Measuring body fat %...

Just back from my second assessment at the gym. Got weighed and am still 91kilos so the same as 6 weeks ago but according to the body fat machine (handheld) i am now 17% - that means im down 6% in 6 weeks? I have been training hard and feel much more lean but this seems a bit much!

When i orginally got my assessment done it was with a different instructor and he used calipers which i believe are much more accurate. I just want to know what experiences others have had measuring bf and how accurate these methods tend to be? Is it prob more likely that im at about 19% rather than 17%?

Thanks
Scott
 
The handheld is definately not the most accurate way to measure, however, if you are consistant when you take the measurements and take them the exact same way and time every time, then as long as you see it going down then you are headed in the right direction. You actual may be higher or lower if you get it tested professionally, but as a general gauge I think the handhelds are OK. Now the reading you get will vary quite a bit based on hydration, amount of sodium intake before and so forth.
 
Really? I'd be loving it if I was!! Yeah my diet is Ok - ive been taking two protein shakes a day for the past week and i tend to eat quite well.

On a typical day i would have cereal with Semi skimmed milk at 7.30am then 9am in work i go for breakfast and have a bowl of fruit salad with rasins and natural yougart. Then a coffee and scone with jam and spread.

Lunch at 12 and ill have a few sandwiches, milk, scone again and some potato salad and chicken. But varies alot - sometimes ill have a dinner if im hungry enough!

Have another lite sandwich at 3pm with a coffee. Dinner which sometimes is before the gym and other times ill have it after training. Usually Pasta or Chicken/Beef etc with bread & spread. Followed by a protein shake. Then snack before bed which usualy consists of small bowl of ceral.

It may sound like a lot but I'm a very active person and need loads of energy to keep me going! :)
 
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go to this site



figure out what your daily caloric needs are.
and you should start counting your calories heh if you haven't :D

if you follow a 500 calorie deficit. you should lose up to 1% of body fat a week. if u dedicate yourself =]

3500 calories = 1 lb of fat
10 lbs of lean muscle mass burns 500 calories.

50 calories per 1 lb of lbm
 
i have a similar hand held BF scale (actually a Tanita) and yeah, it sucks. I can change 2% bodyfat between 8am and 6pm.
 
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