What is My Body Fat Percentage? - Post Your Estimate Request Pictures Here - Vol III

[QUOTE=RapidFail;1620262331]Agreed, I just thought based on the other thread that perhaps you high-balled bodyfat estimates in general, but seeing your posts here I can see that is not the case.[/QUOTE]

I did also make some assumptions based on the one person you were thinking I high-balled, and it was actually based on seeing the lower back/love handles in his photos, as well as the need for him to pull his skin down to see abs.

Oddly enough, many many people who are 10% don’t see much an definition at all without flexing to some degree... that’s largely just muscle insertions and structure. Mine don’t show that much unless I slightly tense, but if you pinch my skin it’s very thin, so it can be misleading in either direction really. Some people look higher in BF than they are, some people can create the illusion of lower fat, etc.

[QUOTE=RapidFail;1620262611]Some of that looks to be loose skin too - I would agree with your 12% assessment. Not sure you have much to gain by cutting further - I would definitely lean bulk in your situation.[/QUOTE]

It's mostly a case of.. "I'm already down to sub-160 lb., so I might as well drop about five more just to see if the lower back fat will finally come off".

I mean at this point, it would be kind of like having run a full marathon but then quitting and going home half a mile from the finish line.

[QUOTE=AdamWW;1620260171]Damn dude you look different in like every one of those pictures..... did you photoshop in a tan or something?[/QUOTE]

Ha ha nope. Probably just different lighting I guess. They are all me, lol.. Just the normal "photo" setting on my phone. I don't have photoshop nor would I know what to do with it if I had it.

Did you have an estimate by chance?

[QUOTE=Mateo217;1620269851]Ha ha nope. Probably just different lighting I guess. They are all me, lol.. Just the normal "photo" setting on my phone. I don't have photoshop nor would I know what to do with it if I had it.

Did you have an estimate by chance?[/QUOTE]


I mean in a couple you look around 10... others look around 12... it’s like two different people...

[QUOTE=Luclin999;1620266711]It's mostly a case of.. "I'm already down to sub-160 lb., so I might as well drop about five more just to see if the lower back fat will finally come off".

I mean at this point, it would be kind of like having run a full marathon but then quitting and going home half a mile from the finish line.[/QUOTE]

Just becareful. That transition to sub 10% is mind blowing. You seriously struggle to function as well. It was a big shock. I binged sad to say the last week just felt like I had no control but back in control now. I dont ever want to cut that low again lol

[QUOTE=AdamWW;1620271751]I mean in a couple you look around 10... others look around 12... it’s like two different people...[/QUOTE]
Yea ab veins = at least 10ish or lower imo as a general rule & the ones with good lighting & a tan look about 10. The other photos look like a different dude entirely with less mass even who'se about 12% lol
[QUOTE=Junsuiakai;1620272151]Just becareful. That transition to sub 10% is mind blowing. You seriously struggle to function as well. It was a big shock. I binged sad to say the last week just felt like I had no control but back in control now. I dont ever want to cut that low again lol[/QUOTE]
Sustaining anything below 9-10% is Hell. Say goodbye to your sex drive, sleep, gains, motivation, energy, ability to concentrate on anything but food, & any hope of either a stable body temperature or mood on a daily basis.

[QUOTE=Strawng;1620273721]Yea ab veins = at least 10ish or lower imo as a general rule & the ones with good lighting & a tan look about 10. The other photos look like a different dude entirely with less mass even who'se about 12% lol

Sustaining anything below 9-10% is Hell. Say goodbye to your sex drive, sleep, gains, motivation, energy, ability to concentrate on anything but food, & any hope of either a stable body temperature or mood on a daily basis.[/QUOTE]

The other day I found these pictures I took of myself at my worst... and my god... it was 20lb or so ago and I honestly don’t know how I’m alive...

And it was only like... 10-11 months ago... it’s crazy how much visible change it made... im talking just skin stretched over flesh and bone...

Was actually a good reminder why I’m doing what I’m doing now. Never will I ever go back to that.

[QUOTE=AdamWW;1620275931]The other day I found these pictures I took of myself at my worst... and my god... it was 20lb or so ago and I honestly don’t know how I’m alive...

And it was only like... 10-11 months ago... it’s crazy how much visible change it made... im talking just skin stretched over flesh and bone...

Was actually a good reminder why I’m doing what I’m doing now. Never will I ever go back to that.[/QUOTE]

Good for you for seeing that and making it a positive experience. Some ppl struggle with that.

Looking at my pics again and pay no attention to the "tan" ones. Those are flexed and in my basement with downward lighting. Though they do make me look bigger, the bathroom mirror ones are more accurate representation. Still pretty soft and scrawny lol. Working on it though!

At 163 today after a cheat weekend and deload. Definitely no longer 10-12%.

[QUOTE=Mateo217;1620292261]Good for you for seeing that and making it a positive experience. Some ppl struggle with that.

Looking at my pics again and pay no attention to the "tan" ones. Those are flexed and in my basement with downward lighting. Though they do make me look bigger, the bathroom mirror ones are more accurate representation. Still pretty soft and scrawny lol. Working on it though!

At 163 today after a cheat weekend and deload. Definitely no longer 10-12%.[/QUOTE]

One weekend in a surplus isn’t going to cause some crazy change in bodyfat.... unless you ate like 10,000+ calories for two days each And even then you’d just look puffy from all the water/carbs/food mass

You don’t look ‘soft’

[QUOTE=Strawng;1620273721]Yea ab veins = at least 10ish or lower imo as a general rule & the ones with good lighting & a tan look about 10. The other photos look like a different dude entirely with less mass even who'se about 12% lol
[/QUOTE]

All about the lighting, lol. Which is why I enclosed the frontal bathroom lighting not flexed. That's a more accurate representation. Those basement "tan" pics are flexed after a workout.

Thanks for looking!

Hello new here and never had my BF measured so wanted to get an idea of where im starting to set goals accordingly. Also garbage at embedding photos on forums. Thanks!

183cm
86kg

[QUOTE=kgriffith720;1620319651]Hello new here and never had my BF measured so wanted to get an idea of where im starting to set goals accordingly. Also garbage at embedding photos on forums. Thanks!

183cm
86kg[/QUOTE]

I would estimate 20% on the low side. Probably closer to 23%

26yo
5'7"
155 lbs
BF according to my bathroom scale - which uses "bioelectrical impedance" - is 17.5%.
Photo taken relaxed no flexing.
Looking for another estimation approach besides my scale.
Best,

[QUOTE=rugbypeach;1620424391]26yo
5'7"
155 lbs
BF according to my bathroom scale - which uses "bioelectrical impedance" - is 17.5%.
Photo taken relaxed no flexing.
Looking for another estimation approach besides my scale.
Best,[/QUOTE]

I would estimate 19-20%

[QUOTE=Mateo217;1620465211]I would estimate 19-20%[/QUOTE]

Thanks Mateo, any idea what the discrepancy could be between that and my scale measurement? I just bought skin fold calipers btw gonna try that too

[QUOTE=rugbypeach;1620482021]Thanks Mateo, any idea what the discrepancy could be between that and my scale measurement? I just bought skin fold calipers btw gonna try that too[/QUOTE]

They just aren't accurate. I have a scale too and its close but I could have a big cheat weekend and gain 10lbs of water and it throws my scale out of whack by pounds of "fat."

I have calipers too and when I use them on a 7 point spot test it says my bf% is WAY lower than what it really is.

However, I suggest keeping track with your scale and calipers just as progress trackers. They might not be accurate but your loss or gain will be relative to when you started so something can be measured.

Also recommend measuring body parts and using this forum once in a while for others to see pictures of you. You can use all these tools to get a better picture of where you stand. The longer you track, the better picture you will get.

With all that said, it's still just an estimate and you'll never really know EXACTLY what your bf% is.

Just keep working hard and keep looking in the mirror and take progress pics.

I dunno what your goal is but you aren't too far away from visible abs! Good work!

[QUOTE=rugbypeach;1620482021]Thanks Mateo, any idea what the discrepancy could be between that and my scale measurement? I just bought skin fold calipers btw gonna try that too[/QUOTE]

Those scales base everything (other than weight) on the amount of resistance your body produces vs an oscillating current. Which is why they are not accurate.

Mine has said that my BF percentage has dropped nearly 3% in one afternoon between readings taken before and after I went out bicycling in the summer heat (which is utterly ridiculous). Wet feet vs dry feet when stepping on them can also alter the numbers.

As to calipers, don't put any real faith in your self-measurements either. Even people with years of experience using them still get it wrong.

[QUOTE=Luclin999;1620497611]Those scales base everything (other than weight) on the amount of resistance your body produces vs an oscillating current. Which is why they are not accurate.

Mine has said that my BF percentage has dropped nearly 3% in one afternoon between readings taken before and after I went out bicycling in the summer heat (which is utterly ridiculous). Wet feet vs dry feet when stepping on them can also alter the numbers.

As to calipers, don't put any real faith in your self-measurements either. Even people with years of experience using them still get it wrong.[/QUOTE]

Makes sense. Would you agree with Mateo with what he talked about with relative estimates being the redeemable benefit of the calipers? (As opposed to this illusion that the tool measures the actual amount of fat on your body as a discreet number).

[QUOTE=Mateo217;1620490651]They just aren't accurate. I have a scale too and its close but I could have a big cheat weekend and gain 10lbs of water and it throws my scale out of whack by pounds of "fat."

I have calipers too and when I use them on a 7 point spot test it says my bf% is WAY lower than what it really is.

However, I suggest keeping track with your scale and calipers just as progress trackers. They might not be accurate but your loss or gain will be relative to when you started so something can be measured.

Also recommend measuring body parts and using this forum once in a while for others to see pictures of you. You can use all these tools to get a better picture of where you stand. The longer you track, the better picture you will get.

With all that said, it's still just an estimate and you'll never really know EXACTLY what your bf% is.

Just keep working hard and keep looking in the mirror and take progress pics.

I dunno what your goal is but you aren't too far away from visible abs! Good work![/QUOTE]

Thank you so much, glad I'm on the right track. My goal is to reduce my BF from current state to something ideal prior to a major bulking and strengh increase phase. My form isn't the best with many exercises and I don't love the way I look, so focusing on losing fat and homing in on better form..

[QUOTE=rugbypeach;1620503361]Makes sense. Would you agree with Mateo with what he talked about with relative estimates being the redeemable benefit of the calipers? (As opposed to this illusion that the tool measures the actual amount of fat on your body as a discreet number).[/QUOTE]

The biggest problem with calipers is actually in getting the consistency down.

Just a small change in how much skin you are pinching, the location you are pinching or how much pressure you are applying with the calipers can alter the results.

Dexa at 13.7%

What do you all think

[url]https://i.imgur.com/BwegATi.jpg[/url]

[QUOTE=snailsrus;1620505001]Dexa at 13.7%

What do you all think

[url]https://i.imgur.com/BwegATi.jpg[/url][/QUOTE]

Very plausible.

[QUOTE=Luclin999;1620504721]The biggest problem with calipers is actually in getting the consistency down.

Just a small change in how much skin you are pinching, the location you are pinching or how much pressure you are applying with the calipers can alter the results.[/QUOTE]

All true. Agree 100%. But it does give you SOMETHING to keep an eye on. For some folks (like me) some kind of tracking is better than nothing. Something to quantify. Do your best to remember the EXACT spot you used for consistency. Write it down if you have to.

[QUOTE=snailsrus;1620505001]Dexa at 13.7%

What do you all think

[url]https://i.imgur.com/BwegATi.jpg[/url][/QUOTE]Jesus, you are lean, no idea how to calculate female bf%

[QUOTE=Junsuiakai;1620534231]Jesus, you are lean, no idea how to calculate female bf%[/QUOTE]

Me either but I agree super lean. I have heard sub 10% to what a male would be.

That would be 3.7% according to dexa which seems too low. Maybe 15%? Total guess. And hard to tell with a back pick. I can make out a bit of your shoulders in the mirror.

[QUOTE=Mateo217;1620517021]All true. Agree 100%. But it does give you SOMETHING to keep an eye on. For some folks (like me) some kind of tracking is better than nothing. Something to quantify. Do your best to remember the EXACT spot you used for consistency. Write it down if you have to.[/QUOTE]

I actually like calipers for a couple reasons:

1. Unlike dexa, hydro, bod pod, BIA, etc, calipers actually measure what you SEE, as opposed to relying on essentially a computer program to run an algorithm/formula.

2. It’s super cheap, fast, and accessible for most people... tho I admit finding someone who know how to do it is harder

3. It’s harder to ‘trick’ calipers unless subcutaneous water changes massively for u... unlike dexa which would also factor in fluids and other things INSIDE your body.

But point #1 is my biggest thing... I mean if what we care about is the fat we can SEE/pinch... it would make sense to measure that IMO

Hey everybody,

Lost and old account and just got back into it after a long injury and inactivity so wondering body fat % and how much weight do you guys think I should lose before abs start showing?

stats:
weight: 183lbs
height 6"
age: 32

thanks in advance!

[QUOTE=guecha88;1620585191]Hey everybody,

Lost and old account and just got back into it after a long injury and inactivity so wondering body fat % and how much weight do you guys think I should lose before abs start showing?

stats:
weight: 183lbs
height 6"
age: 32

thanks in advance![/QUOTE]


I'm going to estimate 25-26%.

Lose 15-20 lbs of fat to start to see abs.

Way to get back to it after being off!

[QUOTE=Mateo217;1620539151]Me either but I agree super lean. I have heard sub 10% to what a male would be.

That would be 3.7% according to dexa which seems too low. Maybe 15%? Total guess. And hard to tell with a back pick. I can make out a bit of your shoulders in the mirror.[/QUOTE]quads muscles are separated and calf have decent definition

[url]https://i.imgur.com/qDcZa1B.jpg[/url]

Ya I think 15% might be closer
Measurements are
Chest: 32
Waist: 21
Hips: 26

[QUOTE=snailsrus;1620589411]quads muscles are separated and calf have decent definition

[url]https://i.imgur.com/qDcZa1B.jpg[/url]

Ya I think 15% might be closer
Measurements are
Chest: 32
Waist: 21
Hips: 26[/QUOTE]Are you planning on bulking? You are so lean lol