This is why I would recommend everyone to monitor their body fat while they are going through a program like P90X, Insanity or TurboFire.  It might even be easier than you think, and it will give you a much better idea how well you are doing with your fitness.

There are several ways you can measure body fat so I will try to touch on all of them so you can determine which is best for you.  The first, is through scaless that do Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis… or BIA for short.  These work by sending a harmless electrical signal through your body and measure the resistance.  It’s basically a way to measure body density.  The only problem with this form is it can be thrown off very easily.  Too much water, too much muscle mass, different temperatures can all throw off the number and make it less accurate.  If you are consistent, scales can be a better way to monitor your body fat but not the initial measurement.  When I have used the scale version it has registered me at 10% body fat…I am down in the 4-6% rage so it can be off if you are muscular.  But there are better ways….

One of the more accurate ways to measure body fat is by using a Body Fat Caliper.  They are fairly inexpensive but a great tool that you can find on here or on amazon.  The only downside can be human error, so I recommend you have someone help you with your measurements, but it is a quick and easy way to determine your body fat more accurately.  I really like a website called www.liner-software.com that has a great place to put your measurements and have it calculate it for you.  They also provide multiple methods so I would try a few and determine which you like and which seem the most accurate.  It won’t give the exact number but you can definitely find within + or – 1% where you are at.  For example if you measure out at 12% body fat you can assume that your probably around 11-13%.  As you start using this method as your body fat decreases you can definitely monitor your decrease correctly.  If you go from 12% to 11% you can definitely assume you have lost 1% body fat.

The other form of measuring body fat is Hydrostatic body fat Testing (Getting Dunked) and Air Displacement Plethysmography or the “Bod Pod” (As seen on The Biggest Loser).  Both of these types of measurements take machines/facilities and trained staff in order to do them.  Both of these methods are quick, easy and usually cost around $50 per session.  If your looking to get a super accurate look at your full body composition then this is the way to go.  The only problem is that they are usually hard to find and cost a lot for what you can figure out using a body fat caliper basically.  Regardless, I decided to try the Hydrostatic testing and found out that I was at 4.5% body fat when I was determining how to get ready for the P90X2 Filming.  So it can definitely be worth looking into if your interested in getting another perspective.

Often we place to much emphasis on body weight.  When the scale doesn’t move we feel like we aren’t accomplishing our goals.  This isn’t necessarily the case.  What you should care more about is how well your clothes are fitting, and what is happening with your body fat %.  So instead of weighing yourself all the time, try using a body fat caliper and determining where you are at every 2-3 weeks.  Write it down, take your pics and monitor your progress.  I started at 16% body fat when I started P90X and finished at 8% on day 90.  I also went from 150lbs to 160lbs…if I wasn’t monitoring my body fat I might of thought I was doing something wrong.  I hope this gives you a better idea of how you can measure your body fat.

If you have any questions please feel free to comment!

RevAbs is an innovative new home workout program from Trainer Brett Hoebel that combines cardio and strength training with a unique form of ab work. It’s specifically designed to burn off the fat and give you a six-pack in just 90 days.
With Trainer Brett Hoebel and RevAbs, you work the abdominal muscles from six different angles for a smaller waist and toned midsection. Added interval-training techniques burn fat at the highest rate possible.

My RevAbs Review

RevAbs came out last summer with a new trainer, Brett Hoebel, to the Beachbody community.  I have been doing Beachbody programs for the past year and have yet to try one that I didn’t like.  P90X, Insanity and One on One with Tony Horton are my favorites, but I was pleased to be able to add a new program to my fitness library.  As Tony Horton says “Variety is the spice of Fitness”.

What I came to find out was that RevAbs is a great program in its own right.  The focus of RevAbs is of course….Abs.  But that is not to say that you will be doing crunches and sit-ups the whole time.  RevAbs takes interval cardio, strength and core training, and combines them so that you can burn body fat while sculpting every part of your core.  It has become wide knowledge that strength training, combined with intense cardio is the best way to reveal your abs, not crunches.  RevAbs takes this equation and delivers.  For instance, Rev of your Abs dvd is a cardio based ab routine that burns calories and leaves your abs sore for days.

Brett Hoebel includes lots of  moves based on the martial art of  Capoeira.  It’s a Brazilian dance style martial art that is actually very fun to do.  Boy does it crush your core as well.  There are 9 workouts included in the 90 day program.  It also comes with a nutrition guide to help you reveal your abs as well as a Calendar, Fat Caliper, a “On the Road” guide, and a bonus Cardio Dvd.  If you tired of being out of shape and looking to get a 6 pack then RevAbs could be the program for you.

Why is it effective?
With creator Brett Hoebel’s Abcentrics method, you do full-body cardio and strength training in addition to ab work, but you “fire” your abs during every movement. That means you’re toning and tightening your abs the whole time. You get faster and more balanced results than you could from crunches alone, or from any “ab machine” on the market.
RevAbs includes plenty of strength training and cardio intervals to boost your metabolism and scorch calories. You define your abs and get rid of fat to reveal a great-looking midsection.

How does Abcentrics work?
Abcentrics teaches you a simple yet powerful breathing technique that allows you to “fire” your abs during every movement. You’re strengthening your abs even while doing total-body exercises, so every workout is an ab workout.
If you want a smaller waist and flat, well-defined abs, you need to develop your entire midsection. That’s why RevAbs works your abdominals from six directions: 1. Upper flexion; 2. Lower flexion; 3. Double flexion; 4. Side flexion; 5. Twist; 6. Extension. With this 360-degree approach, you can work every angle to achieve balanced core strength and incredible-looking abs.

Our Price: $79.90