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% bodyfat

Heliconia
Heliconia Posts: 166 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi. I am wondering if there is any way that I can determine my % of body fat. I do not have one of those fancy scales nor a pair of calipers (wish I did - where do you get them?) I am 5 ft 2inches and 131 pounds. I have the lowest amount of muscle possible as I have been ill and have not exercised for 4.5 years. Any guesstimates?

Replies

  • WINEYINVA
    WINEYINVA Posts: 75 Member
    buy a caliper they are inexpensive on amazon and other sites and go to a reputable sight like bodybuilding.com and plug in your info
  • kateowp
    kateowp Posts: 103 Member
    http://www.calculator.net/army-body-fat-calculator.html

    or

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/
  • Go_Mizzou99
    Go_Mizzou99 Posts: 2,628 Member
    I use a number of web sites that require measurements. Google it. They are all over the place - probably +/-3% from the average (write down all the results). But if all of the numbers are around 25%, or 15%, or??? - you will have a rough idea.

    I am an engineer and I just love precision, but until I get down around 15% or less, I am not too worried about the exactness of my fat percentage.

    This might help too...you can Google body fat percentage (men or women) and get other comparisons. Look in images.

    body-fat-percentage-women.jpg
  • Go_Mizzou99
    Go_Mizzou99 Posts: 2,628 Member
    and just to be fair...here is the men's picture comparison

    body-fat-percentage-men.jpg
  • eslcity
    eslcity Posts: 323 Member
    often if you go into a gym they will have one of those fancy scales... often the workers are more then willing to check your % in the hopes to gain your buisness...

    --ms
  • lookaheadfcsus
    lookaheadfcsus Posts: 14
    There are very few exact means of actually finding out. The best way to get an idea is to have your body fat percent measured systematically during a period of time.


    I've had my own body fat percent measured for around six months now, and I have a pretty good idea about it by now. It's not an exact science, and you have to take it with a grain of salt, but.. It's a way to get an idea, anyway.

    Also, the pictures posted above can be a bit misleading in some cases. I've been very, very heavy and I can honestly say that I don't exactly look like 30% yet. I do however feel like 30%, bones starting to protrude from everywhere..
  • SeaShelly75
    SeaShelly75 Posts: 10 Member
    Love the pics - they are right on with what my Tanita scales read. Pretty close to what I look like at those percentages. May have to print that out for motivation for myself!

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