Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 382, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Body fat Scale

Carivan
Carivan
Posts: 8,542
Joined: 2002/01/20
Canada
2002/10/20, 07:33 PM
I purchased a Tanita body fat scale recently. Was wondering if anybody else owns one out there and if it is more accurate than calipers, keeping in mind what time of the day you measure.

bb1fit
bb1fit
Posts: 11,105
Joined: 2001/06/30
United States
2002/10/20, 07:42 PM
They have one at one of the gyms I belong too, and I used it a couple of times. It really was pretty accurate as to lean body mass. One note on calipers....If you have excess skin (loose) anywhere, like someone who may have lost lots of weight fairly quickly, they do not take into account this.
Philia2
Philia2
Posts: 4,078
Joined: 2001/10/19
France
2002/10/21, 02:04 AM
Hmmmmmm I hate scales..... They play trick with your mind!!!! Muscles are a lot heavier than fat but fat is a lot BIGGER than muscles......

Use the mirror!!

--------------
- Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
dpking44
dpking44
Posts: 470
Joined: 2002/08/07
United States
2002/10/22, 07:59 AM
Hey bb1fit, if that's the case regarding extra skin, is there another device or method to "truely" measure body fat? I'm going to guess there is but, it's not something you purchase online. I'm guessing it's a fitness specialist or doctor, etc..

I've used calipers but, often wondered the accuracy of these devices and of course whether I was using it correctly.

Thanks,
DP
Carivan
Carivan
Posts: 8,542
Joined: 2002/01/20
Canada
2002/10/22, 05:58 PM
I've read that when using calipers there are many techniques depending on the person being measured.
I think I'll get calipers and compare to the scale.
mackfactor
mackfactor
Posts: 766
Joined: 2002/10/17
United States
2002/10/23, 11:52 AM
Tanita scales, depending on the model, can be a little erratic. My advice would be to measure yourself a few times a day at different times and average them. Do this all week and then average your week's numbers. That should give you a pretty accurate number from week to week.
bobbejack
bobbejack
Posts: 6
Joined: 2002/10/05
Canada
2002/10/24, 01:17 AM
Tantia scales are crap,I own one myself and it is very sensitive. Factors like water weight,bone density and even what type of shoes you were wearing all day can effect the scales readout. Get a professional to check it for you, try a tape measure.
Carivan
Carivan
Posts: 8,542
Joined: 2002/01/20
Canada
2002/10/24, 04:35 PM
Actually with the boddy fat scale , your bladder has to be empty and bare feet only.