This just CAN'T be right

M

msbowman

Cathlete
Hi all,

New to the forum but not to Cathe or exercise. I've been working out with her for a year now and LOVE! her workouts. As with many(if not all)of you, I AM addicted.

I will try to keep this as short as possible. I went a couple of weeks ago to get my BF measured at a fitness center. Before she did anything I asked how accurate the test was. She told me it was within a 1% margin. She took my stats and entered them into a machine. Then she used some sort of strip across my bicep for measuring also. When the results came back, I about freaked. The results came back in the single digit area. This just can't be right, can it? She told me that as long as my periods hadn't stopped it was okay. My stats are: I'm 46, 5'5", weigh between 118-120(it varies), I workout 6 days a week averaging 1 hour each day(3 cardio,3 weights), I eat clean(most of the time) and I don't take any supplements other than a multi-vitamin. My only real indulgence is my coffee with fat free creamer in the morning. Could their machine be that much off? Does anyone with more expertise in this area have any suggestions? Should I be concerned and get a second opinion? If it's right, is it okay to be that low?(my DH says "no")

TIA for any advise or input!

Sally

BTW, I had my BF done 3 years ago at the same place and it was 20% then.
 
Thank you Anne! I was just concerned because I've heard it isn't really healthy to have BF that low. I was just curious what others thought about this. I do feel good and everything from my physical last November came back good.

Thanks again and good luck with your last 15lbs..

Sally
 
I don't understand how she measured your body fat? Did she just enter your stats and measure your bicep, or did she use calipers, or some other tool? Because if she just entered your stats into a machine and measured your bicep, I can't see how that can be an accurate meaasure of body fat.
 
Generally, it isn't good for a woman to carry bodyfat % in the single digits. For the most part this is the % carried when they are competing in fitness/figure competitions. Once the competitions are over, they usually try to increase that %.

My bodyfat is very low also, I don't intentionally carry it low, but that's just how my body is.

I agree with Shelly that I don't understand how your bodyfat was measured....is there anyplace you can go for a second opinion?


http://www.GlitterMaker.com/created/39583717.gif[/IMG][/URL]
(fitxme)
http://www.picturetrail.com/fitxme
 
Hi Sally,

Your stats sound healthy, but if your BF was in the single digits, I think it would be very obvious. Female bodybuilders and fitness contestants may go into the single digits during contest prep, but for women, 10-12% BF is considered the minimum essential amount.

I think the machine is off, and I would seriously argue the validity of the 1% margin for error. DEXA and Hydrostatic weighing are considered the more accurate forms of measuring BF and even those aren't accurate to 1%.

I'd get it check another way. Skin fold calipers are pretty cheap.

HTH
 
Shelley,

No, calipers weren't used. I thought ahe should have at least measured other areas as well. Not just my bicep.

fitxme,

That's what I thought and that's why it scared me. I also don't intentionally try to get my BF that low either. I'm not sure where to go for another opinion, but I think I need to look into it. Or get some calipers.

Gayle,

I just couldn't digest the low number and thought something wasn't right.



Thank you all for your insight and help. I'll be looking into calipers or finding someone else to measure me more accurately.
 
Well, it can't possibly be within 1% accuracy if she didn't use ANY method at all of measuring, like calipers or even a BF scale. You definitely need to get some calipers or get another opinion.
 
I agree that you should get a second opinion.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
Shelley,

Yeah, that's what I'm going to have to do. Because, God knows, I'm NOT a bodybuilder by any means:7 .

Kathryn,

She used some sort of magnetic(I think) strip on my bicep. I didn't think the number sounded right, but my first response was "I must be doing something wrong!".

Honeybunch1,

That's what I'm going to look into, or find some calipers.

fitnessgirl,

I have done the measurement thing on several different internet sites and I know they aren't reliable. They had a range from 16%-30% and I don't think I'm at 30%. But who knows, I could be wrong. I do think I'm more fit now than I was 3 years ago though.

Sally
 
Actually if you can find a DEXA scan ( what they use to check bone mineral density for osteoporosis) that does BF% they say it is an excellent way of measuring BF and better than calipers.

Catherine
 
One time when I got a bad reading from a Bally's club, I found an ACE certified former body builder personal trainer who took my measurements with calipers. That may be a route to go. Bally's had me at 29%, and she had me at 18%. A lot rides on the skill of the tester.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
I was taught in school (Hofstra) that if using a caliper, the test should be taken 3x's and then average it out. We used a caliper along with a tape measurer.

For ex. we measured the bicep, tricep, below the scapular area and between the waist and hip bone. Of course the muscle has to be relaxed.

Someone quote me if I'm wrong b/c I forgot, but a woman's bf should not fall under 14%. It's been a couple of years.

http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee
 
That's the problem with calipers, too much variation and room for error. Esp if you don't have an experienced tester. Hydrostatic or DEXA are the best tests for BF % Just hard to find a place to do it.

Catherine
 
WOW! So many choices. I'll look into them and try to narrow it down to two of them to decide and obviously what is available around my area.

Thank you so much everyone for all the advice!!!!

Sally
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top