Question for Nat (or anyone else who has their body fat measured). Quite a few people post their body fat % in their stats. How are they measuring their body fat? I had mine done at the gym, and they used some sort of imaging device. They entered some data (my weight, etc.) into it and I held it in both hands in front of my body, and it calculated my body fat %. Do you know what type of device that was? Are they accurate? The reason I'm asking is that Avon has a new 'fitness' catalog, and one of the items they have available is a device to measure body fat that looks like a smaller version of the one at the gym. Would I be wasting my money (it's $25.00)? Avon does have a very good return policy, so if I tried theirs, then had my body fat measured at the gym again, compared the two readings, and the Avon one was not accurate, I could return it for a refund.

Any ideas? Is there a better way to measure my body fat at home? (The gym charges $10.00 to do it -- but the 1st time was free).

Peg, in general most methods of BF measurement have a margin of at least 3% (the margin is larger depending on the method used and often on the size of the subject).

Many of us use skin fold measurements (calipers), others use measurement based calculations (Protein Power) and some use online calculators. None are 100% accurate (about the only accurate measure of BF% would be an autopsy, rather inconvenient). Underwater weighing is the most accurate (following autopsy ) - but it is expensive and time consuming.

What I find useful in the calculations I use and the BF% I get is the trend - as long as it keeps going down I know I'm doing things right.

I found a few interesting articles on BF testing and accuracy if you're interested:

Body Fat
Measuring Body Fat

HTH
Nat

Thanks again for the great links and info, Nat. I think I'll save the $25.00 and just use the on-line calculator. As you said, if I consistently use the same method of calculating the fat % and it's going down, that's what counts!

From the above link:


My first thought is to just make sure that you always test at the same time of day, same environment, ect.

BUT, I was wondering if there was a specific time of day or way to hold the machine that would a more accurate reading. Would before or after exercise make a difference in our "transcutaneous conductivity"?

Yes, slim, it's one of the criteria listed as effecting outcome. Proximity to a workout would effect levels of hydration - the more hydrated the less BF you'll 'appear' to have. All things being equal, I'd say test first thing in the morning, after a visit to the bathroom and before anything to eat/drink. This way you're able to control at least a few of the variables.

Nat

Thanks for the reply.

Let's suppose that you maintian adequate hydration during your workout, and that in generally you are a well hydrated low carber.
Would the fact that my circulation is higher after a workout versus first thing in the morning make that a better time to test?

(its my last question, really )

I'm not sure, slim. Why not conduct an experiment and find out ? Exercising will pump up your muscles, causing them to swell and retain water - it should have an effect. The question that comes to mind is, would the reading be accurate? Your muscles don't stay that 'pumped', although over time they will increase in size and density.

Nat

I have one of the Tanita scales....I have found that I like it provided that I am aware of some of the variables:

1) I get my lowest BF% at the end of the day...I usually check in the afternoon when I get home from work...my weight will be slightly higher than the morning weigh-in, but I am better hydrated.

2) In the am, you will get a 1-2% higher reading because you are dehydrated from the night

3) I totally agree with Nat on this ( I am new here ans she seems to really have it together...I too read Testosterone Mag.), keep a record of the trends....don't compare your morning % to your afternoon or evening %, just like you don't compare weight from parts of the day to the other

4) It also gives some variation depending on your foot temperature....cold tile floor feet vs. hot after shower feet, etc.

5) The best thing is to reduce the # of variables and look for the downward trend

Rick