Bioelectrical Impedance vs tape measurement for

[skully]

So which one is more accurate? I got a difference of 6-8% in those.

I tried tape measurement using this website: http://www.healthcentral.com/cholestero ... 4-143.html

& I got those results:

You have 21.6% body fat.

You have 11.2 Kilograms of fat and 40.8 Kilograms of lean (muscle, bone, body water).

They asked for age(21), (F), & weight (52kgs).

measurements are
Hips: 36in
Calf: 13in
Thigh: 22in
Wrist: 6in

While if I do the Bio method, I get high numbers such as 27-28 (and everyone swears to me that there is no way in hell I have such high %, except those damn trainers who keep crushing ego. From now on, I'd like to believe I have 21.6% and not 27% as it doesn't make sense at all.

Which one would be more accurate anyway - and honestly?

[Bonnie]

Have it checked professionally, though unless your having the underwater method performed, which is apparently the most accurate, there is I think at least 5 % margin of error in other methods.

[skully]

Have what checked professionally? I do the former in a fitness gym using an "In Body" measurement machine, however I have a feeling that the numbers are really way off. I cannot comprehend that I do have a bf% of 27-28. the least it ever shown is 26. But it just doesn't make sense. I don't have a lot of fat in body, i.e. legs/arms...tc. except stomach a bit.So how come the results are like that. I know I am not very lean, but In general I look okay overall (I think), and yes a bit of me jiggles when I jump, I repeat, a bit!

I cant find anywhere where they do under water testing in the city I live in. Seriously, we're in one of the top 10 obese countires & our facilities to solve the prob SUCK & too commercialized.

I'd like to belive I have a of 21%. IT seems more reasonable to me *denial* or not.

[Bonnie]

Well you can believe whatever you like, however I just did that test twice, because the first time I put in wrist & calf measurements that were actually too big, first result was 17 % second with SMALLER measurements was 19.5 %. I can assure you that test is inaccurate as I'm probably around 13 % or less.

[skully]

Weird!

So confusing - all of those measurements, how does one really know what's their body fat. I would like to be in the "Athlete" level.

[Bonnie]

Calipers with skin folds, still inaccurate to a degree. Underwater weighing, where the fat floats to the top, most accurate.You read that article allison posted though where it said if you can pinch an inch, you have a way to go yet. I personally can still pinch an inch on inner thigh, use that method for now.

[skully]

So does that mean pinching you thumb and index finger and see how much is the distance? Argh. Mine is 2in for tummy

[Bonnie]

Well that leaves me out, lol...never had mine done. Though unless I was competing I'm not so worried about it, I just go by how much muscle I can see or if anything jiggles during cardio.

[skully]

I dont beliebe the piece of equip we have is any accurate, I just dn't want to believe is that high. I do jiggle a bit, but not so much just a lil around stomach, even legs and arms dont jiggle at allllll.

[Bonnie]

I didn't notice the jiggles until I was about half way through weight loss, then when one takes off at 15 mph on that elliptical you can feel it, flapping Not anymore though

[skully]

I know for a fact I have lost11-12% in one year, however, the range in # is what I don't trust.

[scottgaran]

Hey Skully, try not to get too fixated with the numbers on fat %. First, women are higher than men because they naturally hold more fat. Breast, hips and thighs all for having babies. I have done testing for years, with calipers and it is not an exact science. Both calipers and Bio Electrical have errors, although Bonnie is right underwater weighing is the way to go.
The best advice is to have the same tech measure you from time to time and see the diff in the measurements. If it is dropping you are doing fine. If the measurements are all over, find a new tech!

[skully]

The numbers are dropping for sure & I do look leaner than before for sure ,but I aslo want abs to show (which they barely do) at this point. Ijust don't want to believe I am in the "acceptable" range of ! I think I am in the "fit range", bjut I'd like to be in the athlete range. Blahh...Damn women genetic make-up/ Not fun at all.

[Boss Man]

Getting Abs to show in females is a lot harder, because the hips and Abs area is a big storage area for fat on females.

That's not to say it can't happen, but the main thing is condition first and foremost, not look of Abs, so if you could get close to the point where they would show, even if they don't, that's still a good thing.

[Bonnie]

I'm amazed her abs are so defined, usually its the arms first, however hers are still fat, odd.