Body fat scales-worth the price?

[shell]

Just reading a post by Katrin about Tanita BC-541- body fat scales, and was wondering if they were worth the money, and how accurate they were?

Thanx Shell

[baloo]

I have a set of tanita scales that give body fat readings. I don't hold too much faith in the accuracy at any given reading but to help see a trend they work. At my lowest I was showing 17% body fat which I think is a bit low seeing according the the BMI I had only *just* moved from Overweight to Normal.

Though being the geek and gadget freak that I am am, Katrin's scales do sound sexy and I've already surfed a few sites to see how much they are.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I didn't even have a set of scales in the house (didn't wanna know). So, while not a total geek, I went and bought the BC 551 Innerscan myself. Kinda neat I must admit, but gave me more information than I wanted! However, I know in the next 4 months or so it's going to make me smile a lot!

Current status: awaiting instructions.......

[baloo]

Where did you get it from SMS ? And how much ?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Picked it up in Takashimaya just before Christmas. Was on sale for I believe $175. Normally around $200 I was told. I'll confirm when I get home.

Correction. It was $188. Rather expensive but when I look at the cost of my old Dopod 900 or the new IXUS 860IS I really can't say too much!.

[baloo]

Doesn't sound too much for an essential piece of kit that you will use daily and will help get yourself into a fit and healthy state.

And you can easily justify the IS860 as you'll need to take photos of yourself monthly.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Originally Posted by Baloo

And you can easily justify the IS860 as you'll need to take photos of yourself monthly.

I did just that last night and was tempted to toss the camera after seeing the results. I would have been if it hadn't been me. So sad as to what I let myself get to. Anyway, the decision has been made, the die has been cast and there is another person waiting for me at the end of this restart.

[Peter 14.7]

$40 a BIG W or K Mart no name form CHina

GO to 0.1kg in wieght and 0.1% body fat and same for Hydration.

I thinkg they help helps and like Baloo only use them as a trend. YOu real BF may be 25% and it says 27% but if your lose say 3% then you know you are going in the right direction.

Peter

[Andy46]

I don't think you need to spend that amount of money ........... mine where on line from Deals Direct - I got them on a weekend with free postage for about $20. They are glass and digital scales and work fine ............... no bells and whistles to tell you information superfluous to my needs ........ just big figures that sort of like to drop if they can to lower ones next weekly hopefully !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they are electronic and don't have a spring in them either...........................!!!!!!!!!!!!! and made in China where all the rest of them are made !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! before the flash and slick labelling and cost adding marketing ........its a bit like a pound of flour ............ every one adds a bit from the moment that it grows until its worth more than the land that grew it ....... use the KISS principle ..........Keep It Simple Stupid ........ I reckon.

Have a good weighing week

Andy

[shell]

Thank you all for your input.
Andy, I love Deals Direct, OO & KMate, and all such stores!!
I have got some great bargains on them and other online stores, leaves me more money for new SMALLER clothes!!
Shell

[Curly]

Hiya
I have a set of scales that calculate your Body fat etc and have found that my scales are very very different to how it was calculated elsewhere . The scales are showing my Body fat to be about 10 more than other calculations - so I don't rely on them. I noted the bmi on my ticker was also alot lower than the scales.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Curly

[sundaymorningstaple]

The BMI on the tickers really are just for show. The BMI ranges and calculation are different for a male and a female as well as a difference in the Asian body versus the western body builds. There is a lot of confusion over correct BMI's. The ticker only uses height and weight without regard to age, bone structure & gender and ethnicity. But just like the scales, if one uses it for a guide as to percentage of decrease/increase while the actual number may be incorrect the percentage of change would be.

[Lulabelle]

I just did a search to research this very issue.

I have a pair of cheap digital scales which do the job (though some mornings on the program I'd get 5 different weights within 2 minutes - sometimes as much as 800g different!).

Is it helpful to have some sort of body fat measurement facility? I'm intending to get quite serious about my exercise when I finish my program this time and I wonder if it will help me not to panic about possible weight GAINS if I can see that my body fat is actually decreasing (so muscle must be increasing, adding weight)?

Or are they a bit of a gimmick?

[Harriet Vane]

There are some on Catch of the Day today for $19.95: Salter Body Fat & Water Analysis Scale

[Lulabelle]

WOW that's cheap!!! Thanks Harriet Vane!

I'm not familiar with the brand, do you know if that's a good brand?

[Harriet Vane]

No idea, sorry. A friend of mine just sent me the link a minute before I read your post. It does have a 15-year warranty and seems to have been around for quite a while.

[Lulabelle]

Thanks Harriet I'm just googling now to help me make up my mind!

In my travels I just found these scales - they automatically upload your weight/fat%/BMI to your own private website AND/OR iPhone *LAUGHS* Crazy!

http://www.amazon.com/Withings-WiFi-...935966&sr=1-14

[Harriet Vane]

How crazy! I can't imagine wanting to tweet my weight each morning, I have to say.

[Lulabelle]

Me either Harriet Vane *laughs*

I don't find it that much of an inconvenience to add my new weight to my ticker/personal spreadsheet every morning the old school way