Results, or just a cheap scale?

[meanderwithme]

I've got a scale at home that (ostensibly) measures body fat. I figure that if the technology behind it is good at all, at least comparing my measurements on that scale to other measurements on that scale will give me a basis for seeing progress.

Just the same, I'm seriously skeptical of the scale's worth. Here's what I just posted on my blog:


quote:I still have no concept whether my weight/body fat scale is worth a nickel.

BUT...here's what my scale says today: 151.6 / 33%

When I first started measuring -- using this scale, that is -- I weighed 150.4 and 37%. Four percentage points (if this scale is accurate at all) is something that makes me smile.

Let's do a little math here.

March 9th: 150.4lbs , 94.75 lean mass, 55.65 fat
Today: 151.6lbs, 101.57 lean mass, 50.3 fat

If (yes, I know that's a big if) this scale is correct, I've lost nearly 5-1/2 pounds of fat in the past three-ish weeks. And, I've gained nearly 7 pounds of muscle.

Does anyone with experience know if that's likely?

To be clear, I put little to no emphasis on my body weight itself. I'd much rather be a 150-pound size 12 than a 130-pound in the same size. But this has me wondering if the BF measurement is worth a hill of beans. Does anyone have any thoughts on the validity of the technology behind these things?

Because, you know, if I've actually dropped five pounds of fat in 3 weeks, that's something to celebrate, tight jeans or no tight jeans!

~~~~~
Allison
Santa Fe, NM
just keep tapping... (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com)
workout calendar (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com/calendar/)

[monica213]

I have a BF scale, says I am 37% body fat... uhhmm a big fat, NO, I am not! [:0][:p]

Still got the receipt to return it?? ;)

Michelle Barbuto
Senior T-Tapp Trainer
Total Workout, MORE, Hit the Floor and Lady Bug certified
updated website www.fitwithsix.com
Join me in my April T-Tapp YOU online class! (http://www.t-tapp.com/events/event_detail.asp?event_id=494)

[meanderwithme]

Replying to myself (dear god I need a life)...

Here's one article I found (http://calorielab.com/news/2006/03/08/body-fat-scales-accuracy-less-than-desired/) -- and that says what I'd thought about these, ie, that they're not worth a heck of a lot.

This was interesting (from the above linked article):

quote:Home devices generally use only two electrodes, one for each foot, directly estimating the fat content in the legs and pelvic area only. The scale then guesses overall body fat by using sex, height, weight, and stored averages.

Wow, I wonder how far off that makes these for those of us (ahem) who hold most of our weight in the lower body, versus those short-torso types who carry more belly and back fat? Hmmmm.

This article kind of answers my initial question about accuracy (not worth much at all).

The remaining question is this: Does the trend (ignoring the numbers and only focusing on the direction of the measurement) on a scale like this tell you anything at all?

~~~~~
Allison
Santa Fe, NM
just keep tapping... (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com)
workout calendar (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com/calendar/)

[meanderwithme]

quote:Originally posted by monica213

I have a BF scale, says I am 37% body fat... uhhmm a big fat, NO, I am not! [:0][:p]

Still got the receipt to return it?? ;)[/quote]

HA. Nah, I've owned this one for years. If I can tell anything about the trend of my fat composition, it could be worth keeping, but otherwise, I'll toss it. For plain ol' weight measurement, dh has one that's much nicer than mine. :)

~~~~~
Allison
Santa Fe, NM
just keep tapping... (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com)
workout calendar (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com/calendar/)

[semmens]

I think that the trend is what's important, and yours is going in the right direction.

I have never used a BF scale, but know others who have, with varying results. I have heard that much can depend on one's hydration level at the time of weighing. My dd14, who just won our state powerlifting competition in her age/ weight group, got a reading of 25% from the one at her school. Having been at 12% myself a few years back (done with a certified trainer with calipers) I can tell you that's she at maybe 16% max.

Laura
O+ secretor

[Golfnsuch]

Allison,

I have a scale that measures BF%. My DH calls it the "magic 8 ball scale" because it will go up or down a pound depending on where you weigh yourself in the bathroom. "Try again later!" "Signs point to no." Because of this, I weigh myself at the same spot in the room at the same time of day. Time of day is also important on those scales, if you are looking at just measuring variances over time. The instructions say that in the late afternoon when you are hydrated is best, but I always measure in the morning.

When I re-started Tapping in 2004, it had me at 42% BF and now I am down to 34.5%. So relatively speaking it works, but I agree with Mich. When I use another calculation method that takes into account actual waist and hip measurements my BF% is closer to 25%.

I'd rather trust the tape measure for accuracy, but things are going in the right direction for you! Keep up the great work!

Hugs, E.

Bobbling is GOOD. It means you are not cheating yourself! ;)

[artgirl2]

I have a BF scale and find it really depends on how hydrated I am when I weigh myself, it's the water content that conducts whatever it is measures the bodyfat. if I'm dehydrated it shows higher body fat...if I drink more then I weigh more but it shows lower body fat.

All in all I tend to go by how much clothes fit. Over the past month I lost 6 lb and the bodyfat # stayed the same, but my clothes feel looser in the waist & hips, so go figure.