In The 4 Hour Body, Tim Ferriss recommends getting a BOD POD scan to determine an accurate body fat %. I’ve been using a Withings scale for my measurements for almost 9 weeks now, but was curious how accurate the body fat was. After a lot of thinking I decided to get a BOD POD scan done.

This morning I headed over to Human Performance Specialists in Tempe, AZ. I paid $60 to have the scan done. For accurate results I couldn’t eat anything this morning and couldn’t apply any lotions, hair gels, deodorant, or other products to my body.

So I stripped down and changed into a pair of Under Armour spandex shorts and put on a spandex cap thingy. They weighed me and then I climbed into tho device. The door was closed and it made some weird noises as the vacuum sucked out the air or whatever sciency stuff it does. Then the guy opened the door, let the air circulate and repeated the process. I got out, changed my clothes, and received a printout with my info. A quick and easy process.

• Fat: 16.6%
• Fat Free Mass: 83.4%
• Fat Mass: 29.9 lb
• Fat Free Mass: 149.941 lb
• Body Mass: 179.841 lb
• Body Volume: 76.898 L
• Body Density: 1.061 kg/L
• Thoracic Gas Volume: 4.343 L
• Estimated Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): 1810 kcal/day

My body fat percentage puts me at a moderately lean rating which is “generally acceptable for good health.” The report also showed some estimated total energy expenditures for different daily activity levels.

• Sedentary: 2317 kcal/day
• Low Active: 2733 kcal/day
• Active: 3149 kcal/day
• Very Active: 3765 kcal/day

According to the info sheet I would say I fall somewhere in the active to very active range.

So what did I learn? Before heading in this morning I jumped on my scale which read 180.0 lb and 16.3% body fat. The BOD POD had a slightly higher body fat, but I’ll take that level of accuracy. I’ve been thinking about trying to get my body fat low enough to see abs for the first time in my life, so this reaffirms that the goal is within reach if I want to go for it. I don’t have any plans to get another scan done, but I’m glad I spent the cash to have it done once.