Body Fat Caliper Question

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 02:38 PM

Is one brand as good as any? And how difficult is it to be accurate with them?

dmangiarelli · 08-23-2007, 02:42 PM

If you are measuring the same spot every time it will give you a good guage as to how much up or down you are going. It's easiest to have a partner to measure you. If you are looking for accuracy go hydrostatic...

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmangiarelli

If you are measuring the same spot every time it will give you a good guage as to how much up or down you are going. It's easiest to have a partner to measure you. If you are looking for accuracy go hydrostatic...

I wanna go grab a pair quick for the contest on here....but dont wanna waste the 20 or so bucks... no place close for hydrostatic and cost prohibitive for weekly ipdates.

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 02:46 PM

double post

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 04:20 PM

OK got the calipers, but the instructions with them only use ONE spot to test on ( love handle) I know there are some sites that have a 3 or 5 spot test ( this is in inches and millimeters) would someone post a link to a good site for a chart?

hotdamnman · 08-23-2007, 04:29 PM

Are they the white plastic ones from GNC?

Someone posted some links on the over 35 weightloss challenge thread.

Baldsnake · 08-23-2007, 04:38 PM

If you bend them just right they make great river catfish hooks.

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotdamnman

Are they the white plastic ones from GNC?

Someone posted some links on the over 35 weightloss challenge thread.

yes thats the ones

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldsnake

If you bend them just right they make great river catfish hooks.

( said in my best cartman voice) why you gotta bust my balls for baldy...why you gotta bust my balls?

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 05:58 PM

UUGGGGHHHHH!!!! 29.5%....but a rookie measurement I think higher...will do a couple runs through tomorrow morning and see what we get...was chest .....abdomen. .....love handle.....thigh ...tricep.

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 06:04 PM

26.7% using a tape measure and online calculator. I am officially renderable

mrashields · 08-23-2007, 08:54 PM

Where is the online calculator?

OHIOSTEVE · 08-23-2007, 09:08 PM

http://www.naturalphysiques.com/tools.php?itemid=31

HC · 08-24-2007, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OHIOSTEVE

http://www.naturalphysiques.com/tools.php?itemid=31

I use the 3 spot measurement (sometimes 4 if I can get someone to do my triceps) from this site... http://www.linear-software.com/online.html

But most of the time I use just the supra iliac measurement (just above iliac/hip crest) and use the chart in BFFM to or at this site http://www.hussmanfitness.org/caliper.htm

the important thing is to pick a way to measure and stick to it...don't compare with other ways...and measure the same way each time!!

Good luck!

BELLC · 08-24-2007, 04:24 AM

My YMCA doesn't use calipers or hydro. Instead, they have some handheld electronic gizmo that looks like an Xbox controller. You have to input age, weight, and I forget what else, then hold on to the heart rate handles for results.

Honestly, is this type of thing even slightly accurate?

ScubaDave · 08-24-2007, 04:29 AM

In general electrical impedance testing is one of the worst forms of testing.

Hydrostatic testing, although the most accurate, is still only accurate to plus/minus 2%.

Caliper testing is approximately plus/minus 4% (if memory serves me correctly).

I wrote another post that broke down accuracies more fully, along with properly cited resources for my data - I'm sure you can search for that if you're interested.

Dave

Todd_A · 08-24-2007, 04:38 AM

I use this one on line with 7 measurements:

http://www.rustyiron.net/formmal7.htm

But on the previous page here http://www.rustyiron.net/bodyfat.htm it has 3 and 7 position measurement calculators for both men and women.

Todd_A · 08-24-2007, 04:40 AM

...and these are the calipers that I got from GNC and with my discount card/member card or whatever they call it that really only works the first 7 days of the month, it only cost about $12 out the door.

Hibiscus09 · 08-24-2007, 05:14 AM

I've used the Accumeasure -- which is the one site measuring tool. It's really not very effective for me because I don't gain much fat at the suprailliac measuring point. For contest, mine only went from 5mm to 3.5mm from beginning to end of contest.

I have a Skyndex, which is supposed to be more accurate if the pincher knows what he/she is doing. I just haven't worked with my husband to teach him how to take measurements yet and I can't take my tricep and subscapular measurements myself.

In any event, I'm tracking my body fat via the oMoron (piece of junk, but it does show trends over time if used correctly), the tape measure (it will definitely show if my hips are leaning out and which body parts are growing or shrinking, and progress photos every two weeks (they definitely tell the tale over time).

I think the mirror is the best measure. Even if you're critical about yourself, you'll eventually be able to tell you're getting leaner and have that "Cool beans, I'm looking leaner" moment if you're making progress.

hotdamnman · 08-24-2007, 08:06 AM

Those are the same as mine. With a little practice I've gotten to the point where I can produce repeatable readings. If that's the only method used it should atleast be able to show trends, right?

DanVanVliet · 08-24-2007, 08:11 AM

I got some from GNC as well the way I did it I have a body fat of 35 ,God I'm a fat bastard ,so now there in my tackle box as baldsnake did with his.

newmexico123 · 08-24-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OHIOSTEVE

http://www.naturalphysiques.com/tools.php?itemid=31

reps to you nice site!

67Vert · 08-24-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hibiscus09

,,,. For contest, mine only went from 5mm to 3.5mm from beginning to end of contest.
,,,,

The dif from 5mm to 3.5mm is 30%. How'd it translate on the BF chart?

Hibiscus09 · 08-24-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CochinoFilipino

The dif from 5mm to 3.5mm is 30%. How'd it translate on the BF chart?

What?

The difference on the accumeasure chart for a 43 year old woman -- which I was at the time -- at 5mm for the suprailliac = 16.7% and 3.5 mm = 14.4%. That's a one site measure. That difference = 2.3% not 30%.

http://www.accumeasurefitness.com/charts.html

In reality, I was having seven sites measured and I went from 19.3% body fat to 8.8% body fat during contest prep according to the six site measurement using the Jackson Pollock formula. My ending suprailliac measure was 3.5 mm as stated above. The Accumeasure would have me at 14.4% with that suprailliac reading, but of course, the suprailliac is not the only place that needs to be calipered and the more sites you measure, the more accurate the reading. I think the most measurements taken are a seven site measure, but I'm not sure about that. No caliper reading is going to be 100% accurate, of course.

67Vert · 08-24-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hibiscus09

What?

The difference on the accumeasure chart for a 43 year old woman -- which I was at the time -- at 5mm for the suprailliac = 16.7% and 3.5 mm = 14.4%. That's a one site measure. That difference = 2.3% not 30%.

The diference between 5mm and 3.5mm is 30%. Then I asked how that translated to BF. You answered my question. Thanks.

Hibiscus09 · 08-24-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CochinoFilipino

The diference between 5mm and 3.5mm is 30%. Then I asked how that translated to BF. You answered my question. Thanks.

Oh -- sorry -- I didn't understand what you were asking -- now I do -- you're talking about the actual % difference between those two measures -- but I'm glad I answered your question anyway.

beez721 · 08-24-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hibiscus09

What?

The difference on the accumeasure chart for a 43 year old woman -- which I was at the time -- at 5mm for the suprailliac = 16.7% and 3.5 mm = 14.4%. That's a one site measure. That difference = 2.3% not 30%.

http://www.accumeasurefitness.com/charts.html

In reality, I was having seven sites measured and I went from 19.3% body fat to 8.8% body fat during contest prep according to the six site measurement using the Jackson Pollock formula. My ending suprailliac measure was 3.5 mm as stated above. The Accumeasure would have me at 14.4% with that suprailliac reading, but of course, the suprailliac is not the only place that needs to be calipered and the more sites you measure, the more accurate the reading. I think the most measurements taken are a seven site measure, but I'm not sure about that. No caliper reading is going to be 100% accurate, of course.

Im always a little confused on just exactly where the supraillac is on the body? it says right above the hip bone which is right on the side of the waist right? but on pictures it seems to show it being more on the stomach to the left of the waist. Im curious of the exact location because I have much more skin on the side of my waist as opposed to a few inches further to the left. can anyone describe exactly where the suprailliac is? thanks

Hibiscus09 · 08-24-2007, 05:30 PM

You need to take measurements on the right side of your body. Maybe this will help you be able to see where the suprailliac is located:

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

I tried to find a better site, but haven't yet.

Wait -- now I have, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post this here:

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=460416

I guess I'll find out.

beez721 · 08-24-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hibiscus09

You need to take measurements on the right side of your body. Maybe this will help you be able to see where the suprailliac is located:

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

I tried to find a better site, but haven't yet.

Wait -- now I have, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post this here:

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=460416

I guess I'll find out.

thanks a lot. that was helpful. it does look to be a couple inches to the left if the right side of the waist. thats good news for me. I have like 4 mm less there than right on the waist. thanks again

Todd_A · 08-24-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotdamnman

Those are the same as mine. With a little practice I've gotten to the point where I can produce repeatable readings. If that's the only method used it should atleast be able to show trends, right?

Definitely! That is what you are looking for. If you can get good readings and use the same calculations to figure bodyfat then you can start seeing the results using that.