Measuring Body Fat?

justjenny
justjenny Posts: 529 Member
edited January 25 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there,

What is the best way (most reliable) way to measure body fat at home? I don't have calipers or any fancy scales. I went to a training session at the gym months ago, and he gave me a hand held thing to squeeze, but I don't know how accurate that is. I honestly can't even remember the percentage he told me I was at, but I would like to start tracking this as well now, and have no idea how....

Thanks!

Replies

  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    Calipers.

    They cost under ten dollars and are the most reliable thing next to hydroanalysis.

    You can YouTube the technique. Measure once a month in the same places.

    ETA: Also take all your measurements. I take measurements in eight places every month.
  • Jerrypeoples
    Jerrypeoples Posts: 1,541 Member
    i suck at math

    i dont trust myself

    so i am getting a complete work up at UPMC here in pittsburgh. they will be doing a full RMR and a BodPod for $80.

    they will tell me my BMR, my TDEE and all that through scientific means instead of using the net to figure it out
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    i suck at math

    i dont trust myself

    so i am getting a complete work up at UPMC here in pittsburgh. they will be doing a full RMR and a BodPod for $80.

    they will tell me my BMR, my TDEE and all that through scientific means instead of using the net to figure it out

    That's nice.

    Also irrelevant.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Hydro and bodpod are fairly inexpensive. Home measurements with calipers are ok but execution is generally pretty sketchy.
  • justjenny
    justjenny Posts: 529 Member
    Calipers.

    They cost under ten dollars and are the most reliable thing next to hydroanalysis.

    You can YouTube the technique. Measure once a month in the same places.

    ETA: Also take all your measurements. I take measurements in eight places every month.


    Where would I find calipers? Who sells them? I do take measurements every month...also in 8 places....
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Outside a medical test like hydrostatic weighing and DEXA scans, calipers and bioimpedance are the at home methods. Calipers are fairly accurate if used by someone well trained, but wilding inaccurate if not. Like all technolofy, bioimpedance scales are constantly improving but may have a signficant margin of error based on model, surface, temperature, etc.

    I have a newer model scale (EatRight brand, I think) that wasn't cheap, but wasn't terribly expensive and it was fairly close to my DEXA scan results so I'm using it to track movement. Ideally, I'd have a DEXA every year but my insurance won't pay for it. Luckily I got one free since I'm old.
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    Calipers.

    They cost under ten dollars and are the most reliable thing next to hydroanalysis.

    You can YouTube the technique. Measure once a month in the same places.

    ETA: Also take all your measurements. I take measurements in eight places every month.


    Where would I find calipers? Who sells them? I do take measurements every month...also in 8 places....

    I got mine on Amazon for $7, just search for them online. It comes with an easy guide. I was nervous because I didn't trust my technique at first, but when I got my body fat hydroanalysis done, they did a caliper measurement first and came up with the same number I got at home. Just watch YouTube videos on caliper measurement to get the right technique.
  • ingraha
    ingraha Posts: 99 Member
    I am pretty sure my fitbit scale measures bmi.....
  • Jerrypeoples
    Jerrypeoples Posts: 1,541 Member
    i suck at math

    i dont trust myself

    so i am getting a complete work up at UPMC here in pittsburgh. they will be doing a full RMR and a BodPod for $80.

    they will tell me my BMR, my TDEE and all that through scientific means instead of using the net to figure it out

    That's nice.

    Also irrelevant.

    considering someone messaged me asking about this, im going to disagree, hope youre used to being wrong, i am sure you are
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    i suck at math

    i dont trust myself

    so i am getting a complete work up at UPMC here in pittsburgh. they will be doing a full RMR and a BodPod for $80.

    they will tell me my BMR, my TDEE and all that through scientific means instead of using the net to figure it out

    That's nice.

    Also irrelevant.

    considering someone messaged me asking about this, im going to disagree, hope youre used to being wrong, i am sure you are

    lol
This discussion has been closed.

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