Hey folks,

What is a good but cheap body fat measurer? Could anyone send me a link to one I can buy online?

Hey folks,

What is a good but cheap body fat measurer? Could anyone send me a link to one I can buy online?

Check E-bay. You can usually pick up a set of inexpensive calipers with a MyoTape for about $20.

Personally, for most people, I'd say skip investing in the calipers and find a trainer at your gym to perform the test for you. Assuming that person is reasonably accurate, continue to utilize the same trainer to test your BF% once every 4~6 weeks. For the novice, it's very hard to get an accurate reading of BF% on your own using a cheap set of calipers. Self-performed BF% tests are really nothing more than relative measures of changes in body composition, assuming you're consistent enough to utilize the calipers in roughly the same manner every time.

The best way to measure BF% is to post a picture, really. This collective is very good at visual inspections of body fat percentage.

-R

For the novice, it's very hard to get an accurate reading of BF% on your own using a cheap set of calipers. Self-performed BF% tests are really nothing more than relative measures of changes in body composition, assuming you're consistent enough to utilize the calipers in roughly the same manner every time.

Agreed. This has been my problem thus far. I end up doing the measuring 2-3 times each Monday, to make sure I'm getting approximately the same results.

I somewhat disagree with this recommendation. Over time, anyone can get consistent at measuring thier own body fat...all it takes is trial and error.

I myself feel that after a few weeks of practice I was able to measure my own body fat rather consistently. You need to stay objective with the measurement and allow a few weeks to master your technique. You will, of course, have a margin of error but even professionals have a certain degree of error.

Plus, I saved some $ by buying my own calipers. I was paying a trainer at my gym $10 every couple of weeks. For $20 I bought my own Accuvmeasure...check it out:

http://www.accumeasurefitness.com/images/acimage1.jpg

Okay, but how did you master your technique? Just by watching how the trainers did it?

Because I've got that Accu-Measure, and whereas I feel I'm following the directions properly, I've got nothing to measure my ability by -- no joke intended. :D

Hey folks,

What is a good but cheap body fat measurer? Could anyone send me a link to one I can buy online?

I bought a Tanita UM-028 scale at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $30 and I think it does a good job. It's the kind that sends an electric pulse through your body to determine percentage of body fat. I weigh myself every night before bed and keep track. You can then average your reading for a week and should have a fairly accurate reading of your %BF. (I had my BF done at my gym by a trainer and she got it way wrong so that is not always foolproof). The scale is easy to use. I also own the calipers but never got good at using them.

I bought a Tanita UM-028 scale at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $30 and I think it does a good job. It's the kind that sends an electric pulse through your body to determine percentage of body fat. I weigh myself every night before bed and keep track. You can then average your reading for a week and should have a fairly accurate reading of your %BF. (I had my BF done at my gym by a trainer and she got it way wrong so that is not always foolproof). The scale is easy to use. I also own the calipers but never got good at using them.

I have found the Tanita scale to be way off as far as accuracy of bf readings. Of course this will vary depending on how close to the population that was used to derive the data set for calculations is. But it is good to see changes as long as you take the bf reading under similar conditions.

I have the caliper that sole posted and its junk. I lose weight, my waist line decreased, but that caliper always shows that im in the same body fat range. And I make sure im measuring the same area of my stomach every time.

Like somebody else said up above. Either have your doctor or a certified trainer with experience measure your BF%. Dont even waste your money.

The advice and link in this thread helped me

thread (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=17194)

THis is what i use...


http://deforceenterprises.com/bfs/omron-306-body-fat-analyzer.gif


works great!

Thanks for all the advice. It would be great if you would take the time to guesstimate my BF in this thread (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=168816#post168816).

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=168816#post168816

Thanks,
larsenbh

THis is what i use...


http://deforceenterprises.com/bfs/omron-306-body-fat-analyzer.gif


works great!
How accurate is that device? I've heard that those devices (ie scales or handheld) aren't necessarily accurate, but they sure are convenient! That's the Omron HBF-360 ... right?

Personally, for most people, I'd say skip investing in the calipers and find a trainer at your gym to perform the test for you
-R


it will cost me if i do at the gym, 50$ CAN every time i go, so it's cheaper to buy

Get the calipers, search this forum and the net for how to get accurate measurements have spouse or friend do measurements if you can't.

The machines don't work well and good "trainers" are hard to find and not much better than you or someone else. I have yest to find a doctor that has a clue.

You want to get a weekly measurement after you master the calipers. You should also write down weight and body measurements weekly. It is the key to knowing what is happening. We can allow mirrors to fool us. I think I would depend on this (http://www.he.net/~zone/prothd2.html) if I couldn't do calipers.

Accu-measure calipers are the way to go.When I first got them I used them several times a day over several days to make sure I was doing it exactly the same each time. Now, three weeks later, I get consistent results. Once in awhile go to the trainer and see if your results match up, then make adjustments as necessary. Personally I'm more concerned in relative changes in bodyfat (to make sure I'm not losing muscle while cutting) than absolute percentages.

I think I would depend on this (http://www.he.net/~zone/prothd2.html) if I couldn't do calipers.

I came out very, very close to what the calipers read. I was also wondering if they were any good but I guess they are.

Okay, but how did you master your technique? Just by watching how the trainers did it?

Because I've got that Accu-Measure, and whereas I feel I'm following the directions properly, I've got nothing to measure my ability by -- no joke intended. :D

Make sure to drag the slide thingy over each time :o

Similar to the link Rtestes provided, www.mybodycomp.com uses about a dozen body measurements to calculate body fat.

for week to week measurements, I depend much more on my waist size than my calipers, or bf scale. 1/4 inch waist difference is obvious with the tape, but well within the margin of error with calipers or the scale.

I have the caliper that sole posted and its junk. I lose weight, my waist line decreased, but that caliper always shows that im in the same body fat range. And I make sure im measuring the same area of my stomach every time.

Like somebody else said up above. Either have your doctor or a certified trainer with experience measure your BF%. Dont even waste your money.

Do you wanna sell it? Seriously!
They dont ship to Canada :(