This week a few friends of mine are starting a 3 month weight lose challenge, and the winner will be determined by the person who has the highest overall body fat loss. To determine their body fat percentage, they opted to use the "Hydrostatic" body fat testing. What is Hydrostatic body fat testing? Well, it's a technique for measuring the mass per unit volume of one's body by "underwater weighing". So, there is no hand held devices, calipers or wires!!! I'm in and besides this would be the best opportunity to test my body fat (BF) and write about it :) I talked to the organizer of this challenge and indicated to him that I only wanted to test my BF and not be part of the challenge because really, what do I have to lose. Well, he agreed and I was able to partake in getting my BF measured with the group.
So the organizer of the weight lose challenge located a company called Body Fat Test - Mobile Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing Clinic. Yes, a mobile unit! You can check out the details of the mobile unit here. Now, with the number of participants (including myself) in this contest. Meeting at a central location was ideal and finding a compnay that will travel basically anywhere was a great find.
Well upon arrival I see the mobile unit and stepped into the truck, (I was a little late to my scheduled appointment... oooh by 50 mins :\ dang meetings) and met up with one of the other weight loss challengers. In the truck we met the owner, Aaron Wedel. Great guy, he told us exactly what was going to happen and that it will only take about 6-7 secs to to the test and get your results. The results will be printed out on a detailed report which will include:
- Accurate assessment of your body fat % and lean mass
- Detailed tracking of previous tests
- A reference table showing where you are and where you should be
- Calculation of your resting metabolic rate and total caloric burn
So the challenger in front of me got into his swim trunks and was in and out of the water tank in 30 secs tops due to taking two readings.
So the organizer of the weight lose challenge located a company called Body Fat Test - Mobile Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing Clinic. Yes, a mobile unit! You can check out the details of the mobile unit here. Now, with the number of participants (including myself) in this contest. Meeting at a central location was ideal and finding a compnay that will travel basically anywhere was a great find.
Well upon arrival I see the mobile unit and stepped into the truck, (I was a little late to my scheduled appointment... oooh by 50 mins :\ dang meetings) and met up with one of the other weight loss challengers. In the truck we met the owner, Aaron Wedel. Great guy, he told us exactly what was going to happen and that it will only take about 6-7 secs to to the test and get your results. The results will be printed out on a detailed report which will include:
- Accurate assessment of your body fat % and lean mass
- Detailed tracking of previous tests
- A reference table showing where you are and where you should be
- Calculation of your resting metabolic rate and total caloric burn
So the challenger in front of me got into his swim trunks and was in and out of the water tank in 30 secs tops due to taking two readings.
Well next it was yours truly. I already had my compression shorts on so while the challenger ahead of me was changing in the dressing room. I simply undressed as I was talking to Aaron (yeah, I'm not that shy) about my diet and what is my activity of choice. As you can imagine, due to my tardiness, I was backing things up a bit because the next challenger arrived at their scheduled time. So Aaron and I stopped talking and I jumped into the tank which was pretty warm...wonder if the last challenger peed in the tank! Nah, the tank is temperature controlled and very chlorinated. Now in the water, I got into a push up position and when I was ready; the instructions are as you go under water, blow out all the air in your lungs. Aaron would knock on the tank, and that was your clue to come up.
So, I counted to three and went under water. All I could think about was "damn this water did have a lot of chlorine." But I kept blowing out all the air in my system and then I heard the knock on the tank.
A little background on my experience with measuring BF%. In the past, I have used a BodPod and I currently use my gyms hand held device but really, even that is not reliable. So, since the hand held is more accessible I used those numbers as a reference point. Before I went to this test I measured my BF and the hand held indicated I was at 7% but then again, I retested using that same device but held my hands slightly higher and it registered a 7.9%. Very trusting device right (can't believe people trust these things)? So I figure there is a 1-2% error using this type of device so I figured I was around 5% BF but this hydrostatic test will give me a better answer.
When I came up after hearing Aaron knock on the tank. He told me my percentage and I informed him that his machine must be broken. He assured me it wasn't and that the number he told me was in fact my BF%. Well, I will not disclose my BF% but will say it is below what I thought it might be. In case you forgot, I thought it might be 5% and I am way under that. :\
So in any case, besides finding out that my BF& is pretty low; hydrostatic body fat measuring is a quick and easy way to get an accurate BF%. If you, your local gym or you company are looking for a way to work towards an active lifestyle and/or want to set up a weight loss challenge but are looking for a way to measure body fat. Give Aaron Wedel a call (512)230-2501 or send him an email (aaron@bodyfattest.com) and he can tell you when the mobile unit can be in your area.
Price per session - $35
Kyle
Train Hard = Race Easy, Train Smart = Race Fast
A little background on my experience with measuring BF%. In the past, I have used a BodPod and I currently use my gyms hand held device but really, even that is not reliable. So, since the hand held is more accessible I used those numbers as a reference point. Before I went to this test I measured my BF and the hand held indicated I was at 7% but then again, I retested using that same device but held my hands slightly higher and it registered a 7.9%. Very trusting device right (can't believe people trust these things)? So I figure there is a 1-2% error using this type of device so I figured I was around 5% BF but this hydrostatic test will give me a better answer.
When I came up after hearing Aaron knock on the tank. He told me my percentage and I informed him that his machine must be broken. He assured me it wasn't and that the number he told me was in fact my BF%. Well, I will not disclose my BF% but will say it is below what I thought it might be. In case you forgot, I thought it might be 5% and I am way under that. :\
So in any case, besides finding out that my BF& is pretty low; hydrostatic body fat measuring is a quick and easy way to get an accurate BF%. If you, your local gym or you company are looking for a way to work towards an active lifestyle and/or want to set up a weight loss challenge but are looking for a way to measure body fat. Give Aaron Wedel a call (512)230-2501 or send him an email (aaron@bodyfattest.com) and he can tell you when the mobile unit can be in your area.
Price per session - $35
Kyle
Train Hard = Race Easy, Train Smart = Race Fast
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