How the hell do I figure out my stats?

Hey everyone. Here's a question for you. I'm nearly three years out, and am thinking of plastic surg to take off my extra skin around the middle. I don't want to do it until I am at a composition I'm happy will last. So, here's the question:

Weight doesn't make a good reflection, in my opinion. Percent Body Fat is a good option, but how do you do it? With this much extra skin, could a pinch test be viable? I highly doubt it. Same mechanical problem with using a circumference method.

That leaves two options I know about. Magnetic resistance (isn't that what it's called?) and a BodPod.

I have a friend at the university that said he'd help me out with a BodPod test if I wanted. Anyone done this?

 I've done the Bod Pod.  It was easy and fast.  Best of all, it's very accurate.  If you have access to that technique that's the one that I'd choose.  

Duane

There is only one, easy, way to accurately get body fat calculated. It is done by specific gravity in a water bath. Some weight loss centers and hospitals do do this. A person is placed in a gradated tank of fluid and the displacement is noted, then the weight of the person and the displacement gives a density of the total mass.  (Archimedes has left his mark on WLS.) Full body MRIs would also accurately provide Body fat content, but this is a very expensive test and is not usually done just to calculate body mass. Most other methods are just guesses, based on average body types, which we all should know by now, most of us just do not have.

Time to get online and buy you a hand-held electrical impedance unit ..  I think mine is made by a co. called "Omitron", or some such ..  It has a pair of little handgrips that you grip after pushing the start button.  Wait a few seconds, it puts the "silent zap" through ya, and then displays the results.   It shows the body fat % and BMI ..  You can program it for different users, both "conditioned athlete" and "the rest of us" ..   Just need height, weight, age and M/F input ..   Mine goes up to 50% body fat, IIRC ...   It is pretty accurate, just be careful to follow the directions and not use it soon after eating, exercising, when you are sick, etc.   I think I paid around $40 or less for it.   

Here we go: 

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Description

Measurement of body fat composition is the key to long-term exercise success. The Omron hand held body fat analyzer is an affordable and easy way to measure body fat in the privacy of your own home. After inputting the data, a measurement can be started by simply holding the grip electrodes and pressing the START button.The measured results are displayed approximately 7 seconds after the START symbol is displayed. The measured results are shown in an easy-to-see display. Body fat percentage and body mass index are shown simultaneously in an easy-to-see large Digital display and a bar display that can be read at a glance. The unit displays the measured value of body fat percentage by the Bioelectrical Impedance method and indicates the body mass in four ranges of LOW, NORMAL, HIGH, and VERY HIGH according to the BMI value.

Features

Package Contents: 

• 1 x HBF-306C Fat Analyzer
• 2 x AAA Batteries
• 1 x Instruction Manual
  
  

Specification

General Information
Manufacturer	Omron Corporation
Manufacturer Part Number	HBF-306C
Manufacturer Website Address	www.omron.com
Brand Name	Omron
Product Model	HBF-306C
Product Name	HBF-306C Fat Analyzer
Marketing Information	The HBF-306C Fat Analyzer is an excellent tool to quickly measure your body fat percentage and body mass. Input your personal data. The monitor displays your estimated value of body fat percentage using the Bioelectrical Impedance Method, and indicates your body mass index in four ranges, low, normal, high and very high. This is important information you need know to monitor your weight loss or maintenance program.
Product Type	Fat Analyzer
Battery Information
Batteries	2 x AAA
Battery Life	1 Year - Approximately
Environmental Conditions
Temperature	50 �F (10.0 �C) to 104 �F (40.0 �C) Operating -4 �F (-20.0 �C) to 140 �F (60.0 �C) Storage
Humidity	30 to 85% Relative Humidity Operating 10 to 95% Relative Humidity Storage
Physical Characteristics
Dimensions	5" Height x 8" Width x 2" Depth - External
Weight	8.11 oz Approximate - With out Batteries

Warranty Information

Standard Warranty	1 Year Limited
Beach Audio Warranty	All Items are Brand New, Factory Sealed and come with a standard warranty. [Read our policies] Extended Warranties are also available. [Browse our warranties]

 

thanks, guys. I found out my gym has one of those hand-held devices. The fitness manager is pretty interested in me, so we're going to pinch, circumference, hand-held impedance at the gym, then compare results with a BodPod she has access to at the university.

I'll post the results so you can see how they all compare.

     The dunk test is still the gold standard for measuring body fat percentages. Why not see if your local hospital does this test. It usually costs under $100 dollars and many plastic surgeons will prescribe the test so that insurances will cover it. One of the problems with the other testing methods are that they work marginally with ideal bodies but not very accurately with those with excess skin folds, such as those of us that had WLS. I have had the dunk test done. It is simple. You get in the tank, yes naked, and submerge for just a few seconds, exhaling all your air. ten seconds and your done.
     Resistive testing, (Impedance testing is in this case an inaccurate term), has far too many variable to rely on going into plastic surgery. The amount of fluids in your body, and the amount of salt compounds greatly affect this form of testing. The bod pod is not much better at measuring all but the most fit bodies in the peak of youth. These test may be fine for a rough guess of your approximate body composition but I would want an accurate test before plastic surgery.