Sudden Rise in BF%

CueNtoZ · 10-12-2008, 05:04 PM

well my BF% suddenly rose from 9 to 11 almost 12 in a matter of maybe 2-3 days, but i have been working out just as int ense if not more and eating pretty much around the same amount. ( did have one cheat meal during that time though)

since i started working out i have been losing BF% and gaining muscle, does this mean im hitting a plateu and should switch things up.

I do not keep a routine diet i know there are no excuses but i have a full time job and im a full time student.

my diet consist manly of fruits, tuna, chicken, and high fiber cereal.(working on this though i am taking a nutrition class)

i work out 5 days a week.

**gringo220** · 10-12-2008, 05:10 PM

If it rose that fast then it's most likely water retention. It also could have been that the measurements could have been done wrong either the first or the second time or the caliper is junk. If you are using a digital one you hole or one of those scales then that's the reason.

CueNtoZ · 10-12-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gringo220

If it rose that fast then it's most likely water retention. It also could have been that the measurements could have been done wrong either the first or the second time or the caliper is junk. If you are using a digital one you hole or one of those scales then that's the reason.

im using the digital one they use at the gym its not a caliper its things thing that you just hold up at chest hieght.

but i have been using that since i started and the last three weeks i have been consistenly coming out with 9-10 % bodyfat...

what can i buy that will give me accurate measurents?

**gringo220** · 10-12-2008, 05:39 PM

Calipers are the most accurate. Especially the 7 point test. Look them up on google and see what ones you can find. I have a single point caliper and it's supposed to be accurate within 1% but who knows.

**allstar** · 10-12-2008, 05:40 PM

I would say to go get yours tested by the doctor or someone to get a def. answer and than maybe do that again in 3 months

**gringo220** · 10-12-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CueNtoZ

im using the digital one they use at the gym its not a caliper its things thing that you just hold up at chest hieght.

but i have been using that since i started and the last three weeks i have been consistenly coming out with 9-10 % bodyfat...

what can i buy that will give me accurate measurents?

Something as simple as sodium intake for the day can affect the reading with the digital ones also. Thought I would mention that.

CueNtoZ · 10-12-2008, 05:48 PM

damn so basically those things are crap. so i thought I was doing good, i mean the muscle im not worried about because i can see the difference but maybe i have been gaining bf without knowing.

**gringo220** · 10-12-2008, 05:52 PM

Yeah they suck. You should be able to go to a health food place or something like that and maybe they can test you or like allstar said a dr.

CueNtoZ · 10-12-2008, 05:58 PM

what do you think about this one,
Super Accurate Digital Measurement! - $29.95 : Orbit Nutrition

i will go do that when my schedule opens up but i would also like to have a pretty accurate home one too

**allstar** · 10-12-2008, 06:11 PM

Ya thats one of the better ones I've seen, test different places on the body, the directions should give the different places, I think a couple are inch above the hip bone, and the under arm.

**mikeh40+** · 10-12-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar

I would say to go get yours tested by the doctor or someone to get a def. answer and than maybe do that again in 3 months

yea i tried the doctor route, i ask him hey you got a bf tester here, he says no we don t have anything for that here, i`m like wtf, he says to check out a sports medicine doc, i`m like yea ok never mind, picked up a caliper at a local sports store for about 20 bucks, its accurate within 1%, but it all depends on how much you actually pinch also, here is a link to a web site that has info for where to pinch and the calculations for the bf measurements.
Measuring Percent Body Fat
this is the brand i bought, ACCU-MEASURE FITNESS 3000, just a piece of plastic with numbers and a slide graph on it, you need another person to help with the arms and back area of course, if your doing the 7 point test.

CrUsH · 10-12-2008, 07:21 PM

Oh man, you guys are evil!!!!!! I just ordered a "FatTrack Gold"!!!!

Im using a scale right now and there is about a 5% variance depending on my hydration level.

Looking to get more acc with this one...

**Zack** · 10-12-2008, 08:02 PM

the digital one is off to at most 4% either way dude... it's bull****. How much water you drank that day could effect it hardcore.

**mikeh40+** · 10-12-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZackKnight

the digital one is off to at most 4% either way dude... it's bull****. How much water you drank that day could effect it hardcore.

yea i was wonder about that myself, i tested yesterday but was only up .5 of a percent but the measurement total was what was up , but your right on the water or like gringo said about sodium intake , which would hold water in your skin i believe?

Vermilion · 10-12-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CueNtoZ

im using the digital one they use at the gym its not a caliper its things thing that you just hold up at chest hieght.

but i have been using that since i started and the last three weeks i have been consistenly coming out with 9-10 % bodyfat...

what can i buy that will give me accurate measurents?

wow really? those things are absolute garbage and you could fluctuate as much as 4-5% within one day depending on what time you take the measurement.

use your head that machine means nothing. your really naive to think your bf could change that much in a couple days with you doing nothing different.

let me reiterate again, THOSE MACHINES ARE WORTHLESS!

**gringo220** · 10-12-2008, 09:47 PM

wow easy there^^ That's why he was asking a question.

Cork · 10-13-2008, 12:29 PM

I'm not reading any of the comments above, but I have good reason, sorry...

CueNtoZ, when you joined you started a thread saying your bf was around 20-23%. You've already been advised on how you should test for it, you seem to be going with the method that gives you the lowest results and not necesarily the most accurate (Maybe you have dropped 10% fat in the last couple months, maybe not, it's the internet). I would think it would be impossible to gain 2-3% body fat in 2-3 days unless you are lying and have been sedentary and strayed from your diet.

I think sometimes people in this sport are too focused on numbers. CueNtoZ, how do you feel? Has the scale gone up 2-3%? Have you tested multiple times to get an average? 10-13% is a good number and you shouldn't be worried about it.

DThomp21 · 10-13-2008, 02:54 PM

The only really accurate way to get your body fat is by getting a Dexa scan or doing a Hydrostatic weigh in. Electrical impedence machines suck as said. They can fluctuate over 5% in a day just based on what you ate or drank. Calipers are close enough for the average person but they need to be the good kind. The $20-$30 ones for sale at the store or on bodybuilding.com are worthless. The real ones can run up to a couple hundred bucks. Also make sure you find someone to measure you that knows how to do it. Its not as simple as just pinching yourself. You have to know how hard and deep to pinch so you are pinching fat and not muscle. Its not a simple as you'd think.

**Freak** · 10-13-2008, 03:31 PM

Better yet is a bodpod.

**mikeh40+** · 10-13-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freak

Better yet is a bodpod.

was going to ask but looked it up instead, here is a link for anyone else wondering what a bodpod is,Life Measurement, Inc. BOD POD
looks like something a bit more accurate than my calipers...

**Freak** · 10-13-2008, 09:04 PM

Yep bodpod owns all. Just finding one that is open to the public. Most universities only use if for "research" or their ****ty athletic programs.

**Zack** · 10-13-2008, 09:47 PM

only thing wrong with the bodpod is that super huge guys can't fit in them.

Dexa is okay, but people will be bigger than the table.

it's just all about the ones with the least amount of leeway.

**Freak** · 10-13-2008, 09:52 PM

Well they use it for the combines so if the lineman can fit most everyone here should be able to.

**Zack** · 10-13-2008, 09:56 PM

yeah... i just had a few linemen here i know who couldn't fit into the bodpod we have haha

**gringo220** · 10-13-2008, 10:02 PM

I'm having deja vu reading this.lol.Must be another thread like this that I've read before.

**mikeh40+** · 10-13-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZackKnight

yeah... i just had a few linemen here i know who couldn't fit into the bodpod we have haha

if you cant fit into the bodpod you dont need the machine to tell you your bf is high,, haha,, the zackknight-pod could tell them that..

**mikeh40+** · 10-13-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gringo220

I'm having deja vu reading this.lol.Must be another thread like this that I've read before.

deja vu ?? what is that some Italian saying or something, damn man you don't got to be such a show off,, haha ,,,deja vu ?? what is that some Italian saying or something, damn man you don't got to be such a show off,,, now thats what i call deja vu Buddie!!

**Zack** · 10-13-2008, 10:06 PM

haha it ain't about bf with them not fitting in it.

this guy was 315lbs with about 15%bf and he was like 6'8. haha

**gringo220** · 10-13-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeh40+

deja vu ?? what is that some Italian saying or something, damn man you don't got to be such a show off,, haha ,,,deja vu ?? what is that some Italian saying or something, damn man you don't got to be such a show off,,, now thats what i call deja vu Buddie!!

lol.. It's also a strip club!

**Freak** · 10-13-2008, 10:10 PM

Yep there has been a similar thread in which I said the same thing.