I recently got a scale that has this inbuilt fat % determining thing. Thought it was so cool ... I mean, now you don't have to worry about when you gained good weight or bad weight, right? I was so excited that I've weighed myself twice per day for the past two weeks.

But then, here's the stump: On mornings, I weigh less, yet have a higher fat %. Evenings, a heavier weight, yet a lower fat %. Before my period, the % would go up. During my period, the % goes down by as much as 3-4%!

So, how accurate do you think they are?

What are your experiences with them? How much did you fluctuate by? Why do you think they fluctuate so much?

im not sure, and i have no experience with it, but i would think it would fluctuate because you are retaining water later in the day and before your period..so in the morning you weigh less so therefore the amount of fat you have has a higher percentage of your overall weight..but when you retain water, the water also has weight, you have the same ACTUAL amount of fat..but the percentage to total weight is less because the water adds to your non fat weight..however you still in reality have the exact same amount of FAT..

I have the same problem, bluejade. it never makes sense to me. I've had the same scale since I started losing and my percentage has not changed after 30 pounds of weight loss. That CAN'T be right.

Hydration levels radically affect the readings. That's why the instructions are explicit about taking your body fat readings only at the same time of day, with the best recommendation being the time of day when your hydration is most consistent day-to-day, i.e., just before dinner. Morning is the worst time to take a reading.

I've found body fat scales to be far more accurate than calipers, which are subject to human error. They do, however, have to be used according to the instructions. Furthermore, especially for women, readings need to be factored into rolling averages, not used individually. The human body fluxuates, so will weights and body fat percentage readings. I weigh and take body fat readings weekly, and average four weeks of readings together.

Actually, Dan, it is possible to lose weight and not alter your body fat ratio. That's why cardio and resistance/weight training are so important. And hydration is also key, as bicker mentioned.

I do my body fat testing at the gym, upon their recommendation, I only get readings every 6 weeks. In the beginning of my "lifestyle change" I was working out daily, drastically altering my eating, AND drinking consistent, large amounts of water BUT my body fat % only changed 1%, and I had only lost, what, 4? pounds? VERY discouraging. However, by the next 6 week "test," I was consistently doing all the same things, and I had lost 9% body fat, and , I dunno, 5? more pounds. Rolling averages really are the best way to get a good "read" on what's happening to your body as you lose weight and change, as well, patience is key.

Wow! Jessica! That's AMAZING!

Can I just congratulate you on that? :bow: See? I'm bowing in
recognition of your perseverance. 9% is a LOT! That means you sure gained a lot of muscle.

I wish I can be sure that my weight gain is muscle, and not freshman 15. On one hand, I think I'm eating around 300 calories more than I did back home. On the other hand, I'm walking a lot more, too. And I have aerobics on Tuesdays & Thursdays (ouch! never knew there's 5000 different muscles in my butt!), dance on sundays, a workout on Saturday, and I bike to the supermarket (around 25-30 minutes to and back) for groceries every week.

Still, it's scary seeing the pounds go up so quick... I think I've gained 5 pounds in the last month alone!!! And my body fat % has stayed around the same (it's 1% lower).

What things were you doing to get that percentage down? I'm extremely curious

:D THANKS!!

Actually, the "drama" was all in the fact that I was something like 41% bodyfat when I started out. EXTREMELY out of shape, for me. (I'd have to look back in my journals to get more accurate information.) AND it was over a span of about 5 months that I lost the fat, over the course of three body fat readings.

However, I am proud of the fact that I really did work hard to achieve the results--running, biking, moderate swimming, cardio machines at the gym like elliptical machines, weight training, (full body circuits, 10 machines that worked the whole body)-- plus ALOT of walking with my 25# baby in her backpack; most of my cardio is pretty interval intensive.

I think I'm due to go back in in about a month to get re-tested, I'll be interested to see how much I've "stabilized."


Your activity level sounds awesome, I would hesitate to lower cals if I was you, I think that extra 300 calories is working as hard as it can to sustain your energy!!! The main thing is what you mentioned above, PERSEVERENCE. You have to keep plodding along, keep consistent, to see the really gratifying results. But to look at your stats, it appears you know what you're doing, just keep on keeping on!!!:)

I love my scales and they are a great tool to measure progress... Bicker is right on with his comments the only thing I have to add is that the system uses formulas that are pretty accurate but may not be perfect.... What they do that is very accurate is measure change so your doing great... I lost 60 pounds and my lean weigh changed by less than 1 pound so its possible!

According to the " the business plan for you body" by jim Kraus

the water submersion test is the most accurate but of course this is not pausible for most people.

then he said the calipers are the next most accurate as long as the same person consistently measures then.

Then he says the machines are the least accurate because any little hydration factor will affect your reading.

Therefore, he says you should use how your clothes fit, tape measurements, and the lbs you weigh as the tools for monitor your progress.

Well... this all started cause I gained 5 pounds in the last 2.5 weeks. So I <definitely> hope that the scale's not the way to go!
8-| I mean, I know that the last couple of pounds are hard to reach, and I know that changing an environment may cause you to eat more food, but this was just ridiculous. Especially when I think of the TWO MONTHS of hard work I had to put in to loose those 5 pounds.


:c(

Besides, it wasn't as if I wasn't getting any exercise either. However, the pounds just went up. <<consistently>>. I need something positive soon. So, Jess, it seems like the only alternative there is would be to lower cals, 'cause I'm consuming around 1800 a day. Know any good non-calorie munchies? (ha! It would be a perfect world if there existed such, right? ^_^)

And Lisa, it's so incredibly hard to measure the same place on your body each time -- you keep getting the wrong place, it seems.

oooo boy... don't get me started!

blue jade, any chance the pounds you gained were from added muscle and not fat?? muscle weighs more than the fat it displaces but it takes up less space and it burns much more calories..a pound of muscle burns 50 calories but a pound of fat only 2-3...so sometimes added weight isnt a bad thing, you know??

Well, that was what lead me to pay attention to the % fat scales.

... it hasn't changed, and I'm heavier, which means I might've got some more muscles, but also more fat as well... :(

About the muscles take up less space thing, it's wierd, but my pants seem a bit tighter at the same time my fat at my thighs seem to be "sortta" decreasing. (I really wouldn't put much validity on that second statement though, because I just judged it on what it feels like when I pinch my thighs).

So, end result? I feel like I'm a hamster running on an exercise wheel .... you run and you run ... and you seem to get nowhere.
8-|

I'm trying to work on rooting out some calories as a last resort. The thing is, I keep on wanting to munch on stuff... all the time! So it's a difficult process.

bluejade- 113 is very close to 110 so don't stress to much. You can go back to food journaling to make sure you aren't getting hidden calories from bigger portion sizes, salad dressing, halloween candy.

Also keep working out and having a healthy diet because if you do all of this you will not have a 10 lb gain.

Also if your plan is being a 10 year old because you are 10. Horomones associated with preubrty will make you r body change.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/consumerwatch/1863581/detail.html


Originally posted by bluejade
I recently got a scale that has this inbuilt fat % determining thing. Thought it was so cool ... I mean, now you don't have to worry about when you gained good weight or bad weight, right? I was so excited that I've weighed myself twice per day for the past two weeks.

But then, here's the stump: On mornings, I weigh less, yet have a higher fat %. Evenings, a heavier weight, yet a lower fat %. Before my period, the % would go up. During my period, the % goes down by as much as 3-4%!

So, how accurate do you think they are?

What are your experiences with them? How much did you fluctuate by? Why do you think they fluctuate so much?

hmmm.

I bought a Tanita scale

http://www.healthfitnessstore.com/images/ult_sm.gif

And its read 20% since the day I got it lol. I've lost a lot of weight since then and I exercise/lift weights so I don't see how I could be losing my muscles. It uses something called Bioelectric Impedance Analysis to measure body fat after reading John's link I'm begginning to have my doubts :(

Thx, John. Good post.

The scales do work they are accurate at measuring differences in body fat over a period of time... It might say you 20 percent but you may be 17-23 percent but once you know it reads 2 percent too high your set..... FOr ladies they suggest using an average over a week I guess thats 20 percent :)

Mine didn't work right until I programmed it with all the correct information about me... Just a thought....

My Tanita was a great motivator as I lost my weight, tracking my BF% from 43% down to about 15%. Make sure you use it consistently (same time of day, late in the day, not right after eating, same level of hydration, etc.)

15 % great bicker I'm gunning for 15 as my main goal but I really want to gun for 10 percent... What are your thoughts on the ideal percent of body fat for men? I think I can maintain 15 not sure about 10 %... DId you set a % as your goal or a weight..

My original goal was 174 pounds -- it was the weight I got married at, during a short period of time in my life when I wasn't obese. I knew, this time, that body-fat percentage was more important, but wasn't sure what a good goal should be, so aimed at the weight.

Glad I reconsidered before the end. When I hit 174 I felt like I was still flabby. I was still flabby when I got to goal, but at least at that point I felt that I had gotten to a weight I could work from.

Oh yes! Fiiinnnnaaallly back to 114!!! My highest from August to now went up to 118 ... just couldn't bear to change my status, so kept it there. Pathetic, huh?

So ... an overall change of body fat would then be 1%. :D Not much difference, but a reduction in either one (%fat or weight) is good, right? You've got to look at the bright side of things.

Which is, of course, is sometimes impossible to achieve. But you guys, thanks for helping me stick to my resolve!

By the way, bicker, you are one awesome role model!

Thanks! :ghug:

No. They are totally different things.

From the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:


Myth: BMI Measures Body Fat

Two people can have the same BMI, but a different percent body fat. A bodybuilder with a large muscle mass and a low percent body fat may have the same BMI as a person who has more body fat because BMI is calculated using weight and height only.

These men have the same height, weight, and BMI, but may have different percent body fat.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/images/bmi_fit.gif
6'3"
220 lbs
BMI of 27.5

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/images/bmi_unfit.gif
6'3"
220 lbs
BMI of 27.5

This is a good reminder that BMI is only one piece of a person's health profile. It is important to talk with your doctor about other measures and risk factors. (e.g., waist circumference, smoking, physical activity level, and diet.)

I haven't seen many underweight people in recent years. They're a vanishing breed.

Regardless, keep in mind that we just pointed out the difference between BMI and BF%. A BF% of 15% is normal for a fit man. Such a man may very well have a BMI of 20 or 21.

Here's what Elizabeth Quinn says about this:

Body fat percent varies considerably for men and women, for age and culture for those involved in different sports activities, and even for different geographic location. However, there are some standards. The minimum percent bodyfat considered safe and acceptable for good health is 5% for males and 12% for females. The average adult bodyfat is closer to 15%-18% for men and 22%-25% for women.

Athletes, typically, find themselves at the low end of this scale. Optimal levels of body fat are much lower for those striving for high level performance. Ranges for professional athletes are quite a bit lower than for the average, healthy individual. Much of this difference can be attributed to the increased lean weight (muscle mass) of top athletes.