OK, the Body Fat numbers are in for Ron and I. These are based on a 3 point body fat capilier measurement on 2/23/2009.
| Total Weight | Lean | Fat | Body Fat % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry | 261 (6′ 2″) | 215 | 45 | 17.2 |
| Ron | 268 (5′ 9″) | 174 | 94 | 34.9 |
Is this a perfect and 100% accurate measure of our body fat? No, it is simply an indication. There are many different ways to establish the body fat percentage. When using the skinfold method the skill and consistency of the tester is key. For Ron and I this will be a good indication of change over our 30 day challenge. Brian will do the same test in 30 days and the important number will be the difference between our starting and ending percentage.
Here is some information about the skinfold method of determining bodyfat percentages.
Skinfold methods
The skinfold estimation methods are based on a skinfold test, whereby a pinch of skin is precisely measured by calipers at several standardized points on the body to determine the subcutaneous fat layer thickness. These measurements are converted to an estimated body fat percentage by an equation. Some formulas require as few as three measurements, others as many as seven. The accuracy of these estimates is more dependent on a person’s unique body fat distribution than on the number of sites measured. As well, it is of utmost importance to test in a precise location with a fixed pressure. Although it may not give an accurate reading of real body fat percentage, it is a reliable measure of body composition change over a period of time, provided the test is carried out by the same person with the same technique.
Skinfold-based body fat estimation is sensitive to the type of caliper used, and technique. This method also only measures one type of fat: subcutaneous adipose tissue (fat under the skin). Two individuals might have nearly identical measurements at all of the skin fold sites, yet differ greatly in their body fat levels due to differences in other body fat deposits such as visceral adipose tissue: fat in the abdominal cavity. Some models partially address this problem by including age as a variable in the statistics and the resulting formula. Older individuals are found to have a lower body density for the same skinfold measurements, which is assumed to signify a higher body fat percentage. However, older, highly athletic individuals might not fit this assumption, causing the formulas to underestimate their body density.
by my body fat #s i am a fatherless fat guy!