Ways of measuring body fat besides a BMI?
I'm not particularly worried about my weight, but my BMI puts me at a 24.1, just .9 away from "overweight/obese" (which is ridiculous, considering I wear a size 5) I think it may be muscle weight driving that number up, so I'd like to check my body fat and see if it is within a healthy level. I'm currently sans health insurance, so going to the doctors to have it checked is, unfortunately, not an option. Are there any other ways to check body fat and see if I'm at a healthy level from home? I've heard of skin fold pinching and something to do with proportions, but I've had a hard time finding concrete information on how to preform these from home. I'd appreciate any info you could give me. Thanks!
Public Comments
- U sound fine. If u r still worried go to a clinic, like at Walgreens or sometimes a grocery store. They have clinics to treat people for like 30 bucks. Good luck!!!
- You can buy some body fat callipers from Ebay. I bought the Accu-Measure ones and they are pretty easy to use and very affordable too. Obviously BMI is not a measure of body fat, it's just a comparison of height and weight and is only really helpful for non-muscular, sedentary people.
- You can also buy scales and hand held devices which give you a percent body fat using the electrical conductance of your body. This means that all you have to do is grip two handles, or in the case of the scale step on it bare footed. You can get a hand held one for under $50 on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HBF-306C-Fat-Loss-Monitor/dp/B000FYZMYK/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1200941825&sr=8-1
- Howdy, You are not obese! Anything at a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese. Size 5, that is great! If you want to get a size smaller, I suggest you look at calculating your BMR: basal metabolic rate. Simply put, it is all about expending more calories than you consume. So, first, take your weight, say it is 130lbs. Well, for every pound you weigh you need 10 calories to keep you going daily. multiply your weight by 10. 130 x 10 = 1300. Then, you need to calculate the amount of activity you do in a regular day. Take the number you just calculated and multiply it by your activity level: Sedentary, sitting most of the day: 20%, lightly active, walking here and there, daily chores: 30%, Moderately Active: constantly moving around, daily exercise: 40%, very active, heavy exercise for prolonged periods of time: 50%. So, lets take 1300 calories x 0.30 if we are lightly active = 390 calories. Then add together your BMR and calories burned by your activity level: 1300 + 390 = 1690. Well, that is the amount of calories you need daily sweetie...anything else will turn to fat, unless your activity level rises, when that does, so does the amount of calories needed also rise. if you exercise and expend more calories than consumed, then you will begin to lose weight. Just don't go below the absolutely bare calories needed, 130 lbs x 10 = 1300. 1690 - 1300 = 390 calories that you have to play with.More or less activity and adjust your nutrtion. synergy...couple that with some positive support, and you are on your way to any dress size you may want or need! Contact Eric Smith at TRAINING BUDDIES for more info at 915-256-3702 or E-mail me at trainingbuddies.elpaso@yahoo.com
