Fat percentage measuring?

[tiny]

I just got my fat percentage measured by a trainer at my gym, and I'm not quite sure how accurate it is.

She took the measurement of my calves, wrist, waist, hips and bust and then put it into a weird calculator and out popped 12.6%.

I'm currently sitting on 71kgs and I'm 155cm.

Surely that can't be right.... I mean, it's flattering, but I wouldn't want to fool myself. :roll:

Anybody had any experiences with this method? Is it usually pretty accurate?

[Pseudonym]

Was she using a tape measure, rather than callipers? I'd be a bit suspicious if that was the case.

[rose]

71kg, 155cm, 12.6% BF :shock: You'd be one muscled, ripped beast! Pix please :pray:

[HumanPerformance]

Was she using a tape measure, rather than callipers? I'd be a bit suspicious if that was the case.

Yeah sounds like she must have been using a tape measure. With calf wrist and bust measurements it must be. There is a method using a tape measure for measuring bodyfat levels, but yes as Pseudonym said you should be suspicious of it as it is highly inaccurate.

[luv.me.oats]

yeah go the calipers at home I have the list of sites where they need to pinch.

Even at comp time - (I am 157cm, weighed in at 54.4kgs) - came in at 13.49%

[tiny]

She used a tape measure, sadly.

71kg, 155cm, 12.6% BF :shock: You'd be one muscled, ripped beast! Pix please :pray:

Not that confident yet! :roll:

[agent86]

I hope you didn't pay money for that crazy fat mesurement.

[michaelk]

I'm planning on using that method exclusively for myself now- what a great way to boost self esteem

[rooney111]

What about those machines at gym, you stand on it bare feet and it sends small pulses through body and give a full body analysis? Are they any accurate? I tried two at same place, one gave me 30% fat and the other gave 16%(yea tell me about it!!)) but i've had access to a mates one which I could check every other day at same time same conditions and that has been consistent, 15% to 16%. this one uses BIA body impedance analysis.

[alex-art]

That machines you're talking about are not to be used by sportsmen. It's written in their manual

[alex-art]

Found nice and easy site with online calculator - http://www.linear-software.com/online.html. Check it out, it has several options and clear instructions.

[One-2-One Trainer]

I use the Linear website also. Works very well.

Back to first post......I hope you're not paying for that trainer. Body Fat testing is very easy to get wrong, even experienced administrators will have small variations, but from the numbers you posted weight/height etc. Then either you are an incredibly muscled woman or your trainer made more than a small mis calculation. They might need to re think their profession.