Body fat and accuracy

[hockeyguynick]

Just trying to figure out what my approximate bf is. .. my scale, which I know is not real accurate, says 15. My calipers say about 9, which are supposedly more accurate. .. but I feel like 9 is way low. I eat decent, but not great, do plenty of cardio and lift weights 5-6 times a week. Upper abs are starting to show, but I still have a bit of a belly. ... anyone have any idea?

[Dominique]

I assume your scale (Fitbit Aria?) uses to BIA to estimate BF. Indeed, it only provides an indicative level (just like calipers). If you really need to know your exact BF %, you would need to get a DXA scan or a BodPod measurement. These are expensive and inconvenient (can’t do them at home, nor on a daily - or even weekly - basis). Anyway, if your main concern is to see your lower abs, you don’t need a BF % value for that: just stand naked in front of a mirror and it will tell you whether you still need to shed some of your belly fat. 

[hockeyguynick]

Thanks! Yeah, I figured the mirror was probably the best judge. Haven't dropped the money for an aria yet, but yes it's the usual water electro impedance or whatever bathroom scale. I was just kinda curious as to what mine might actually be... but yeah I really don't want to pay for the Dexa scan. I know the lower belly fat is last to go, guess I'm just impatient, lol. Frustrating having some abs showing and starting to get that v cut along my waist and yet still have fat on my belly

[Dominique]

Yes, the Fitbit Aria is expensive. OTOH, it’s very consistent in my own experience (2.5 years), provided you always step on it at the same time of the day and in the same conditions (first thing in the morning). It also offers the convenience of integrating with your Fitbit account. It’s good for monitoring trends over longer periods. The BF % values it estimates may be off in absolute terms, but the trend is there nevertheless.

Regarding your lower belly fat "problem", you may want to have a look at The Stubborn Fat Solution, an e-book by Lyle McDonald, a widely recognized nutrition / "body recomposition" guru. I haven’t read that particular book (not quite there yet <LOL>), but I’ve read his Guide to Flexible Dieting, which I found most useful.