Body Fat Percentage

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Rower471
Rower471 Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for something to accurately measure my body fat percentage. I work out a lot at the moment so things like BMI won't really help me (my target weight is actually in the overweight category for my height)

I'm 189cm, currently weighing between 85 and 90kgs (need to re-weight myself asap)

I have seen lots of things to measure your body fat percentage but generally with mixed reviews. I am just looking for something which is cheap and relatively accurate, no fancy extras.

Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
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    I believe those clamps are the most accurate (like this: http://accumeasurefitness.com/)
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
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    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

    i use this. it says i'm 18-19% which is what i look so i believe it
  • rebelchic1517
    rebelchic1517 Posts: 2 Member
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    There are scales you can get to measure body fat. It send little electrical currents that go through your body, muscle mass, water, tissue and fat. These are not recommended if you have a Pace maker however. The best & most accurate way to measure your body composition would be to find a Qualified Personal Trainer to do the pinch test with Calipers. Skin folds in different areas of the body are measured then calculated to come up with a Body Fat percentage.
    Hope this helps.
  • flimflamfloz
    flimflamfloz Posts: 1,980 Member
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    The "clamps" AKA fat callipers are actually crap IMHO. Well, they work, but they are not very accurate - you need to take several measurements in a row, in several places and take the average (which can be done, it's true!).
    However, if you are a bit chubby, they really lose their accuracy (they are really designed for people with low body fat already).

    Anyway, I bought a scale that can calculate body fat using bioelectrical impedance.
    This type of scale:
    http://www.johnlewis.com/149140/Product.aspx?source=63258

    More info on these kind of scales:
    http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/BI.htm

    They are a bit pricier than callipers though, but are quite good (they evaluate water %, fat %, muscle %).
    BTW the price range in the article is bullocks... I got mine for £20 GBP, and it does the job... Check amazon maybe.

    EDIT: found my exact scale. It is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Salter-Glass-Analyser-Scale-Black/dp/B0013IWSKI/ref=pd_sim_d_9
    I got it on a discount price apparently =D it is £40 now.
  • Rower471
    Rower471 Posts: 4
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    @Flamfloz.
    Thanks, I needed to buy a set of scales anyway. So that there looked pretty good. Managed to get a decent one for £25.
    Hopefully this shall help me to tailor my regime. I'm trying to get down to 6-10% and I've been seeing results on my arms and legs and chest, but not that much on my stomach.
    Hopefully this can tell me how I am doing.

    @rebelchic
    Sadly I want to measure it regularly as my workout is pretty intense atm, so going to a professional to get it done isn't really easy (or very cost effective)

    Thanks to all the rest. I will let you know how I get on with these :)

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