Guest guest Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 I was wondering which calipers would be the best? digital or accutrim? I know they are not totally accurat but wich would be best for a guidline to go by. thanks sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Sheila - I bought Fat Tracker digital calipers and after 11 weeks of trying I still get ranges from 15% to 39%. In other words, I just can't seem to get an accurate reading. I don't know if it's me or the calipers, but I now use the bodyfat calculator on healthcentral.com. I know it's not 100% accurate, but it gives me a better idea. The calipers did come with a Myotape which I have found to be VERY useful! > I was wondering which calipers would be the best? digital or > accutrim? I know they are not totally accurat but wich would be best > for a guidline to go by. thanks sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 The digital Fat Track calipers seem to give you a different reading each time depending on how hard you close them. That renders them pretty much useless. I actually threw mine in the trash. :-) I was getting readings between 13% and 27%, which is NOT an acceptable margin of error when you're as obsessive as I am! I've heard that AccuMeasures can be quite good for the price, but I imagine that they would start to wear out eventually. The only plastic caliper I recommend to people is the SlimGuide http://bodytrends.com/cre874.htm . They're big, easy to handle, and spring loaded for constant tension on the pinch. Anything you snap or click closed yourself is going to be less consistent from reading to reading. Here's a crash course in using calipers: http://www.t-mag.com/articles/209body.html It's possible to do your own 3-site test. To get the tricep reading, look at the back of your arm in a mirror. Find the center point between your arm pit and elbow and dot it with a felt tip pen. Hold the marked arm straight out in front of you at shoulder level (like enstein) and grab the mark with the calipers. It takes some practice to be consistent but it's totally doable. For all of your pinches, use an average of three readings. If there's more than a couple millimeters difference in the three, then you know you need some more practice. Here's a good site that averages the numbers for you: http://www.rustyiron.net/formfem.htm Body Fat Calipers??? I was wondering which calipers would be the best? digital or accutrim? I know they are not totally accurat but wich would be best for a guidline to go by. thanks sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Thanks for that great info.. I have orderd one already... I hope it will help me to see the slight changes in my body that i can't see with my naked (cover your eyes) eye. sheila > The digital Fat Track calipers seem to give you a different reading each time depending on how hard you close them. That renders them pretty much useless. I actually threw mine in the trash. :-) I was getting readings between 13% and 27%, which is NOT an acceptable margin of error when you're as obsessive as I am! > > I've heard that AccuMeasures can be quite good for the price, but I imagine that they would start to wear out eventually. The only plastic caliper I recommend to people is the SlimGuide http://bodytrends.com/cre874.htm . They're big, easy to handle, and spring loaded for constant tension on the pinch. Anything you snap or click closed yourself is going to be less consistent from reading to reading. > > Here's a crash course in using calipers: > http://www.t-mag.com/articles/209body.html > > It's possible to do your own 3-site test. To get the tricep reading, look at the back of your arm in a mirror. Find the center point between your arm pit and elbow and dot it with a felt tip pen. Hold the marked arm straight out in front of you at shoulder level (like enstein) and grab the mark with the calipers. It takes some practice to be consistent but it's totally doable. For all of your pinches, use an average of three readings. If there's more than a couple millimeters difference in the three, then you know you need some more practice. > > Here's a good site that averages the numbers for you: > > http://www.rustyiron.net/formfem.htm > > > > Body Fat Calipers??? > > > I was wondering which calipers would be the best? digital or > accutrim? I know they are not totally accurat but wich would be best > for a guidline to go by. thanks sheila > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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