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Ladies... Body Fat Calculator?

ekaustin7
ekaustin7 Posts: 185 Member
edited January 16 in Fitness and Exercise
Wondering if you've calculated your body fat percentage and what you used to do it? I bought a tape measure and did 3 body fat percentage calculations yesterday with all different methods. Each one I used gave drastically different answers, so I'm wondering which one(s) gives the most accurate estimate of body fat percentage. Thanks!

Replies

  • Gagaluvr
    Gagaluvr Posts: 73 Member
    I was going to post this same question! I'm curious to know too!! :)
  • ekaustin7
    ekaustin7 Posts: 185 Member
    Anyone...??
  • cindybpitts
    cindybpitts Posts: 213 Member
    I havent been on MFP but a couple of months but I see alot of people posting Scooby`s calculator. It seems to be very popular so Im thinking it is more accurate. Google Scooby`s Calculator. Worth a try.
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I had a caliper test put my at 13.7% when I was at my lowest weight, but she didn't use any stomach measurements, so I didn't (and still don't) buy it. My scale, which I know is terribly inacurate, puts me around 27% (10 pounds heavier than when I got calipered at 13.7). Online calculators give me about that, it's been awhile since I've done one. This is a decent pictoral guide to sort of estimate your own: http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/. Here's another one: http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages I really want to have a Bod Pod test done, and plan to when I get these holiday 10 pounds back off!
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    I went for a dunk test and found that the online calculators were off by quite a bit from the results I got.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I had a Bod Pod test done last summer. It came back at 39.2%. The online calculators ranged from 27% (just one) to 44% (the majority were around 44%).
  • maricash
    maricash Posts: 280 Member
    I've done various online calculators. I think the most accurate one was the military calculator at fat2fit radio: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/ Just make sure you measure your waist in the correct place. For the military one it's a few inches above your naval.

    You can also try a few different online calculators and then compare the results you get to the pictures here:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

    That's how I decided that the fat2fit military calculator worked the best -- the number it gives me matches the picture that I most resemble.

    If you are looking to see changes in body fat over time, you can just keep using the same calculator each time. You should see a change as your body changes even if the absolute number you get isn't correct. If you really want to know your exact bf% you'll need to use a more sophisticated (and likely much more expensive) method in order to get it.
  • pineygirl
    pineygirl Posts: 322 Member
    I've gotten 23.8% and 24.3% from 2 different online calculators using tape measure measurments and 24.0% using calipers.

    According to pictures I've seen (from builtlean.com) I look like I'm betweent the 20-22% and the 25% picture.

    My scale says I'm about 34.0-35.7%.

    I'm estimating my actual bodyfat at around 28-30%. I think I just look and measure like I have less body fat then I actually do.
  • imfocused40
    imfocused40 Posts: 4
    I just bought these 2 items last week and got them this weekend they seem to be pretty spot on.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FYZMYK/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CENXCS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  • TlOwens1123
    TlOwens1123 Posts: 4
    I've done various online calculators. I think the most accurate one was the military calculator at fat2fit radio: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/ Just make sure you measure your waist in the correct place. For the military one it's a few inches above your naval.

    You can also try a few different online calculators and then compare the results you get to the pictures here:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

    That's how I decided that the fat2fit military calculator worked the best -- the number it gives me matches the picture that I most resemble.

    If you are looking to see changes in body fat over time, you can just keep using the same calculator each time. You should see a change as your body changes even if the absolute number you get isn't correct. If you really want to know your exact bf% you'll need to use a more sophisticated (and likely much more expensive) method in order to get it.


    ^^^I agree with the above statement. It seemed to be the most accurate for me as well.^^^
  • ekaustin7
    ekaustin7 Posts: 185 Member
    I've done various online calculators. I think the most accurate one was the military calculator at fat2fit radio: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/ Just make sure you measure your waist in the correct place. For the military one it's a few inches above your naval.

    You can also try a few different online calculators and then compare the results you get to the pictures here:

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

    That's how I decided that the fat2fit military calculator worked the best -- the number it gives me matches the picture that I most resemble.

    If you are looking to see changes in body fat over time, you can just keep using the same calculator each time. You should see a change as your body changes even if the absolute number you get isn't correct. If you really want to know your exact bf% you'll need to use a more sophisticated (and likely much more expensive) method in order to get it.


    ^^^I agree with the above statement. It seemed to be the most accurate for me as well.^^^

    Sounds good! I'll try it! Thanks for the help everyone!
  • zlauerMom
    zlauerMom Posts: 183 Member
    I just did the Fat2fit one and it gave me a measure one percentage point less than what my home scale averages at. It is certainly in the range I get with the scale depending on how dehydrated I am.
This discussion has been closed.

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