Safe Body Fat Percentage for Competition?

**SuperGuido** · Posted On: 6/20/2008 11:14am

I'm 5'8", 145 lbs now.

My forearms, biceps, shoulders, legs, and chest are barely pinchable...but I've got a good half inch to inch around my sides/stomach that could go.

I spoke with my instructor, and he figures that the machine calculates TOTAL body fat %. i.e. I may be 12% around my sides, but 3% everywhere else...hence, I'm 5% overall.

**benonmsn** · Posted On: 6/20/2008 2:37pm

Originally Posted by Satori

Ugh, I tested my body fat tonight, and came out at 4.8% to 5.1%.

I I used one of those electronic thinga ma jiggers...and I've heard those aren't always accurate.

they are not accurate at all. They are however decent at letting you know if your body fat level is changing, somewhat.

If you can pinch a half inch on your midsection, you are more like 10%

**CoffeeFan** · Posted On: 6/20/2008 2:51pm

Originally Posted by Satori

Ugh, I tested my body fat tonight, and came out at 4.8% to 5.1%.

I call bullshit, as I'm not THAT cut...and I'm going to corner the resident body builder and have her pinch me. I used one of those electronic thinga ma jiggers...and I've heard those aren't always accurate.

****, if I'm at 5% now, then I can't safely drop 10 lbs to hit the next weight class.

How did you get yourself tested? That will help determine the accuracy of the machine you used

**SuperGuido** · Posted On: 6/20/2008 3:54pm

I used this one:

I'm hoping that the bodybuilding owners of the gym have some calipers...or at least some decent estimates from randomly pinching.

I'd like to think I'm already an adonis of awesomeness with minimal body fat...but it simply can't be that low.

**CoffeeFan** · Posted On: 6/20/2008 4:56pm

Originally Posted by Satori

I used this one:

I'm hoping that the bodybuilding owners of the gym have some calipers...or at least some decent estimates from randomly pinching.

I'd like to think I'm already an adonis of awesomeness with minimal body fat...but it simply can't be that low.

eh, those handheld ones generaly don't work very well.

Calipers are pretty easy to find, although they arn't the most acurate method. If you can do hydrodensitometry weighing (Underwater Weighing) or a BIA (bioelectric impedance) which isn't too hard to find. I got my BIA done at my local City College.