We have in various posts gone over some of the ways to determine your body fat percentage and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which are essential things to know when changing your body. All of my “working out” life I kept hearing how hydrostatic (Under water) testing is the most accurate for these specific things. When Gabe’s brother found a truck that drove around and did this testing up in San Jose I took on the task of finding a truck locally to get tested at. I found a truck and made my appointment. I was very nervous / excited to get the test done. I wanted to see how closely the numbers matched the numbers that we had figured out.
When I got there I was told to change into a bathing suit (Which I was never told to bring) and sit in the tank. Luckily the lady running the whole thing had an extra swimsuit for me to wear– That could have been awkward, otherwise!. She then weighed me and took my height. This is where it gets tricky for me. She said that I weighed 5 pounds more than the last time I weighed myself, which was only 3 days earlier. This could be explained by saying that the scale I use is off, but I weigh 10 pound weight every time before weighing to see if it is off… Then she said I was almost an inch shorter than I am…which I had Gabe measure the next morning to verify that she was in fact wrong. I digress… She explained the process, where I would lean back in the water completely emerging myself while holding my nose and blowing all the air out of my lungs. We did this about 5 times and I was done. I changed back into my clothes while she printed out the results.
Her results were only about 100 calories off from what I had figured on my own, but the body fat percentage was about 3% higher…which is a lot. I am torn as to how I feel about it. I think that because the weight and height were off all the numbers are off. It is frustrating to me to pay all that money and test with the most “accurate” technology only to feel that she gave me the wrong info. I can’t be sure she is wrong, but it just doesn’t make sense that for one morning only I would weigh 5 pounds more and be almost an inch shorter than normal.
I do realize for some people it is amazing and really helps them. Please tell me your thoughts on this process and your experience!