Body Fat Percentage Estimate

[cybrsage]

I ordered calipers, but would like to see if you all can give me an estimate for body fat percentage so I know if I am even getting close to it as I learn how to use them. What type of pictures do you all need in order to make this guestimate? Here is one, let me know if it is good of if you need something different.


EDIT: Odd, it turned my picture sideways - good enough though.

 

[A.B]

Just a simple pic standing relaxed can give us the best idea. I was looking on my phone but I'd say your in the high teens.

 

[cybrsage]

Wow, such a fast reply...thanks! By looking at other pictures at Nerd Fitness (nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/07/02/body-fat-percentage/) I would say I am above 15% but below 20%...maybe 18%. I will take a relaxed standing pic later today.

 

[Cheph]

I would say around 20

 

[cybrsage]

If we assume 20%, I need to reduce that before I start bulking, yes? IOW, I need to cut first (and continue to improve my diet)? I am doing a lot of reading (the beginners guide by 3js is what prompted this post).

About me:
45, natural Test level is 153 so I am on T replacement at 300mg per week of T-Cyp (1.5ml of 200mg/ml). My goal is to look more like Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern) and less like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

[Pitbull55]

Welcome to ology man!

Just a heads up, calibers have a high degree of variability and are often unreliable but it is still a useful tool as it can be used for monitoring progress.

The gold standard(s) for determing EXACT body-fat percentage is hydrostatic weighing or a DEXA scan

 

[swilk]

Just curious where 300mg of test a week puts your levels .... and are you taking anything else? AI or HCG?

 

[cybrsage]

I am not to get bloodwork done until at least 3 months into it, he said, so that my body can stabilize to what it will normally be running at. I am taking nothing else, except some Albut and Keto. Maybe I will go ahead and get some done sooner so I can see where I am at right now. Not a bad idea.

 

[swilk]

That's a pretty healthy dose....I would get blood sooner rather than later and be sure to get estradiol sensitive in addition to everything else.

 

[cybrsage]

If I have a script for bloodwork already, can I just tell the people who draw the blood to add it or do I need to have my doctor add it to the script (Estradiol, Ultrasensitive, LC/MS/MS correct?)? I use Quest Diagnostics for all my bloodwork.

He is asking for:

CBC with Auto Diff
Testosterone Total
PSA Total

 

[swilk]

Your doc will need to add it ..... if you are paying out of pocket you could go through privatemdlabs or some place similar to get an order.

 

[Mprtz]

If we assume 20%, I need to reduce that before I start bulking, yes? IOW, I need to cut first (and continue to improve my diet)? I am doing a lot of reading (the beginners guide by 3js is what prompted this post).

About me:
45, natural Test level is 153 so I am on T replacement at 300mg per week of T-Cyp (1.5ml of 200mg/ml). My goal is to look more like Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern) and less like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Forget bulking/cutting, just eat a clean diet with lots of protein. Your test is going to go from 150 to 1500+ on that dose and you will probably see dramatic body recomposition.

My T was high 200s before TRT and I went on 200mg/week. Within a few months my weight went from 165lb to 190+lb and I lost almost all the fat around my midsection. I never counted a calorie, just made and effort to eat well.

 

[cybrsage]

1500+!!! Isn't that crazy high? I wonder if the doctor's assistant did not give me the wrong number when she called. She told me to use 1500ml...to which I responded "You mean 1.5 ml? 1500ml is roughly 1 1/2 quarts." She said she missed the decimal and I was right...I will ask him if he did not mean to have me take a 1ml dose instead.

I have increased my protein intake and decreased my peanut butter cup intake - though that one is very hard to do. The wife and I already shifted to a good diet about two years ago...it made a huge difference in how we both felt! We drink plenty of water, eat our fruits and veggies, etc. Nothing to the level I have read here (5 meals a day - nope), but good nonetheless. One of the big things we started doing was when we go out to eat, we ask for a box when we get our food. We then cut the meal in half and save it for our next meal. We then only eat until we are satisfied and NOT until we are full.

I have also started to hit the gym - I figure if my T level is going to drastically rise, I should at least have the common courtesy to exercise.
I was a couch potato before and my body showed it. The picture, above, is me in the best shape I have been in since boot camp, 27 years ago.


EDIT: Is there a says block or such that I can fill out which automatically adds stuff to each post? I would like to fill it out with the About Me stuff, so people can see it when they respond.


About me:
45, natural Test level is 153 so I am on T replacement at 300mg per week of T-Cyp (1.5ml of 200mg/ml).
188lbs, 5'9"
My goal is to look more like Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern) and less like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

[swilk]

150mg per week is more reasonable. 1.5ml or 300mg is a lot. Unusual to start at that. Very.

 

[Mprtz]

1500+!!! Isn't that crazy high? I wonder if the doctor's assistant did not give me the wrong number when she called. She told me to use 1500ml...to which I responded "You mean 1.5 ml? 1500ml is roughly 1 1/2 quarts." She said she missed the decimal and I was right...I will ask him if he did not mean to have me take a 1ml dose instead.

I have also started to hit the gym - I figure if my T level is going to drastically rise, I should at least have the common courtesy to exercise.
I was a couch potato before and my body showed it. The picture, above, is me in the best shape I have been in since boot camp, 27 years ago.

300mg / week is quite a bit and I can't say exactly where it will put you but 1500+ is very possible. It's unusual for TRT to say the least.

You certainly WILL need an AI on that dose, or you'll probably find yourself covered in acne and unable to pee before long.

 

[cybrsage]

I will call him tomorrow to get the Estradiol test added to my blood work and I will ask about the dosing then.

 

[Mprtz]

I will call him tomorrow to get the Estradiol test added to my blood work and I will ask about the dosing then.

Yes, verify that there is not some misunderstanding. In any case, 3 months is a loooong time to get the first blood work (4 or 6 weeks is more usual). Depending on where you live you could get your own $50 blood test earlier and post it here (the TRT board that is), might be money well spent.

 

[cybrsage]

I spoke with my doctor's assistant - she is going to see if the doctor will add the estraidial test and call me back. She double checked the dosing. I last spoke to her when I asked if I could go from biweekly to weekly injections. She claims she told me to "cut my 1.5ml dosing in half", but that is not what I verified with her when we spoke last. Regardless of that, no sense in casting blame as that solves nothing, I am dropping my dose down to 0.75ml of 200mg/ml Test-Cyp. This gives me a weekly dose of 150mg of Test-Cyp. I am also going to shift to dosing every 3.5 days to smooth everything out (as recommended on this site), cutting my weekly dose in half, which is 0.375ml.

That problem is solved, thanks for your input guys! I had no idea I was getting such a HUGE dose! Once I get the new bloodwork script, I will post the results here.

 

[Matt0071]

I would say around 18 to 20%, if u cut u hardly have any mass to show for, i would say eat at maintanence, eat clean, get your diet in order and u will start to see body changes with the increased T

 

[cybrsage]

I would be insulted at all this "you are too wimpy to cut yet" talk - except that it is true. I know, no one said it that way and honestly, this is the most muscle I have had in my entire life, so I am looking forward to what the future brings. I would be an idiot not to listen to those who walked this path before me.

My doctor emailed me the new blood script, so I will get it done Monday and post the results in a week or so when I get them back. This forum is awesome!

EDIT: Took the blood test, now to wait a week.

Also, the calipers say I am 25% body fat, which is close to what you all guessed. Even if it is not correct, I can consistently get the same results (5 out of 6 times), so I will use it as a baseline for my fat loss.