Where can one get BF measured WITHOUT a membership?

Phrick
Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am interested in knowing my BF% and have no clue where to go to have it figured. I am not a member of a gym or health club so I don't have that access; I have no health insurance so (if a doctor could/would even do this) I can't afford a visit to a doctor or dietician/nutritionist, and while a hydrostatic test would be nice I'm *hoping* to spend less than the $59.95 that is charged in my area for that. Am I asking too much? Possibly! :laugh: I'm not set on the most dead-on accuracy money can buy, but I also know I can't trust my body fat scale. Measurement by calipers is probably adequate to start with, I just don't know where to begin.. Ideas?

Replies

  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    unfortunately i dont think you'll find anything lower than 59.95, in fact thats the lowest ive heard of any bf test being so far, previously the lowest i has heard was around 75 for hydrostatic

    there is also a method using just tape measurements that the military uses i believe if you want to save money on calipers i believe. even if it isnt completely accurate you can use this to track your overall trend, which is the most important part
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    There are hospitals/clinics that use a sliding fee scale for charges. They will base their fee on your ability to pay.
  • kuntry_navySD
    kuntry_navySD Posts: 106 Member
    body tape and calipers are way less than that!
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    unfortunately i dont think you'll find anything lower than 59.95, in fact thats the lowest ive heard of any bf test being so far, previously the lowest i has heard was around 75 for hydrostatic

    there is also a method using just tape measurements that the military uses i believe if you want to save money on calipers i believe. even if it isnt completely accurate you can use this to track your overall trend, which is the most important part

    Thanks for the reply, BigT - I guess I know what I'm saving toward as my next "big" purchase! In the meantime, I know I've seen a Military Body Fat calculator on Fat2FitTools so I'll check it out! I've only done my measurements a few times and I don't believe I saved the data anywhere (as long as it was "less than last time" that's all I cared about at the time) so I'll be starting from nothing. I'm not lifting ATM though have the thought to check out Convict Conditioning... At any rate, how often should one take measurements and/or recalculate body fat? Is monthly sufficient for a beginner?
  • Mbierschbach
    Mbierschbach Posts: 94 Member
    body tape and calipers are way less than that!

    Ditto. I have some plastic calipers at home - I picked them up at a ****'s Sporting Goods or something years ago for less than $20. Check Amazon. They aren't dunk tank accurate - but you stated you don't care about that level.

    On a related note, I - and other around me believe my BF to be lower than what my calipers are telling me. My doctor reccomeneded looking at pictures of BF percentage levels online as a gauge - now THAT'S cheap. There are image galleries for men and women. Google it and see what you look comparable to.
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    unfortunately i dont think you'll find anything lower than 59.95, in fact thats the lowest ive heard of any bf test being so far, previously the lowest i has heard was around 75 for hydrostatic

    there is also a method using just tape measurements that the military uses i believe if you want to save money on calipers i believe. even if it isnt completely accurate you can use this to track your overall trend, which is the most important part

    Thanks for the reply, BigT - I guess I know what I'm saving toward as my next "big" purchase! In the meantime, I know I've seen a Military Body Fat calculator on Fat2FitTools so I'll check it out! I've only done my measurements a few times and I don't believe I saved the data anywhere (as long as it was "less than last time" that's all I cared about at the time) so I'll be starting from nothing. I'm not lifting ATM though have the thought to check out Convict Conditioning... At any rate, how often should one take measurements and/or recalculate body fat? Is monthly sufficient for a beginner?
    thats entirely up to you. i dont do bf% but i take measurements biweekly, you could even do weekly if you want just keep in mind you may see an increase due to water weight despite keeping to your deficit since its a shorter time frame
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I just had my body fat taken with one of those gadgets that you hold upright and pull outward on. The trainer at my gym did it and it showed a 34% body fat rate. I did a bunch of online tests with tape measurements and came out lower. Someone messaged me and said that in looking at my picture and comparing herself to me, she thought that 34% was too high. How accurate are those gadgets they use in the gym, anyway?
    I'm 67, 5'4, 128lbs
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Depending on where you are you could call around to various places to see if they do it for non members.

    I can go to the Y gym in a neighbouring town and they said they would do it for me for a fee of course...I think it's less than 50$ in NB Canada.
  • emmanap91
    emmanap91 Posts: 300 Member
    I just got Accu-measure calipers. Cheap plastic things from amazon and they are decently accurate, according to reviews I've seen. Just add 1-3% to your measurement.
  • KseRz
    KseRz Posts: 980 Member
    http://www.cosmedusa.com/en/test-site-locator

    ETA: Select Body Composition (BOD POD) from the drop down, enter in your zip and start contacting them for prices. Its quick, easy and very accurate.
  • KseRz
    KseRz Posts: 980 Member
    unfortunately i dont think you'll find anything lower than 59.95, in fact thats the lowest ive heard of any bf test being so far, previously the lowest i has heard was around 75 for hydrostatic

    there is also a method using just tape measurements that the military uses i believe if you want to save money on calipers i believe. even if it isnt completely accurate you can use this to track your overall trend, which is the most important part

    It depends where you go. I paid for 2 bod pod tests and got a discount by purchasing 2. I think they were $90 for 2 ($45 each). And there is no expiration. I did the first one a couple years ago. Havent used the 2nd one yet.
  • kimkay1985
    kimkay1985 Posts: 73 Member
    The fitness department at our local university does a hydrostatic test for $40.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    http://www.cosmedusa.com/en/test-site-locator

    ETA: Select Body Composition (BOD POD) from the drop down, enter in your zip and start contacting them for prices. Its quick, easy and very accurate.

    Thanks, I've seen that link before but couldn't find it - I think it's saved on my old computer (which we recently sold, of course) so I'm glad to have it again. There's only one BodPod location within 90 miles of my home unfortunately! But it's not like we never travel to that city so I will look into it further for sure.
  • leodru
    leodru Posts: 321 Member
    GNC sells calipers for about $20.
  • gurgi22
    gurgi22 Posts: 182 Member
    Maybe try a college or university near you that has kinesiology, sports medicine, or athletic training as a major. They may need to do this as a lab for one of their courses.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Try this first:

    http://www.calculator.net/army-body-fat-calculator.html

    It's free.
  • tomwatso
    tomwatso Posts: 1,304 Member
    One can try bmi-calculator.net, Put in your measurements and see what happens.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    bodybuilder.com sells calipers for 3.99 plus shipping - comes to under $10
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I just had my body fat taken with one of those gadgets that you hold upright and pull outward on. The trainer at my gym did it and it showed a 34% body fat rate. I did a bunch of online tests with tape measurements and came out lower. Someone messaged me and said that in looking at my picture and comparing herself to me, she thought that 34% was too high. How accurate are those gadgets they use in the gym, anyway?
    I'm 67, 5'4, 128lbs

    Not sure what you are describing, but a lot of the handheld bioimpedance analyzers are not that reliable. We use a more sophisticated one that costs about 50x what you describe and it works well enough.

    Your numbers suggest a Fat Free Mass of about 84.5 lbs. That's on the smaller-framed side for someone your height, but it is not unheard of. But that doesn't mean it's accurate either. Hard to really tell from a picture, but if I had to bet, I would say the 34% is a little high--but not way, way off.
  • TechLady11412
    TechLady11412 Posts: 35 Member
    This, I have those calipers as well. Gives a rough estimate of BF%. Eat at a caloric deficit, exercise, drink water, sleep, measure every week, if the % is going down i'm doing it right
  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    Calipers can be accurate, if the user has had training and a LOT of practice. Using calipers on yourself? You might as well just pinch your fat with your fingers and take a wild guess.

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