Has anyone bought a caliper to do their own BF%?

quitmakingexcuses
quitmakingexcuses Posts: 906 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I was thinking of buying a caliper to measure my bodyfat percentage so I could have it at home (though someone else would measure for me). Has anyone had any luck/could reccommend a product? Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    With the calipers, you really do need someone else to do them for you and that person should probably be either REALLY good at following instructions (and being consistent, since every time you measure you need to check the exact same spots), or they need to have quite a bit of experience.

    Honestly, every (affordable) method has a margin of error of a few % points so it's probably best to just use it as a gauge.

    Personally, I take my numbers from my measurements, calipers, and scale and average out the % between the three.
  • quitmakingexcuses
    quitmakingexcuses Posts: 906 Member
    Personally, I take my numbers from my measurements, calipers, and scale and average out the % between the three.

    That's what I was wanting to do too! Thanks for your input on it though. That all makes sense! :)
  • Dexy_
    Dexy_ Posts: 593 Member
    I just get the rough estimate from putting in my age, weight, height and measurements into body fat % calculators. As the above poster stated, it takes someone fairly skilled to use calipers properly and in the same places consistently :)
  • hirensthenameliftinsthegame
    hirensthenameliftinsthegame Posts: 233
    I do it, make sure you don't skimp on a good set of calipers. Plus take a measurement atleast 3 times(like don't do measurement on the same site 3 times, do it once and go to the next site and cycle through it 3 times). Take the average of those then use that, make sure your technique is spot on too!
    Im getting my calipers again, and I will be using them with the BEI tester that I have to get the average body fat for me. hope that helped!
  • Fat_Chopper
    Fat_Chopper Posts: 97 Member
    I picked up a professional set from a gym off eBay. I use them, it's the only way I can tell what's happening when entering lower body fat %. It's only a guide, but it works for me.
  • quitmakingexcuses
    quitmakingexcuses Posts: 906 Member
    Awesome. That's all helpful guys! Thanks. I'll start looking into some different options. :)
  • snookumss
    snookumss Posts: 1,451 Member
    I bought one for myself and it showed about the same as my bathroom scale does on bodyfat. That at least tells me the scale is closer than I thought! :D
  • lookslikeyoda
    lookslikeyoda Posts: 161 Member
    My scales tell me my body fat, muscle mass, water, BMI & BMR. I expect that its not totally accurate but its a good guide.
  • quitmakingexcuses
    quitmakingexcuses Posts: 906 Member
    I bought one for myself and it showed about the same as my bathroom scale does on bodyfat. That at least tells me the scale is closer than I thought! :D

    Good to know! My mom's scale does the same thing. Maybe I'll just stick with that and measurements :)
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    they have them at bodybuilding.com for around $4 they are plastic but and come with instructions and a chart to figure out you bf% it's what I use.




    the scales can be inaccurate, they measure the resistance to a small electrical current run through your body, how much water you are holding has a huge effect on those,
  • quitmakingexcuses
    quitmakingexcuses Posts: 906 Member
    they have them at bodybuilding.com for around $4 they are plastic but and come with instructions and a chart to figure out you bf% it's what I use.




    the scales can be inaccurate, they measure the resistance to a small electrical current run through your body, how much water you are holding has a huge effect on those,

    Cool, thanks for that! The water weight makes total sense too. I'm not relying on any one method, which is why I was interested in the calipers too. I'm thinking of just taking an average of whatever methods I decide to use :)
  • Kimsied
    Kimsied Posts: 223 Member
    There are some made with the idea you may be measuring for yourself. I have a set and it helps, though I am not sure if I am doing it exactly right. However, my results are consistent, so if I do it consistently wrong I can still see improvements (or otherwise).

    This is the type I have: http://www.amazon.com/Defender-DBM-04-Body-Fat-Caliper/dp/B002CQPD2U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329085851&sr=8-1

    The nice thing about this caliper is it holds the reading for you if you use it right so you don't need to read it while it is pinching you.

    I do still find it a little difficult to get the right spot on my own tricep, but otherwise it is too difficult. I would think having it done by someone trained (like a trainer) would be more accurate though. I am just a little cheap and don't want to pay someone to test me as often as I would like to be tested.
  • tataliciousd89
    tataliciousd89 Posts: 465
    Lol, I'm lucky. We have a few sets at school and calculate on eachother. It's technically studying too so our instructors can't say nothin.
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I was thinking about it, but this works well too.
    All you need is a tape measure.

    Body Fat
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
  • mattkellett
    mattkellett Posts: 82
    I do it, make sure you don't skimp on a good set of calipers. Plus take a measurement atleast 3 times(like don't do measurement on the same site 3 times, do it once and go to the next site and cycle through it 3 times). Take the average of those then use that, make sure your technique is spot on too!
    Im getting my calipers again, and I will be using them with the BEI tester that I have to get the average body fat for me. hope that helped!

    How do you do them yourself? How do you reach and see you scapular fold? Or your tricep, for that matter. To get a body fat% you need all measurements You need someone qualified who has done numerous measurements to have any sense of accuracy.
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I was thinking about it, but this works well too.
    All you need is a tape measure.

    Body Fat
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    I am always leery of trusting the measurements because - depending on the website - they claim that my body fat is somewhere between 18-19.5% and I just don't see how I could possibly be below 21-22% at this point.
  • TinkrBelz
    TinkrBelz Posts: 866 Member
    Since we are talking about bf and calipers. I used the digital one at the gym. And at my current age (41) it says that I have 23% bf. If I enter the same stats but age 31, it says that I am 20%. And age 21, 18.9%. OH, if I added 10 years, I was up to 26%.

    My brother said that maybe it is taking into account that as we age we lose some bone density and muscle density, and maybe that is what it is.

    But, what if I am not losing bone density. What if my body is more healthy and in shape now than it was 10 years ago? I just do not see why age has to be factored in while the bf%.

    And to those that can see me, they all agree that I do not have 23% bf. I am not going to obsess over it, because I can tell that I am leaning up. BUT, was curious none the less. Sucks to do the caliber out of curiosity, just to have it fluctuate so much from age alone.

    So any thoughts????
  • Charlottejogs
    Charlottejogs Posts: 351 Member
    Good luck in your decision making! Hmm- I don't think I ever want someone to use a special tool to measure my fat by pinching- eek, no way!
  • pg1girl
    pg1girl Posts: 268 Member
    I bought a higher end scale that gives bmr, weight, body fat, water weight, muscle mass and visceral fat. It seems fairly accurate after having myself measured.
  • pg1girl
    pg1girl Posts: 268 Member
    I do it, make sure you don't skimp on a good set of calipers. Plus take a measurement atleast 3 times(like don't do measurement on the same site 3 times, do it once and go to the next site and cycle through it 3 times). Take the average of those then use that, make sure your technique is spot on too!
    Im getting my calipers again, and I will be using them with the BEI tester that I have to get the average body fat for me. hope that helped!

    How do you do them yourself? How do you reach and see you scapular fold? Or your tricep, for that matter. To get a body fat% you need all measurements You need someone qualified who has done numerous measurements to have any sense of accuracy.




    This!
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I was thinking about it, but this works well too.
    All you need is a tape measure.

    Body Fat
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    I am always leery of trusting the measurements because - depending on the website - they claim that my body fat is somewhere between 18-19.5% and I just don't see how I could possibly be below 21-22% at this point.
    I used measurements as a way to track progress - not knit-pick over 3% body fat.

    The key is finding a way to compliment the scale which is not the total picture of progress for those seeking optimal health.
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I was thinking about it, but this works well too.
    All you need is a tape measure.

    Body Fat
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    I am always leery of trusting the measurements because - depending on the website - they claim that my body fat is somewhere between 18-19.5% and I just don't see how I could possibly be below 21-22% at this point.
    I used measurements as a way to track progress - not knit-pick over 3% body fat.

    The key is finding a way to compliment the scale which is not the total picture of progress for those seeking optimal health.
    That's why a tend to average the three cheap methods - measurements, calipers, scale.
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I was thinking about it, but this works well too.
    All you need is a tape measure.

    Body Fat
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    I am always leery of trusting the measurements because - depending on the website - they claim that my body fat is somewhere between 18-19.5% and I just don't see how I could possibly be below 21-22% at this point.
    I used measurements as a way to track progress - not knit-pick over 3% body fat.

    The key is finding a way to compliment the scale which is not the total picture of progress for those seeking optimal health.
    That's why a tend to average the three cheap methods - measurements, calipers, scale.
    I always go with the lowest number and try to work it in every conversation....

    "Yes, peace in the middle-east is concerning, like my 17% body fat....":wink:

    Good Luck - sounds like you are right on track!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories