Using fat calipers - Page 2

Caracal · 09-Sep-04, 05:35 AM

Hah riiiiiiiiiiight, so I tried getting some readings last night, and I followed the instructions properly (as far as i can tell!) and the first reading waas 4.7% BF, and the second was about 6.4% BF!!

This are obviously way too low (i'm guessing my real % is about double), Cursor, could you tell me how exactly you take your measurements? There are a few things i'm not too clear on... for example how hard do you close the caliper? Do you squeeze the skinfold, or just do it gently?

Thanks

**JawD** · 09-Sep-04, 07:14 AM

Cursor, just noticed that I'm using the same calipers. I have no problem with my thigh and chest measurement and they come out fairly consistent. Trouble is with my waist. This is the main beast I'm fighting! Do you "tense" when you take the measurement? Do you use the same amount of pressure (i guess so). I think because I have around 2-3" here its hard to be consistent. No? just me then! I think my problem is knowing how much to pinch? Like you say though, I guess the key isnt so much how I do it, but so long as I do it the same way each time. What I used to do was measure each area 3 times and take the average - just in case.

Oh, and I paid £25 for mine which is around $44

**cursor** · 09-Sep-04, 08:45 AM

Slowly squeeze the calipers until the thickness registers. With the Fattrack II calipers its automatic. Pinch the skinfold, flex the underlying muscle, then pull the skin out and away from the muscle ... making sure that you're not pinching lean tissue. With practice, it will become easier and more consistent.

There's no doubt that thicker pinches are harder to "grab". You just have to do the best that you can.

how I use my body-fat calipers

Caracal · 09-Sep-04, 08:53 AM

Oh right, i thought the measurement was taken as soon as you push that blue button on the top of the arm? :confused:

Regulator · 09-Sep-04, 12:59 PM

I bought those calipers too. I was getting slightly different readings each time I did the measurements. I visited some website that calculates your fat percentage when you enter your weight, age and waist size. The result I got from that website seemed to be an average of the results I was getting from the calipers....I don't remember what the website was, I just typed "body fat percentage" into the search engine.