Do you KNOW your Body Fat %? If so, I need a favor.
mommamandyloo
Posts: 19 Member
I am suspecting that I've had a scam run on me. I recently went to a place to have a bod-pod done. The results came back 50% body fat- which was devastating. If you look at my profile pic, I think you'll agree, that there's just no way.
I've found this estimator that goes on inches alone, and it puts me squarely in the range I expected- 30%. I had twins in late January, so for now, I'm OK with 30%. Not my end game, but good for where I'm at post partum.
I'm wondering- if you know your body fat percentage- can you check it against this calculator and let me know if it's accurate, please? http://www.nowloss.com/online-body-fat-percentage-calculator.htm
The place I had the original scan done also operates a side coaching-fat loss biz. See where I'm going with this?
I have a DXA scan scheduled for next week at a different organization to compare against their bodpod results. I have contacted the bodpod people to ask when they last calibrated their machine, as I just don't see 50% body fat on me... and have been invited back for a free re-scan on the "very low" chance of machine error.
I've found this estimator that goes on inches alone, and it puts me squarely in the range I expected- 30%. I had twins in late January, so for now, I'm OK with 30%. Not my end game, but good for where I'm at post partum.
I'm wondering- if you know your body fat percentage- can you check it against this calculator and let me know if it's accurate, please? http://www.nowloss.com/online-body-fat-percentage-calculator.htm
The place I had the original scan done also operates a side coaching-fat loss biz. See where I'm going with this?
I have a DXA scan scheduled for next week at a different organization to compare against their bodpod results. I have contacted the bodpod people to ask when they last calibrated their machine, as I just don't see 50% body fat on me... and have been invited back for a free re-scan on the "very low" chance of machine error.
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Replies
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hard to know without more information..
do you have some pictures that you can post of your front unflexed and flexed, as well as side picture?0 -
Edit- Honestly- I don't want this photo of me on the open web.
This is me- unflexed and natural. Like I said, I know I'm still fat. but I just don't see 50% body fat.0 -
i would say 35-40% ..maybe a hair over 40%..
it has a lot to do with your existing muscle mass as well..
do you lift weights or follow any kind of structured lifting regimen?0 -
i would say 35-40% ..maybe a hair over 40%..
it has a lot to do with your existing muscle mass as well..
do you lift weights or follow any kind of structured lifting regimen?
Structured- no. But I do lift about 5x per week. I spend about 30 minutes in free weights (25lb bells, for 50lb total) targeting all upper body, and then I do some machine work targeting lower body for about 30 minutes. this consists of a lot of leg press (300 pound combo, 175 isolation) and thigh lift stuff. I'm sure I don't know the proper name for these things and have no idea if those weights are impressive or laughable.
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mommamandyloo wrote: »i would say 35-40% ..maybe a hair over 40%..
it has a lot to do with your existing muscle mass as well..
do you lift weights or follow any kind of structured lifting regimen?
Structured- no. But I do lift about 5x per week. I spend about 30 minutes in free weights (25lb bells, for 50lb total) targeting all upper body, and then I do some machine work targeting lower body for about 30 minutes. this consists of a lot of leg press (300 pound combo, 175 isolation) and thigh lift stuff. I'm sure I don't know the proper name for these things and have no idea if those weights are impressive or laughable.
OK ...
I would suggest looking into a structured program like strong lifts, strong curves, or all pro beginner routine...2 -
So, using the calculator you posted, it estimated me at 18.34%. Using the pictures, I'd guess that is close. I've tried to estimate my body fat over the years using tape measurements, caliper measurements, and as of a year ago an Omron bio-electrical impedance scale. Using this wide variety of methods I can safely say I am somewhere between 12% and 26%, lol.
Most people will tell you the scales are the most inaccurate because they vary with the amount of water in your body; however, when I finally went in for a DEXA scan in June, the scale was the closest to the "true" measurement of the DEXA scan, putting me at 24.3% BF the morning of the test when the DEXA came back at 24.4% Of course that's only one data point, but whatever.
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Since a bodpod works on an air displacement method to determine volume, I wonder if it can be thrown off by deep breathing and having a lot of air in lungs.1
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richardgavel wrote: »Since a bodpod works on an air displacement method to determine volume, I wonder if it can be thrown off by deep breathing and having a lot of air in lungs.
http://weightology.net/the-pitfalls-of-body-fat-measurement-part-3-bod-pod/
Doesn't talk about breathing, but details various other error sources.2 -
I don't know mine exactly (does anyone?) but calipers have me at about 21 or 22%. A recent BodPod had me at 33%. Looking at the pictures of men at various body fat %, no way that's right. I look like the 20% body fat pictures visually.0
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Looking at the photos I would say I am under 20% but above 15%. The calculator gave me 22%. I mean, I guess it is close, most likely I am around 18%. In the end, it doesn't really matter since my goal is to lean down, so as long as that is happening, I don't really care what it says.
That is why I would probably never go for bodyfat testing, I know some people need that reassurance, I don't think I would personally gain any benefit from it, if anything I would probably get discouraged for no reason.1 -
My home scale puts me at 21% (bioelectric impedance) - your calculator puts me at 24% if I go with female, 20% if I go with male (I am a girl) - visually my arms and legs look more like 15%, but in my torso I look like the 20% photos, I definitely carry all my extra weight around my belly.
My home scale is very consistent, so right or wrong, I feel like it's a good metric for tracking up or down trends.3 -
Okay, I tested mine (I know where mine was as of Aug 1). There is a 1.8 difference in what mine is and the calculations based on measurements. So something is probably really off with you're 50% result. Judging from your picture, you look no where near 50% BF for a woman.2
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OK ...
I would suggest looking into a structured program like strong lifts, strong curves, or all pro beginner routine...
^ This.
You are practically wasting your time with the "5x per week" stuff with "25lb bells" and leg presses which you are doing now.
You are definitely wasting energy that could be used on a good program.
"Thinner Leaner Stronger" is a decent choice also.0 -
Hard to say... but I'd like to get my bf tested. Someone was telling me there is an 8 point caliper way to test that is the best out there.1
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Hard to say... but I'd like to get my bf tested. Someone was telling me there is an 8 point caliper way to test that is the best out there.
DEXA is the most accurate, most caliper tests are pretty darn close. Multiple measurements vs age/weight/height/gender are decent.
I personally go by the jiggle test. Does something jiggle that I don't want to? Eat healthy, get plenty of rest, and back to the gym I go.0 -
Not even close.
This app gives me 16.x%
Dexa scan (the current "gold standard") says I am 8.x%, and my Skulpt device comes in around 9.x% (which is within their targeted accuracy of +- 2 from Dexa)
Granted, I'm a man in my 50s so not a postpartum woman but nonetheless it was double what I know to be my actual bodyfat.0 -
I answered on your other thread. h
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10589405/body-fat-percentage#latest0 -
richardgavel wrote: »Since a bodpod works on an air displacement method to determine volume, I wonder if it can be thrown off by deep breathing and having a lot of air in lungs.
http://weightology.net/the-pitfalls-of-body-fat-measurement-part-3-bod-pod/
Doesn't talk about breathing, but details various other error sources.
Really good points. I had a Bod Pod done and was given very strict instructions not to eat or drink anything for at least 4 hours before hand. No idea if the instructions for DEXA are the same, but it's a question worth asking ... Could there have been something that inadvertently affected the results?0 -
VeronicaA76 wrote: »Hard to say... but I'd like to get my bf tested. Someone was telling me there is an 8 point caliper way to test that is the best out there.
DEXA is the most accurate, most caliper tests are pretty darn close. Multiple measurements vs age/weight/height/gender are decent.
I personally go by the jiggle test. Does something jiggle that I don't want to? Eat healthy, get plenty of rest, and back to the gym I go.
From @Anvil_Head 's link, here's the link about the inaccuracy of calipers.1 -
tcunbeliever wrote: »My home scale puts me at 21% (bioelectric impedance) - your calculator puts me at 24% if I go with female, 20% if I go with male (I am a girl) - visually my arms and legs look more like 15%, but in my torso I look like the 20% photos, I definitely carry all my extra weight around my belly.
My home scale is very consistent, so right or wrong, I feel like it's a good metric for tracking up or down trends.
Trends, maybe, but overall accuracy, not likely. I read through all of @Anvil_Head 's link.0 -
I have never had the bodpod done but I had my body fat tested just the other day and the first test we did was with the impedance and it said I was 36% BF. The trainer didn't think that was right and did a caliper test on me and said I was 25% BF. Maybe try having a trainer do a 7-point caliper test and see what they say. Mine told me that trainers may be about 1% off at the most while the impedance is, on average, 6-8% off because our bodies (especially women with our cycles) change sooo much all the time depending on hydration levels, when last used the bathroom, when you ate/drank last, time of the month, time of the day, etc...0
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You look like you have some muscle, I would agree that you look closer to 30% than 50%0
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The calculator put me at 24%. Calipers come in at 12-16% depending on the formula used. Regardless I would say you are no where close to 50%.1
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OP: The BodPod is the LEAST accurate method of BF as compared w/DXA and hydrostatic testing.
Statistical BF calculators just give gross estimates of BF and are also subject to wide variation based on individual differences.
Your scheduled DXA scan will be the best test of the accuracy of the BodPod result.
FYI, I get a DXA scan and hydro test done every 3 months and the DXA scan always gives me a BF% 3-5% higher than hydro.
No method is error free and I have gotten a "bad" DXA result which was out of line w/prior and subsequent results. Not so w/hydro.
However, DXA provides more data than hydro. So, I just do them both but, if anyone asks what my BF% is, I give them the hydro result. LOL!
The "truth" is probably in the middle between them.
PS: Your calculator estimated my BF at 26% Ouch!!!
No way I'd have the 6 pack and visible vascularity and muscularity that I have w/26%BF.
My last DXA (3 months ago) was 13.3% and my last hydro (6 wks ago) was 8.7% so, you can see why I prefer to give out my hydro results instead of DXA.
Next DXA scheduled for tomorrow should be lower than b4 but still higher than my last hydro. I'm expecting something around 11-12%. We'll see . . .
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I may be able to help. I just had a Kaiser health screening through my employer on Wednesday and they said my body fat was 24.8 %. Your calculator said 23.68%. So, at least in my case, the numbers were pretty close.
Also, by looking at the pictures on there, I look like I am between 20 and 25 %.0 -
It was actually pretty close for me, I think, but I know it's just using a pretty normal formula. For men it's going to be pretty close any way, for women, probably not close at all.
No way you're 50% though. 35?0 -
It looks accurate. I am 15% and more or less i look like thecguy with 14%0
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Seems fairly accurate for me. Gave me 13%
Abs visible with decent vascularity.
Probably not 50%, but I'd say 40s.0 -
I don't like those methods. I think caliper measurements are the way to go. As a trainer, that is how I measure bf on my clients. Most gyms will do a complimentary assessment. That's what I would do.0
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Hi, I did mine and it was pretty close. The online calculator gave me 19.24% and my DEXA (from about 18 months ago) gave me 18.7%. I don't think my body has changed much in the last 18 months so I'd say it's close.
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