Electronic Fat % measuring

Dixie Chick

Hi All

Are electronic scales accurate at reading body fat percentage. Ive lost weiight over the last few months and gained muscle too but havent seen any major movement in the electronic scales for BF.

Are those pincher things better for measuring it or am I just trying to make myself feel better!

Dotcomdolly

Like yourself, I've lost weight, maybe 15% of original bodyweight but my bf% has only come down 2% or so according to my digital scales....it's still very high even though I exercise regulalry and have a healthy bmi.
The callipers in the right trained hands are more accurate.

Dixie Chick

thats the thing with me too, ive lost 20% (slowly) and the digital scales have only moved a small bit when i know even by trying to pinch and inch that its not the case

TommyKnocker

Hi There

IMHO electronic scales are really not the best method of measuring body fat.

The reading will vary with how hydrated you are how long since you ate etc.

Calipers in the hands of someone who knows how to use them would IMHO be a more reliable method, though again this will only be a guesstimate as even with Calipers depending on the formula used, you can get widely varying figures.

That's why you should get your BF measured by the same person, with the same calipers, using the same formula for best results. Then once the figure is going in the right direction, it's all good.


Just my 2 cents


M

Dixie Chick

Thanks BodyBuilder I partly guessed hydration would have something to do with it alright and cant understand how a scale would quantify fat mass

TommyKnocker

As I understand it, the scales sends a low electrical current around your body and measures the resistance. Then using some programmed algorithm it calculates your body fat %. This is why you will get varying readings if you take a reading first thing in the morning when you will be hungry and dehydrated then if you take a reading 1 or 2 hours after a good meal and taking on liquid.

Your body fat has not changed in that sort space of time, but the there will be more resistance to the current, so you will likely get a higher reading.


Best Regards,

M

Will Heffernan

Dixie Chick wrote: »

Hi All

Are electronic scales accurate at reading body fat percentage.

Define accuracy? I'm just joking...they are not 'accurate' as in they do not give you an accurate body fat reading. I do think they can generally be reliable thought when all things are equal. As in...if you use them every morning after you have been to the loo then you should get a generallyy consistent reading...it won't be a bodyfat percentage but it will be 'something'...you can just call it a guideline to progress.

Ive lost weiight over the last few months and gained muscle too but havent seen any major movement in the electronic scales for BF.

The fact that YOU'VE noticed is the main thing

Are those pincher things better for measuring it or am I just trying to make myself feel better!

Having your skinfolds done by someone who has been trained to do them and who has plenty of experience is a much better way to measure progress.

Personally...I think the best thing to do is to pick a place at home with a 'landmark'...like a stain on the carpet and place a camera with a timer somewhere else there's a landmark...like the edge of a bench or table and take a front, back and side photo every month. You don't notice changes daily but you should definitely see them monthly.

Dixie Chick

Will Heffernan wrote: »

Define accuracy? I'm just joking...they are not 'accurate' as in they do not give you an accurate body fat reading. I do think they can generally be reliable thought when all things are equal. As in...if you use them every morning after you have been to the loo then you should get a generallyy consistent reading...it won't be a bodyfat percentage but it will be 'something'...you can just call it a guideline to progress.


The fact that YOU'VE noticed is the main thing


Having your skinfolds done by someone who has been trained to do them and who has plenty of experience is a much better way to measure progress.

Personally...I think the best thing to do is to pick a place at home with a 'landmark'...like a stain on the carpet and place a camera with a timer somewhere else there's a landmark...like the edge of a bench or table and take a front, back and side photo every month. You don't notice changes daily but you should definitely see them monthly.

thanks for your reply! I dont weigh myself daily at all, normally every two weeks and then BF monthly. i dont own a scales at all cos i literally would be hopping up on it all day everyday!!

I actually might do the photo suggestion, kinda wish now I had done it before i started.

Will Heffernan

Dixie Chick wrote: »

thanks for your reply!

No probs.

I dont weigh myself daily at all, normally every two weeks and then BF monthly.

That is no where near as compulsive and obsessive as I like

I've clients who'd have their body fats done daily if they could...actually I've some that would love to have a site measured and then go train it and come back to have it measured again...that's the sort of freaks I like to work with.

i dont own a scales at all cos i literally would be hopping up on it all day everyday!!

That's what I like to hear

I actually might do the photo suggestion, kinda wish now I had done it before i started.

Never too late. I've photos from when I was racing and weighed 68-72kg...then when I was coaching at 139kg...then back at 100kg now...they are great to have for no other reason than to laugh at.

Start now and do them at the start of the month they won't mean much in the first month or 2...but when you have 6 months or a years...they'll be great motivation.

Good luck.

Red Cortina

Will Heffernan wrote: »

I've clients who'd have their body fats done daily if they could...actually I've some that would love to have a site measured and then go train it and come back to have it measured again...that's the sort of freaks I like to work with.

A bit OT here but I love getting my body fat measured. I think that it is great to get the feedback on what is working and what isn't.

Dotcomdolly

Totally agree re the photos, I did a pretty collage on www.scrapblog.com
of my before (161lb) and after (133lb) (I took front & side pics in close fitting gym gear) and I have it stuck on my fridge. Reminds me of how I never want to go back to that...and how brilliant I am Despite what my stupid bodyfat scales say!