I think the mirror only shows the way you see your self, or how you might feel about yourself…pure emotion, criticisms, and compared to others.

I think that fat% only works if you keep in mind that every type of body needs a minimum amount of lean body mass not just for bones, and organs but healthy muscle.

Love your comment and opinion. Thanks for sharing.

Tell you what, I’m a guy and I have some abs, not clearly defined, but they’re there. However, if I eat a very low carb diet, drink 2 gallons of water, and watch my sodium intake for a week, I can (and have) dropped 10lbs in water. Combine it with a controlled refeed and something like glycerine and it’s a solid six-pack. Great for pictures, but means absolutely nothing.

Get a bodyfat test done every 6 months and you’ll see whether you’ve ACTUALLY been eating healthy enough or exercising enough. Also, I mean a real one. Skin-fold is the most economic and you can have your spouse do a simple 7-site measurement. That one-site measurement recommended for the accumeasure is completely useless. You need to use it to measure at least 7 sites (google it). Most of the electric ones are completely off and more or less useless. Try putting a brick on there and it’ll measure it’s bodyfat too.

Happy to hear your .02 any time =)

me? Ive never done the bodyfat since I did it ONCE years (15?) ago and didnt like what the scalethingysaid.
I decided I could realize that sh** by looking in the mirror.

JUST MY .02

Sagan:
I use Accu-Measure calipers (under $10) that are designed and adjusted so you only have to do it in one area of your body. When I went to the gym my trainer use and electronic thing that looked like a game boy hand set ($30+). The results were exactly the same. I’ll stick to my Accu-Measure, but let the trainer use her thing when I’m training.

Stephenie:
That’s exactly what I do. They say…when you have a goal to put a picture somewhere to remind/motivate you of that goal. How else would I find a pict. that represent muscle and weight loss =) This is referring to women who starve themselves in attempt to look like someone who has a completely different body type.

Sorry about the 30%. That really doesn’t sound or look right. Hu?…maybe they weren’t using them right, they are very particular and hurt like heck when their doing it right …especially the thigh test. Either way, I’m sure you’ll reach your goal…and we will still go surfing in our new healthy bods =)

A bummer for me… I had a personal trainer pinch test me at the gym today and my numbers added up to a whopping 30%… ACK! He said to me that I can go by either the online methods (24% there) or the pincher, but I would guess the pincher is MUCH more accurate. So I got some workin’ out to do!

Thanks for taking the time to share all this info =)

How do you determine your own body fat percentage? I really want to know mine but I’m not sure how to figure it out.

Let us know what you learn from your trainer!