Body Fat % - What is it, and how to measure it!

**DanceDiva** · 03-09-2011, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by perumina

finally figured out how to attach my images lol, please take a look and estimate bodyfat (emma leigh)
thanks!

24-26

**perumina** · 03-09-2011, 12:20 PM

keep them coming! lol
Thanks ...
its weird how different lighting/pose/distance makes a difference in how jiggly the body looks! I wish they had one of those bodpod things in NJ area.
ANyways the main reason Id like to know bf % is because its needed for the BMR formula in Emma's sticky.

**thepowerwithin** · 03-09-2011, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by juliacheh

28-30 is my guess, but let's see what Emma says.

I must be getting better at this. I guessed this in my head before looking at your post....actually your last 2 posts regarding body fat guesstimates

.

Emma Leigh, are we close?

**mavrick77** · 03-09-2011, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

24-26

sorry to say this, as I wont make friends..... very high 20's, very low 30's. That being said, its hard to guestimate a womans bodyfat via picture. for many reasons....

1) muscle density- the fat/skinny person syndrome
2) anybody can try to find the right pose/right light to hide flaws and show them in their best form
3) people have a distorted view of reality of what bodyfat levels really are, due to various other people UNDER estimating what they really are.

* get a bod pod done, underwater weighing...and god forbid stop using the electrical impedence scales or hand held devices.

**Emma-Leigh** · 03-09-2011, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by perumina

Finally figured out how to attach my images lol, please take a look and estimate bodyfat (Emma Leigh)
THANKS!

Originally Posted by juliacheh

28-30 is my guess, but let's see what Emma says.

^ I would say close the this... So about 29-30% wouldn't be a bad place to start.

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

24-26

Too low.
See http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...1&postcount=20 for a 23% bodyfat. She is a good few points higher than this.

Originally Posted by thepowerwithin

I must be getting better at this. I guessed this in my head before looking at your post....actually your last 2 posts regarding body fat guesstimates

.

Emma Leigh, are we close?

Yup.

Spot on.

**perumina** · 03-09-2011, 01:35 PM

yes its hard to estimate for sure...I guess I will just use 25% in that BMR formula...thanks to all.

I am still trying to assess my maintenance calories...

**mavrick77** · 03-09-2011, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by perumina

yes its hard to estimate for sure...I guess I will just use 25% in that BMR formula...thanks to all.

I am still trying to assess my maintenance calories...

25% is NOT right.... I will garuntee that. 30 would be a better place.... you will be getting to many calories if you use the 25% form the BMR formula. As I always tell people I train, "check your ego at the door" you will get far better results

**perumina** · 03-09-2011, 01:41 PM

just saw Emmas response

28-30 then!

**perumina** · 03-09-2011, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by mavrick77

25% is NOT right.... I will garuntee that. 30 would be a better place.... you will be getting to many calories if you use the 25% form the BMR formula. As I always tell people I train, "check your ego at the door" you will get far better results

I will use 30 and take it from there...thanks for your input

**DanceDiva** · 03-09-2011, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh

Too low.
See http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...1&postcount=20 for a 23% bodyfat. She is a good few points higher than this.

I've already seen this

.

Looking at this poster's attached pictures, the weight concentrated in her abdomen looks bloated instead of squishy. Legs and arms show some definition and not a lot of boobs.

But I have no problem deferring to your estimate

.

**daughterofisis** · 03-10-2011, 08:11 AM

A great, informative post Emma! I've been grappling with this BF quandry, esp as the only method to which I have access is the darned Omron hand-held piece of crap. It claims I'm 16.8%..LOL no friggin' way, I'd guesstimate myself closer to 20. But again- a very good piece on all the different types of fat and measuring methods.

Btw, can anyone explain how one goes about getting a DEXA?

**Miranda** · 03-15-2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

Looking at this poster's attached pictures, the weight concentrated in her abdomen looks bloated instead of squishy. Legs and arms show some definition and not a lot of boobs.

trust me you haven't seen me bloated

i don't have the detailed results offhand, but from memory my upper body (trunk) was around 16-18%, upper abdominal area 9-10%, arms 20-23ish (tricep goo) and lower body 30-32%. your typical female fat distribution pattern.

**DanceDiva** · 03-16-2011, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Miranda

trust me you haven't seen me bloated

i don't have the detailed results offhand, but from memory my upper body (trunk) was around 16-18%, upper abdominal area 9-10%, arms 20-23ish (tricep goo) and lower body 30-32%. your typical female fat distribution pattern.

Wasn't referring to you sweetie when I was talking about bloated (your abdomen looks quite fine

).

Was referring to these attached pictures:

Originally Posted by perumina

Finally figured out how to attach my images lol, please take a look and estimate bodyfat (Emma Leigh)
THANKS!

**perumina** · 03-17-2011, 07:38 AM

I think its because I eat salty food! XD

what can I say I was brought up on latin-peruvian food (salty!)

I think this is one of the reasons why cardio helps me look leaner..I literally sweat like a piggy

**Kels057** · 03-17-2011, 01:06 PM

For reference, there are a few pics of me in my profile. I had a DEXA scan done about 2 weeks ago and it said 17%, Underwater weighting said 16.5% and calipers give me results of 13.2-16%, just to show how inaccurate some of those other methods can be!

**Emma-Leigh** · 03-17-2011, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Kels057

For reference, there are a few pics of me in my profile. I had a DEXA scan done about 2 weeks ago and it said 17%, Underwater weighting said 16.5% and calipers give me results of 13.2-16%, just to show how inaccurate some of those other methods can be!

^^ if you show me which ones they are, would you mind me putting links / putting the images here to help demonstrate visuals for other people?

**juliacheh** · 03-17-2011, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh

^^ if you show me which ones they are, would you mind me putting links / putting the images here to help demonstrate visuals for other people?

Interesting, I kinda look like that now (if I looked at correct pics), and I thought I was 19-20.
Will post my pics for your estimation on the week-end, if you don't mind, Emma.
TIA.

**Kels057** · 03-17-2011, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh

^^ if you show me which ones they are, would you mind me putting links / putting the images here to help demonstrate visuals for other people?

My profile picture and the one in my gallery with the white sports bra (front view) are the two most recent to when I had my DEXA done... Feel free to use them! I'm new to posting and couldn't figure out how to insert the pictures

**Kels057** · 03-17-2011, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Kels057

My profile picture and the one in my gallery with the white sports bra (front view) are the two most recent to when I had my DEXA done... Feel free to use them! I'm new to posting and couldn't figure out how to insert the pictures

Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh

^^ if you show me which ones they are, would you mind me putting links / putting the images here to help demonstrate visuals for other people?

Actually I was wrong... the most recent one would be the one of my back in my progress pics... Although I'm generally around the same body fat % in all of them. I think I have a scanned picture of my DEXA as well (had to use it for an exercise science lab report) if you want that for people to be able to see?

**Emma-Leigh** · 03-18-2011, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by Kels057

Actually I was wrong... the most recent one would be the one of my back in my progress pics... Although I'm generally around the same body fat % in all of them. I think I have a scanned picture of my DEXA as well (had to use it for an exercise science lab report) if you want that for people to be able to see?

Damn... pic far too big to post here...

Do you have a smaller version you can post up?
Any full body/ front post them up a little smaller too and I'll link [bodyfat is a BODY estimate - so where you may hold fat in some places, you lack it in others - and it is important people see that you can't base a bodyfat on one body part alone.

].

Ohh - and the DEXA may well be interesting, too.

**Kels057** · 03-18-2011, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh

Damn... pic far too big to post here...

Do you have a smaller version you can post up?
Any full body/ front post them up a little smaller too and I'll link [bodyfat is a BODY estimate - so where you may hold fat in some places, you lack it in others - and it is important people see that you can't base a bodyfat on one body part alone.

].

Ohh - and the DEXA may well be interesting, too.

I'll try to take a new one for you sometime today/tomorrow. My fat distribution is definitely more heavy in my lower body/butt area haha!

**michellerb** · 04-04-2011, 09:31 AM

This info is amazingly helpful! Reading through this thread is motivational as well. Just started with a personal trainer and was shocked to find that I am at 36%. OMG! That is MUCH higher than I expected! On the other hand, it explains a lot and has motivated me all the more.

My fat is pretty evenly distributed all over and I've learned to wear clothing to disguise it. (But YOU GUYS would know). My fam and friends don't understand how out of shape I really am because there are no "rolls" of fat showing. They get concerned that my goals to transform my body will yield unrealistic and/or unhealthy results. The general public has come to accept being overweight as the norm. It is refreshing to be among others who "get it".

**AnnaEA** · 04-10-2011, 10:40 PM

Very informative thread - thank you. I am lucky enough to have a Bod Pod location nearby, and will be visiting them next month. I can't afford to do that regularly, though, so once I have that known good number, I'll be comparing it to the other methods I have access to to find the best approximation. Then I'll have something I can use for regular trend watching, and a good method to double check with a few times a year.

**rockangel** · 04-11-2011, 05:39 AM

Just wanted to add that i found this very helpful in knowing what to look for to judge body fat %. Maybe it will be helpfull to others as well.

http://avidityfitness.net/2008/08/21...you-calculate/

**MisSarahC** · 04-11-2011, 08:09 PM

Great thread! I've been trying to use calipers but it's been difficult to get a bf reading I would trust. Going off some of the photos & replies, I'm guessing I'm about 26-30%?

Any input is much appreciated! Thanks!

**MisSarahC** · 04-12-2011, 06:19 AM

Forgot to add that I am 5'2" & 119.5 lbs. Thanks again!

**juliacheh** · 04-12-2011, 06:49 AM

I'd say that 30 is too high for you.
25-26 is my guess.
but Emma's guess would be more accurate than mine.

**thepowerwithin** · 04-12-2011, 07:36 AM

My guess for MisSarahC is approx 25%.

**juliacheh** · 04-17-2011, 11:44 AM

Requesting a bodyfat estimation from Emma Leigh.

**juliacheh** · 04-20-2011, 07:30 PM

Disregard this post, I will post new pictures soon, these are deceptive.

Today I finally got convinced that bod pod is an unreliable test.
Will save 50 bucks.

This woman said that bod pod assessed her at 13% body fat.
http://imagecdn.bodybuilding.com/img...3WKLBU659.jpeg

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