Do you know how to calculate your
body fat percentage? Body fat is measured with what is known as
Body Mass Index, or BMI. A woman that is in shape should have a body
fat percentage range from 21% to 31%.
If you are in full shape, your body fat percentage
could be as low as 10%.
For guys, if you are fit and in shape, your
body fat percentage should be between 14% and 25%. If you are in exceedingly
high profile shape, your body fat percentage could be as low as 2%.
To calculate your body fat percentage,
write down how much you weigh but you have to be honest. Remember, no one will
see this but you. Multiply your weight by 703.
Next, write down your height, in inches.
Multiply by that same number. Then you will divide your weight number by your
height number. That is your BMI.
For example, if your weight were 150 pounds
x 703, your weight answer would be 105,450. If your height is 5’4”, that would
be 64 inches x 64 for a total of 4,096. Taking the 105,450 divided by 4,096,
you come out with a BMI of 25.7.
There are other strategies to measure your
body fat percentage but this will give you a quick idea of where you are at.
If you are thinking about losing weight,
remember the sheer amount of fat you are carrying around is in fact much more
important than weight.
If you use the method above to figure out
your current body fat percentage, you'll be on your way to a much healthier
fitness level.