Skin Caliper Help?

Ashman · Mon, January 26th, 2004, 11:03 PM

I bought a pair of Accu-Measure skin calipers today. However I'm still not sure how to use them correctly. It came with a little booklet which was wasn't a lot of help. I understand the concept of them, it's just that I'm not sure how much skin to pinch and measure. The directions say "pinch an inch" but there's no way those measurements can be accurate when I try and do that. Do I grab as much skin as possible until it's right up to the muscle or just an "inch"???

Can anyone help? I'm 5'9" / 164 lbs and I've lost 16 pounds over the past month and a half. I just want to make sure that I'm losing body fat and the least amount of LBM as possible.

Thanks!!

NME · Mon, January 26th, 2004, 11:25 PM

I grab as much as I can grab just above the front of my hip bone (there's a diagram in the insert that comes with the package). From there, you use the caliper (squeeze it SLOWLY to ensure the most accurate results). Once it clicks (into the groove), check the millimeter measurement and look up the results on the chart (based on the mm measurement and your age). In the instructions, it says to do this three times and average the results to get a more accurate result (you'd be surprised how much you can alter a measurement from one try to another without even realizing) so make sure you don't just accept the first outcome.

Hope that helps.

Avec · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 05:39 AM

Hi, Famous.

You know, there has been some reseach done by scientists and health personell in the past giving us methods how to go forward with our calipers. I did not know much about this either last week, but I came over this program that is what fatloosers may want to try out. It is not a very special program, you input you daily/weekly/whatever measurements data after a method. The program will then calculate the result and showing you the difference.

You do not need to buy this program, just test the trial to get access to the methods I am talking about. The different methods is suited for different persons. Some for females and some for men. Some for obease people, and som for young people. The different methods shows nice pictures about where on your body you should measure.

The program can be found at http://www.comptracker.com
I belive the manual will be availible after you have downloaded the trial. The trial only works for five days.

I bought the program and I am waiting for my caliper. Meanwhile I use a measurement method wich also is supported, but I belive not so accurate. Accually the masurement with a tape is the only way to do it if you are obease. The caliper is for later use....

I found the manual online at http://www.techdeva.com/WebHelp/Comp...structions.htm

-Avec

map200uk · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 06:13 AM

hey guys,

i got my calipers yesterday + myo tape

Ashman, take 3 measurements, 1 to the side of your chest, 1 around the middle of your abs and the last being your calf, i just try and grab as much as possible and then well see what it says.

But what famous said is so true, i found the results did vary after 3 times or so

Anyway mate if you need anymore help just say, im using a fasttrack II i think its called

Mark

:db:

NME · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 08:13 AM

Interesting, Avec. I'll have to check the program out. I'm always interested in a new way to do mudane things.

Thanks for the info!

Xtropy · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avec

The program can be found at http://www.comptracker.com

Sweet... I came across that program before but forgot to bookmark it and have been looking for it for a few days. Thanks for the link Avec...

Xtropy

Ashman · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 09:18 AM

Thanks for all your help! I'll give it another try tonight.

lordscarlet · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avec

Hi, Famous.

You know, there has been some reseach done by scientists and health personell in the past giving us methods how to go forward with our calipers. I did not know much about this either last week, but I came over this program that is what fatloosers may want to try out. It is not a very special program, you input you daily/weekly/whatever measurements data after a method. The program will then calculate the result and showing you the difference.

You do not need to buy this program, just test the trial to get access to the methods I am talking about. The different methods is suited for different persons. Some for females and some for men. Some for obease people, and som for young people. The different methods shows nice pictures about where on your body you should measure.

The program can be found at http://www.comptracker.com
I belive the manual will be availible after you have downloaded the trial. The trial only works for five days.

I bought the program and I am waiting for my caliper. Meanwhile I use a measurement method wich also is supported, but I belive not so accurate. Accually the masurement with a tape is the only way to do it if you are obease. The caliper is for later use....

-Avec

I'm not sure if this uses the same formulas, but Microsoft offers a free Excel template that calculates Body Fat based on your measurements.

Avec · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I'm not sure if this uses the same formulas, but Microsoft offers a free Excel template that calculates Body Fat based on your measurements.

Interesting

BlackBeauty · Tue, January 27th, 2004, 11:38 PM

How much do these calipers cost? I've always been curious to know what my body fat % actually is. I think it's still quite high....

Thnx in advance

Lindset · Wed, January 28th, 2004, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBeauty

How much do these calipers cost? I've always been curious to know what my body fat % actually is. I think it's still quite high....

Thnx in advance

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/fattrack.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/accu.html

Don't know how good any of those are, though

Glamdring · Wed, January 28th, 2004, 10:29 AM

I ordered the $29.99 electronic one that comes with the myotape. I figured that way I'm getting two methods in one, and should be able to determine a better average that way.

Plus, electronic gadgets are just cool.

daveo · Wed, January 28th, 2004, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glamdring

I ordered the $29.99 electronic one that comes with the myotape. I figured that way I'm getting two methods in one, and should be able to determine a better average that way.

Combined with a scale you actually get quite a few different methods (read: websites) to compute bodyfat percentage. Remember that John averaged 3 different methods out -- sounds like a good idea to me!

I just ordered a set myself... I wonder when they'll show up