Do you know your body fat percentage?

1246

Replies

  • cleotherio
    cleotherio Posts: 712 Member
    5'5"
    150 lbs
    Different calculators all come out around 27%.
    I want to get down to 18-20% eventually.
  • Izabera
    Izabera Posts: 28
    6'2''
    164 pounds
    19.6%

    Go away handles please
  • SmileyFaceGuy
    SmileyFaceGuy Posts: 201
    Military calculator says 25%. Scale gives me readings of anywhere from 32 - 42%. Based on pictures, I find myself comparable to people who are 30 - 35% bodyfat. Who knows?
  • claresusan
    claresusan Posts: 121 Member
    When I first started on MFP, my Body Fat Index was 48.6%. Horrific to say the least!

    In Sept last year, my trainer did the caliper test and my BFI was 22.02%. Much better!

    My trainer did the caliper test again a couple of days ago and this is the text message he sent me:
    "Your body fat index using sum of skinfolds on: triceps, thigh , suprailiac and stomach is 16.11%!!

    A far cry from my original BFI of 48.6% - just thrilled :)
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    scale gives 20, sidesteel guesses 18-19, equations suggest 25+. But whatever I am right now, I'm hoping to get lower. My goal is to wish away my lower belly and less jiggly thigh bits.

    If you were 25% I'd eat my hat and proclaim the evils of corn and diet soda.

    And this is a prime example of how off the different methods can be. There is no way you are 25%,
  • ShaniWulffe
    ShaniWulffe Posts: 458 Member
    I'm at 20.8 and meh... Could be better haha
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    18-19% based on calipers at the gym (about a month ago). I'm good with it.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I'm somewhere between 25% and 30%. I've been nearer 20%, but without enough muscle, and I didn't like it. I'm going from a combination of eye-balling and silly scales. The issue I have with the online calculators is that we all distribute BF differently. In my case my belly can be huge while my ribs are starting to show, and from mfp I know that people can have my measurements and weigh 10lb more (and not just heavy lifters either). They'd let me join up based on mine anyway, but they are just based on averages like any calculator, so not so good for really judging BF%.

    I think there are two totally different BF% charts that are being quoted here, with different aims. The one with 'athletic', 'essential' etc is from ACE (American Council on Exercise), and the other is meant to be from the WHO (World Health Organisation), though I can't find it on their website. These are both non-profit organisations, but the WHO is looking at BF% from a point of view of, statistically, at what points is the average person's health likely to be adversely affected, while ACE is looking at goal ranges for trainers to use with their clients.

    Personally, I think the ACE chart is thoroughly irresponsible. It may make it look like it is ok for a woman to get down to 10%, whereas most women would be seriously unhealthy at that BF% (no periods, lost hair etc) but 'essential' gives no hint of that. I have seen girls on mfp aiming for that definition. Yes, they have problems already, but I don't think this chart helps.

    End rant.
  • kazzsjourney
    kazzsjourney Posts: 674 Member
    Mine is 27.6% and i got my figure via a DEXA scan. I would like it eventually to be in the low 20's. Considering i still have 19.6 kilos (43 pounds) to lose I am actually happy with it. When I had the scan they told me I had one of the highest amounts of muscle they had seen on a female...not bad for someone who started at 173 kilos (380 pounds) who got puffed walking from the sofa to the fridge ;)
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    Do you guys know your body fat percentages, are you happy with them?

    I haven't had it done by a doctor, but I used a few different online calculators that used different measurements and I got about 23% body fat, I'd like to be a little lower, what are all your guy's and what is your goal if you're not happy?

    If I use the Navy method calculator, I have 24% body fat. If I use Accumeasure, it's 22.3%. I am going to use an Omron handheld thing next week at my health screening for my health insurance, so I am sure that it is going to be a different number as well.

    I am happy with the way it looks right now. My profile picture was taken just 6 days ago.

    My goal, however, is to be really lean, like a fitness model/figure competitor/high-end of the female athlete body fat range...about 16% body fat.

    I don't rely too heavily on the numbers that I get as being accurate. I just use them to show a progression and make sure that I am going in the right direction. I prefer to look in the mirror and decide if I am where I want to be.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I'm somewhere between 25% and 30%. I've been nearer 20%, but without enough muscle, and I didn't like it. I'm going from a combination of eye-balling and silly scales. The issue I have with the online calculators is that we all distribute BF differently. In my case my belly can be huge while my ribs are starting to show, and from mfp I know that people can have my measurements and weigh 10lb more (and not just heavy lifters either). They'd let me join up based on mine anyway, but they are just based on averages like any calculator, so not so good for really judging BF%.

    I think there are two totally different BF% charts that are being quoted here, with different aims. The one with 'athletic', 'essential' etc is from ACE (American Council on Exercise), and the other is meant to be from the WHO (World Health Organisation), though I can't find it on their website. These are both non-profit organisations, but the WHO is looking at BF% from a point of view of, statistically, at what points is the average person's health likely to be adversely affected, while ACE is looking at goal ranges for trainers to use with their clients.

    Personally, I think the ACE chart is thoroughly irresponsible. It may make it look like it is ok for a woman to get down to 10%, whereas most women would be seriously unhealthy at that BF% (no periods, lost hair etc) but 'essential' gives no hint of that. I have seen girls on mfp aiming for that definition. Yes, they have problems already, but I don't think this chart helps.

    End rant.

    Ok, so reading further, some research suggests it is more exercise and nutrition issues that stop periods, however, anecdotal evidence of women losing their period at a certain weight, then regaining them when their weight went back up, suggests to me that exercise and nutrition aren't the whole answer.
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    Sidesteal & Sara guess I'm 25%, give or take. I was assuming I was 27-28% before it was guessed at. Whatever it is, I am the true definition of skinny fat & I HATE it.
    But my goal is 17%. I want abs! So when I get abs, I will stop & maintain haha.
  • NNEroxa
    NNEroxa Posts: 10
    I'm 36.6%. :( My goal is 18-20%.
  • Queen_JessieA
    Queen_JessieA Posts: 1,059 Member
    37.4 according to this site http://www.aicr.org
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    Omron meter says I'm currently at 33%... goal is 10-12%
  • SLRamirez2012
    SLRamirez2012 Posts: 297
    My body for percentage is 14.9%. I am happy with it, I am just not happy where my body store it.. all in my stomach. I am concidered in the "athletic range" I believe
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I started at 29% and am currently somewhere between 21-23% (calculators give a margin of error of 1-2%). When I am within 10 pounds of my goal I will measure again, possibly with a bodpod.
  • WhoIsAmber
    WhoIsAmber Posts: 161 Member
    Most body fat calculators put me around 45%

    I aim to be around 20%

    I've got a long way to go :grumble:
  • calisunrise
    calisunrise Posts: 307
    around 19-20%. my goal is 17%
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    The Body Fat calculators can vary greatly, especially for women. I have really skinny wrists and forearms, and carry all my weight in my midsection, so the calculator that uses the forearm and wrist measurement put my at 20%. LMBO! I am 5'6" and 197. so yeah, that was a bit off!
    The Military calculator is most accurate for me. It uses neck, waist, and hip measurements.

    I started at 228 and over 56%BF and am now down to 197 and just under 43%. I want to be down around 25%, so I still have a ways to go.
  • ShawnNhGa1977
    ShawnNhGa1977 Posts: 56 Member
    i'm 24.7
  • Brandnewme150
    Brandnewme150 Posts: 43 Member
    Right now 28% but I'm going for 20-22%
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    Since we are being honest mine is 28. I started off at 36 yikes! My goal is 20%.
  • BamsieEkhaya
    BamsieEkhaya Posts: 657 Member
    27.4 :blushing: aiming to hit 18-21
  • Frostygirl2790
    Frostygirl2790 Posts: 65 Member
    Unhappily at 46%
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Online calculator said 17.8%.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    LOL used 3 online calculators got 14.9%, 24.83% and 30% so much for that then.
  • pineygirl
    pineygirl Posts: 322 Member
    Various online calculators put me at about 27%. I'd like to be around 20-21% or maybe lower.
  • smilesalot1969
    smilesalot1969 Posts: 392
    online calculators put me at 17.2% but i cant see how. im very bottom heavy and quite chunky on my legs so its got to be wrong!! i measured carefully though :noway:
  • alexbusnello
    alexbusnello Posts: 1,010 Member
    Not for sure, but I did the measuring method for inches and my current weight and my height. So I'm not sure if that's accurate enough.

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