Electronic Body Fat Scale

[.V.]

I don't buy stuff online. Can't find any calipers locally to buy. The tape measure is a great way to tell if you are heading in the right direction from 65%, 50%, 25%... Now as I try to get below 10%, it is getting pretty inaccurate. Have to be absolutely certain to measure in exactly the same position and so on.

This morning, on my first measurement, it gave me a "danger" message when I entered the numbers from the tape (it was wrong) 1.5%. I re-measured again and got 4%, a third measure gave me 3%, the 4th gave me 5%. I look in the mirror and see closer to 10%

I saw an electronic body fat measuring scale at wally world a few days ago and thought about just picking one of those up. Are they accurate? Has anyone tried one and compared it to other methods to know how close to correct they get.

It would be nice to know where I'm really at instead of a tape measure guess.

Thanks.

[vivid]

I have a Tanita BF scale and I find it fairly accurate. I measured myself the morning I went to get a Bod Pod done and the results were exactly the same, which was 27%... I have heard that the bf scales do have trouble when you get down to a bf under 15% so I'm not sure if they would help you out any more than what you have now... If the store has a return policy they why not give it a try?

I have read that the Omron HBF-306 is a better bf scale than the tanita. And I know that you did not want to buy online but I saw it on Amazon, (click here for the link) for only $31.99 including shipping

[.V.]

I've done some googling this morning and keep finding "not suitable for athletes" - pretty much on all the different brands. One did have an "althlete" setting. This setting is for people who's resting heart rate is less than 60. I guess I don't qualify as an athlete anyway. I'm just a weight lifter who does cardio whenever I get the chance. Your information about the inaccuracies below 15% seems to be accurate too. Darn it. I really can't afford to go out and buy a $36,000 bod pod. If anyone else has experience with one of these and can report further about accuracy, it would be helpful in choosing the brand.

Thanks again.

Andy,

I own a Tanita and use it regularly. I experience wide fluctuations from morning to mid-day. I believe this is due to water. For me, in the morning my bodyfat percentage is higher and bodyweight lower, whereas in the afternoon, it's just the opposite.

For example, I might weigh 180 lbs. and 16.5% bodyfat in the morning, and by mid-day I might weigh 182 lbs. and 11% bodyfat.

So, I weigh myself each morning at the same time, and that's what I use. I believe that my bodyfat is lower than the morning measurement but that's what I use.

The value of this is how the readings change over time.

I personally like the mirror test. Can I see my cheek bones, and can I see my hip bones. Can I see some ab definition. Generally when the answer to all of these is yes, then my bodyfat percentage is where I want it to be.

[cursor]

In Ripped, the Video (Clarence Bass), a product that I have on my shelf, he discusses (and demonstrates) how he successfully uses his Tanita scale (on 'athlete' setting).

References to the Tanita scale on his site include:

http://www.cbass.com/Carbs_Athletes.htm
http://www.cbass.com/success_stories.htm
http://www.cbass.com/TRIGLYCE.HTM