Body Fat % scales

[bluebug32]

I also have a Tanita and find that it's super accurate with weight, but sometimes the body fat feels way off. From everything I've read you have to measure at the same time (same variables) and look for the trends (the number doesn't matter as much as it moving up or down over time) as a better indication for losing fat.

[LBTC]

We've got the Tanita Ironman, and have for a few years. Only recently we've started using it daily - every morning, after using the bathroom, before eating or drinking anything. I have been seeing both my weight and body fat decrease, and my muscle mass generally increase, which is consistent with what we're seeing on my body. What I like best about our scale, is that it gives a metabolic age....and this morning, it called this 40 year old, 16!! I LIKE that!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[bounceswoosh]

I have a scale that does weight, % and poundage body fat, water content, and BMI. Some ramblings on what I do --

I trust it on the weight and the BMI (which is a calculation that just takes pounds and height as inputs, meaning it is handy for putting on charts about averages, but doesn't actually tell you anything about how much of your weight is fat, bone, muscle, hair ...).

Generally speaking ...

I weigh myself on days when I get up around my usual time, pre-shower, pre-breakfast, and post-BM. If any of those factors change, I don't bother weighing myself, because I am more interested in the trends than in any particular day. All I'm trying to do with that stuff is minimize the variables.

If the water percentage is outside of a fairly narrow band, I ignore the bodyfat calculation. Because I weigh myself regularly, I have a good idea of what hydration number is normal for me on this scale. I don't really care if the actual number is accurate or not; all I use it for is to compare it against my normal water percentage to decide if today is a good day for the body fat calc or not. This morning, for example, the water percentage was almost a percent off my norm, and the bodyfat percentage shot up. I'm fairly sure I didn't gain 2% bodyfat in 24 hours ...

And most importantly (to me), I compare the body fat percentages that I do consider legit against what the scale has told me in the last few weeks and months. I don't really care if the scale is accurate, although that would be nice; what I care about is whether it's consistent, because then it can tell me if I am losing body fat or not.

The nice thing about scales like these is that, with multiple values to choose from, I can usually find something to feel good about in the numbers. When the only number is weight, it's way easier for me to feel bad about it, and it is also confusing -- do I weigh more because I'm gaining muscle or fat?

[Tuckervill]

That's a very good and accurate explanation of how I use mine! Thanks!

Karen