your stats to memory- everyday when you weigh it gives you your body % fat, BMI, Weight, and % water in your body. i don't think i would get accurate results from a caliper as i have had gastric bypass and lost almost 160 lbs and have a good deal of loose skin.
i wonder if my scale is affected by my loose skin? The trainer at my gym did a reading through handheld device and it was 21.4% and my scale averages about 29%- big difference.
would feel much better about myself to know that 21% was the accurate reading!

Neither is very good. They don't go through your whole body, so are thrown off by storage patterns and super sensitive to hydration

I am nearly in the athletes level.

I'm about 24.7% and i want to get down to about 20/22% and i'd be happy

Between 19-21%. However the latter one I only got from online calculators which pretty much overestimates it. I don't think I look like somebody with 21% body fat.

My goal is 17%. I'm a soccer player & I need to have low body fat levels to keep up with my sports performance.

You are missing the levels for what is considered healthy.

Women

20-40 21-33%
21-60 23-35%
61-79 24-36%

You mean this?
41-60 23-35%