Hi all

A random question, but how is everyone calculating their BF percentage?

Are you getting assessments done at your gym? Callipers? Scales? Guessing?
I saw this online and makes sense to me. I assess myself as something between the pictures at 10-14 per
cent, but I'd be keen to measure my BF percentage with a little more accuracy.
I had posted this on the FAQ forum, but can see that it's a much better fit here.

Cheers

edit: had to edit the post it had a weird formatting and made huge gaps between the single paragraphs, taking up half the page. =) - crood-

We have the same question Phil...lol but to calculate your BF, I think your age, weight, height have something to do with that.. I'm not sure about this.

Here's a links on how to compute BF.. but lets us wait for the suggestion of the others because I'm not sure if these links are the standard computation that most of the hermanites are using.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

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

http://www.linear-software.com/online.html

http://www.davedraper.com/bodyfat-calculation.html

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

Hey mate,

The two main methods I use to measure my body fat percentage are bioelectrical impedance and skin fold calipers. Both of these are proven reliable methods however if using skin fold calipers its best to get someone who is trained in using them as if done incorrectly measurments can be very wrong!

Thanks guys. Just looking at some scales now.

Cheers

I just got a bioelectrical impedance and have skin fold calipers. I found the skin fold to be the most accurate as of now, but the reason bioelectrical wasn't as accurate because I drink a gallon to a gallon and a half of water a day....so it, IMPEDES the results (see what I did there?). So instead of it saying about 12% like it should, it really says 14-15%, depending on how much I drink. Good for someone who is in the 20-30%bf range since it's within 2-3% bf accurate (about, I could have lower bf%). But when you start reaching the teens or a lesser percentage, I'd recommend skin fold. Or you can use both and kind of get a range you can work with.

I would definitely go with the skin fold calipers. They are pretty accurate and inexpensive as well brotha.

Wow, I just measured my BF%. I was dreaming before! It's 20%! Just spent a bit of time working the macros and am now looking forward to getting things on the right track...

How did you measure it mate?

Hey Dan

I measured it using some scales. After reading the advice above, I took my measurements first thing in the morning before I started guzzling water to keep myself hydrated in this fierce heat (now into our 5th day of temps over 39C - it's hot!). I did that for three days and saw that the readings were +/- 0.2% from 20%.

I'm taking the readings as a guide, and while tempted to doubt the readings and think 'Nah! Couldn't be that high', I think that this is going to be very useful in helping to get my diet together.

Cheers

Also a good indicator is your abs. Your abs start to show their outline at about 15% and you start to see the separation of your 6, 8, or 12 pack(how many you have is based on genetics) at about 10%, so those are some basic ideas to tell you where you're body fat is!

I used this calculator. This is the same system the millitary is. It goes off your measurments. I am sure it's not the most accurate measure in the world but it's pretty close for me. When I get where I want to be I think I will pay to have it done correctly using hte water way but this works for now ... link to follow http://fitness.bizcalcs.com/Calculator.asp?Calc=Body-Fat-Navy

Hey Alecia

I like this one! I'm 16% with this one and am classified as 'fit'. I note all the comments on the site re: the calculator not taking water displacement, etc. so I'll use it as a guide too.

Cheers

Glad you like it! I found it to be the most accurate out of the ones I have found online. Obviously anything onlince doesn't take everything into account but until you get it done by a professional this gives you an idea!

for finding out your BMI do you have to flex when taking the meaurments of the required body parts?

Yes.. you should flex it.. and next time don't forget to flex it when taking measurements.

Hi Matt

Further to what Mike (@mcmike) said, have you seen this article in your browsing of the website?

https://muscularstrength.com/article/measuring-your-gains

It has some great tips on how to do your measurements!

Cheers