how do I find out my body fat %?
 

I think the title says it all :p

Go to www.google.com

DO a search for BMI Calculator and yer set! But the best way to find out is go to a gym and ask a trainer to use the calipers.

You can get scales that measure your body's electrical resistance to calculate your fat content. I picked one up at Wal-Mart the other day for $40.

It's a good ballpark figure and you can tell if you're improving, but it's not as reliable as a trained person w/ calipers. Diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol can screw up the readings. I have to find those rare moments when I don't have one or the other in my system, and then it does read quite consistently for me. :)

i have always been curious about the body fat calculators that they have on weight scales...

anyone have any opinions on them? do they work? Irseg, as you said, are they inaccurate if your say hungover or just had a cup of coffee?

How do caffeine or alcohol screw it up? It's a rare moment indeed when I don't have one or the other, or most likely both, in my system. I'm a big fan of the irish coffee.

To be accurate there aren't many ways. The electrical method tends to be reliable for measuring a change, but not your actual % (a very skinny friend of mine was told his was -1%!). You have to dial in things about your "body shape" and "fitness level" that make it pretty dodgy.

Skin calipers are supposed to be better, but different methods and different people doing the measurement may cause bias in the results. Try to get someone experienced who measures at 7 different points (and knows where the points are!). You usually end up with a load of marks on you (from a pen where they've measured distances to see where to put the calipers) if it's done properly.

I think the best way (but not very practical) is the total-body-submersion method. I've not tried this, but apparently it involves getting on scales whilst in a tank of water. It's supposed to be within 1-2% of your actual figure.

So I'd go for calipers if you want an accurate reading, or scales if you just want to see yourself improving.

Good luck!

It puts a slight electrical current through your body. Fat and muscle have different resistances to electricity, so it can measure that resistance to determine how much fat vs muscle you have.

More or less water in your body will also alter your electrical resistance, which would throw off the scale. Caffeine/alcohol remove water from your body, so that's why they cause problems with readings.

The absolute most reliable way to measure your bodyfat is to have it done using water immersion. It costs money, but is pinpoint accurate. The second best way is to use bodyfat calipers and do the 7 point skinfold test. Electrical measurements are totally unreliable and inaccurate. Those scales with the bodyfat % measurement are worthless. Hope that helps.

By the way, you can buy calipers very cheap (around $10-$15) online or at your local health store. Hope that helps.