Calipers or monitor?

[Stevelegh]

After my last thread, I jumped on the body fat monitor in the gym.

After moaning to you guys about losing weight and not being able to gain, I was given tons of good advice, like not drinking, upping calories and changing workout.

I've since 'discovered, that as well as losing weight, my body fat has gone up!

So I'm now confused: I've been hitting the gym three times a week, only to lose weight and get fattier.......

That would indicate muscle wastage right? Totally impossible. The mirror tells a totally different story.

I've heard about the monitors giving a false reading based on hydration, food intake etc, so I'm wondering how you guys monitor fat.

Caliper or monitor?

Thoughts?

[lukamar]

After my last thread, I jumped on the body fat monitor in the gym.

Jump off it and don't jump on it again. It's much more accurate to pull numbers out of a hat. Calipers are a bit tricky to get a consistent measurement unless you do it all the time, but that's the way to go.

[Inthegrass]

Totally impossible. The mirror tells a totally different story.

Thoughts?

Who cares what the calipers or monitor or weigh scales say. Mirrors never lie or even better yet, take a picture of yourself. That's the best evidence!!!

You already said it yourself. Take your own advice!

Jeff

[Cgb6810]

Jump off it and don't jump on it again. It's much more accurate to pull numbers out of a hat. Calipers are a bit tricky to get a consistent measurement unless you do it all the time, but that's the way to go.

Agreed, the monitors really are very inaccurate. Ive owned a couple different monitors and even had my sports doctor test my precontest BF% just a week or so from a contest. I was about 5%, but his monitor said I was 17%.

Mirror is the best way to tell.

[PeteB]

Caliper or monitor?

Thoughts?

At this point, all you need is a tape measure, a scale, and five minutes AT THE SAME TIME OF DAY (preferrably b/f breakfast).

Caliper measurements are mostly helpful for people who have worked out for a number of years, put on slabs of muscle, and for tracking the last few percent of fat a bodybuilder wants to lose b/f competition.

If your waist size as measured at bellybutton level stays the same and you weight is going up, you are gaining muscle. If the waist size goes up along w. the weight, you are gaining too much fat.

Once the weight starts going up while the waist measurements stay the same, only then are arm, thigh, and chest measurements meaningful.

[Guff]

You're too wrapped up in numbers here.

Are you harder? Look in the mirror. I'm eating like a cow these days and concerned about packing on fat, so far all I see in the mirror is iron buddy. Iron!

[alec_braithwait]

Caliper or monitor?

Thoughts?

I would go with Calipers. The key is to get the same person to do the measurements and be as consistant as possible.

I don't think it really matters if one person says you are 12% and another says you are 15%. The main thing to watch it the same person does it the same way, every time.

If according to that persons measurements you are loosing fat, then you are loosing fat, the numbers are not really that important.

[Wooly_Ace]

Calipers......MONITORS SUCK!!!

[ironwill2008]

Definitely go with the mirror. Those body fat monitors are just a gimmick,as far as I'm concerned, and just not accurate. Calipers are almost as bad, since different trainers can use them on you and get very different readings.

[Capt_Lou]

Last night was the first time that I measured my body fat. I used one of those hand held monitors and it said that I was at 17.5%.

It really took the wind out of my sails since I've been cutting pretty hard for about 5 weeks now. I thought I was around 15%.

I went home and looked in the mirror and said to myself F*** it, I see a huge change in the way I look and my weight has been going down and my pants are loose, hell I even ripped a shirt yesterday (posted that yesterday).

So screw the BF monitor's I really don't care. I think I'm looking awsome and have not lost any muscle mass or strength so I must be doing something right.

[jtroster]

Around this forum the Omron fat monitor is called the Oh-moron. I just started using calipers.

[deags]

Who cares what the calipers or monitor or weigh scales say. Mirrors never lie or even better yet, take a picture of yourself. That's the best evidence!!!

You already said it yourself. Take your own advice!

Jeff

Take pictures - I think they are better than the mirror!

[JOHN GARGANI]

I agree with everything said here.....Calipers yield different results based upon who is using them and where....

and the special scales are ridiculous is trying to come up with an accurate reading for people like us who carry much more lean weight than the general population.

[ServoScanMan]

...

Caliper or monitor?

Thoughts?

At work our "healthcare advocate" says I'm 36% fat with her "monitor" and she said her height/weight chart confirms it!

The last time I had it checked at the gym, the calipers says I'm 13.5% bodyfat.

My last blood work was a couple of months ago and all of it was very good!

I am leaning toward calipers....just because it makes me feel better.

[Stevelegh]

At work our "healthcare advocate" says I'm 36% fat with her "monitor" and she said her height/weight chart confirms it!

The last time I had it checked at the gym, the calipers says I'm 13.5% bodyfat.

My last blood work was a couple of months ago and all of it was very good!

I am leaning toward calipers....just because it makes me feel better.

36%?

Excuse my french, but ****! I hope I'm at 36% like you when I'm 49 if your avatar is current!

Thanks guys. I've done the mirror today and I'm looking better than at any time in my life.

I have invested in some calipers. More from the point of view that I'll be able to monitor things more 'accurately' than the scales, but I'll be taking it all with a pinch of salt.

Thanks again.

[Wooly_Ace]

At work our "healthcare advocate" says I'm 36% fat with her "monitor" and she said her height/weight chart confirms it!

The last time I had it checked at the gym, the calipers says I'm 13.5% bodyfat.

My last blood work was a couple of months ago and all of it was very good!

I am leaning toward calipers....just because it makes me feel better.

You fat bastard, get your jelly roll azz in the gym!!! J/K............36% makes no sense, regardless what the charts say.