Too fat for calipers?

MagicMarker

So I bought one of those cheap plastic calipers (or not so cheap in this case, but that's another thread!). I used this rather useful site for the calculations.

Just for convenience sake I used the Pollock 3 method and it said I was just over 25% BF, which I highly doubt.

But getting to the point, it's really tough, actually, impossible, to pinch a skin fold, am I just wasting my time even trying or what?

Transform

use tape measurement until you get body fat down a bit more as it can be a better way to assess progress if you have much weight to drop.

MagicMarker

Ah yes, my tape measure will be my trusted friend for a long time to come.

rubadub

I have seen online calculators that use tape measurements of various parts to give a BF% estimate.

It is only a number anyway, if the figures on the tape are going down so will be BF% estimate. I gave up using formulas with the calipers too as they varied a lot between formulas so it was really a pointless exercise. If the numbers are going down then you are doing something right.

MysticalSoul

It is actually hard to use the callipers on yourself. Depending on your age, and gender, 25% could be quite normal too, you also need to pinch three times, to release any water (trained as a fitness instructor many moons ago), also it is impossible to measure yourself from the back region, unless you are contortionist :eek:

FunkZ

Transform wrote: »

use tape measurement until you get body fat down a bit more as it can be a better way to assess progress if you have much weight to drop.

Great advice there! This is what I'm doing, I'm not gonna get a calipers till I have a sub 34" waist

Transform

yes i do not use a calipers on most clients that have over about stone and a half plus as its not that accurate until it comes down a bit more.

PLus most people that are overweight want to be able to say i have lost X inches off their waist/legs/arms etc as its easier to relate to.