If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
I think the weight charts are bogus -- they don't take into account your body type or your body fat percentage.
Calipers to measure your body fat are available for the grand sum of $17, including shipping. You can get a pretty good measurement -- certainly much more accurate than any scale will give you - from a single site on your body, the suprailiac skinfold. Along with the calipers, you'll get a conversion chart. Nothing could be easier.
Once you have your body fat pctg., you can get your lean body mass. From this, you can calculate your goal weight.
Example from my stats: current weight = 244; body fat pctg = 28
fat mass = 244 x 28% = 68.3 lbs.
lean mass = 244 - fat mass = 175.7 lbs.
my target body fat pctg = 11.7%
my target lean pctg = 88.3% goal weight = lean mass / 88.3% = 175.7 / .883 = 199 lbs.
What this formula tells me is that if I don't want to be quite so aggressive on the body fat pctg., and I go for 17%, my goal would be around 212 lbs.
For a man my age, 17% body fat is still considered "lean", so that would make me quite proud.
The lean body fat pctg for men depends on age. If you're 20 yrs. old, it's 7% or less; of you're 58 like me, it's 19% or less. For women, if you're 20, it's 18% or less; if you're 55 +, it's 26% or less.
By the way, this also shows what's wrong with BMI, which after all, is nothing more than an index based on height and weight, and also doesn't have anything to do with body type or lean mass. If I got down to my 17% body fat at 212 lbs., I would still have a BMI of 28, which is considered overweight.
In reality, of course, as I get closer to my goal, I will have lost some of my lean muscle mass as well. I'm trying to prevent that by losing weight slowly (about 3 lbs. a month) and doing a full body weight routine every 4 days. But some of it is bound to go. That will mean I'll have to recalculate as I go along, and it's possible that a 17% body fat percentage would mean 205 lbs. as my lean mass decreases somewhat.
It does make sense the caliper thing. But with your information I can calculate my body fat percentage don't I?
if your weight is 244 and bf is 28%. Then if my weight is 167 my body fat will be 167x28/244 so bf is 19.16%. Therefore my weight watchers scale that says I'm 20% bf is right!!! So I can trust my scale and save a few $$$ heheh
It does make sense the caliper thing. But with your information I can calculate my body fat percentage don't I?
if your weight is 244 and bf is 28%. Then if my weight is 167 my body fat will be 167x28/244 so bf is 19.16%. Therefore my weight watchers scale that says I'm 20% bf is right!!! So I can trust my scale and save a few $$$ heheh
My scale, which is supposedly very accurate, was way off. With the calipers, I'm 28% body fat. With the scale, it's 22%. These scales are almost never accurate. I would say it's worth it to spend the $17 on calipers so you can get an accurate measurement.
im afraid i cant help with your body mass but i wonder are you using your own scales that meassuer it, because mine do and iv discovered the amount can vary depending on the type of floor your stood on......... if i use the scales on carpet it tends to cussion them and make my body fat less, there for i always go by the result on the laminate floor and always use the scales in the same place every day. i know this sounds wierd but its true lol
You are right. Also I don't use the scale on the carpet because my weight drops almost a stone hehehe and although I like it, it's not honest and accurate.
I've just weight myself this morning using the scale and it says I am 27% bf. What the hell!!! I thought I was 20%!!!!
LOL! You just discovered why you can't rely on these scales worth a damn for body fat pctg!
The nice thing about the calipers is that you'll get consistent reading from day to day, as long as you "pinch and inch" in the same place. Actually, you only need to do it once a week, too, because your percentage won't really change from day to day.
LOL! You just discovered why you can't rely on these scales worth a damn for body fat pctg!
The nice thing about the calipers is that you'll get consistent reading from day to day, as long as you "pinch and inch" in the same place. Actually, you only need to do it once a week, too, because your percentage won't really change from day to day.
yes but I'm still not convince about the caliper's accuracy either. I had a look on the internet and there are instruction that shows where to "pinch" etc but what about if I just "pinch the wrong inch" and then I pinch else where another day???
well according to the 100 + 5 theory, i should weight 135 pounds! that is 15 pounds less than my goal weight. i am bigger built, so i really don't think 135 is desirable for me.
yes but I'm still not convince about the caliper's accuracy either. I had a look on the internet and there are instruction that shows where to "pinch" etc but what about if I just "pinch the wrong inch" and then I pinch else where another day???
Yes, part of this whole thing is pinching the same place, but at least that's something you can perfect. Also, if you Google "caliper measurement body fat" you'll find a method to take measurements on 9 different places on your body and convert that into a percentage. The cheapo plastic calipers will work just fine for that.
Short of the water immersion method, caliper measurement is the most accurate.
Yes, part of this whole thing is pinching the same place, but at least that's something you can perfect. Also, if you Google "caliper measurement body fat" you'll find a method to take measurements on 9 different places on your body and convert that into a percentage. The cheapo plastic calipers will work just fine for that.
Short of the water immersion method, caliper measurement is the most accurate.
ok i'll see if I can get one if those in London tomorrow