Re: advice re: scales ?????

[Guest guest]

I've been looking too. The Tanita's appear to be the least

consistent, with the Omron handhelds a bit better. Personally, I'm

going with the caliper method- it seems more consistent, and

certainly cheaper.

> I know we should use fat calipers to measure progress as scales

don't normally depict the lbm/fat ratio.....but, I do like to see the

scales go down. Unfortunately, the digital scales I have never ever

give the same reading. You can move your foot a fraction of an inch

and the weight dramatically changes......Can anyone suggest or

recommend a good set of home scales to check out? I did a search and

there are a bunch of them out there. Some, like the Tanita's measure

body fat and take your weight. This might have been brought up on

the list before, and if so, I apologize for re-hashing it, but what

kind of scales should I buy for my home? I, at least want

consistency in the measurement, even if I move my foot a little. Can

anyone help?

>

> Thanks,

> Bob

[Guest guest]

Does that mean that you won't be using the scales at all? Are the Tanita's

least consistent on the weight, as well as the body fat? I just want a good,

consistently accurate set of scales for weight. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Bob

In a message dated 11/4/2002 2:49:08 PM Eastern Standard Time,

matthew@... writes:

> I've been looking too. The Tanita's appear to be the least

> consistent, with the Omron handhelds a bit better. Personally, I'm

> going with the caliper method- it seems more consistent, and

> certainly cheaper.

>

>

> > I know we should use fat calipers to measure progress as scales

> don't normally depict the lbm/fat ratio.....but, I do like to see the

> scales go down. Unfortunately, the digital scales I have never ever

> give the same reading. You can move your foot a fraction of an inch

> and the weight dramatically changes......Can anyone suggest or

> recommend a good set of home scales to check out? I did a search and

> there are a bunch of them out there. Some, like the Tanita's measure

> body fat and take your weight. This might have been brought up on

> the list before, and if so, I apologize for re-hashing it, but what

> kind of scales should I buy for my home? I, at least want

> consistency in the measurement, even if I move my foot a

> little. Can

> anyone help?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Bob

[Guest guest]

I can stay at 169-170 lbs. but my measurements and musculature could

change. The scale only measures your total body mass. The breakdown

of lean mass versus fat mass is what counts. Fat takes up as much as

five times as much room as muscle. You could weigh the same or even

more, but see enormous results if you're gaining muscle and losing

fat.

Jeff

[Guest guest]

Oh heck, for weight just get a cheap one at Walmart or something.

They tend to be pretty darn accurate. I workout at home, and keep the

scale where I workout. So whenever I want a consistent reading, I

throw on 200# of weights, calibrate the scale, and step on. It is

hardly ever off, I think we paid $20 for it years ago.

> > > I know we should use fat calipers to measure progress as scales

> > don't normally depict the lbm/fat ratio.....but, I do like to see

the

> > scales go down. Unfortunately, the digital scales I have never

ever

> > give the same reading. You can move your foot a fraction of an

inch

> > and the weight dramatically changes......Can anyone suggest or

> > recommend a good set of home scales to check out? I did a search

and

> > there are a bunch of them out there. Some, like the Tanita's

measure

> > body fat and take your weight. This might have been brought up

on

> > the list before, and if so, I apologize for re-hashing it, but

what

> > kind of scales should I buy for my home? I, at least want

> > consistency in the measurement, even if I move my foot a

> > little. Can

> > anyone help?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Bob

[Guest guest]

Jeff,

I have a set of digital manual calipers and agree with what you said...but you

use your overall weight as a basis for applying the percentages and determining

the lbm. I'm just looking for some accurate scales for my home that are

affordable.

Thanks,

Bob

In a message dated 11/4/2002 3:10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

jegadeli@... writes:

> I can stay at 169-170 lbs. but my measurements and musculature could

> change. The scale only measures your total body mass. The breakdown

> of lean mass versus fat mass is what counts. Fat takes up as much as

> five times as much room as muscle. You could weigh the same or even

> more, but see enormous results if you're gaining muscle and

> losing

> fat.

> Jeff

[Guest guest]

Hi Matt,

I too have a cheap one and it never gives me the same reading. I can get on and

off 3 times and still get big variances. I can't use weights to calibrate one

as I use a bowflex ultimate now ( I live out in the country and have no spotter)

- I got rid of my weights. I just figured there had to be some pretty accurate,

affordable scales out there somewhere....

Thanks,

Bob

In a message dated 11/4/2002 4:16:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,

matthew@... writes:

> Oh heck, for weight just get a cheap one at Walmart or something.

> They tend to be pretty darn accurate. I workout at home, and keep the

> scale where I workout. So whenever I want a consistent reading, I

> throw on 200# of weights, calibrate the scale, and step on.

> It is

> hardly ever off, I think we paid $20 for it years ago.

[Guest guest]

I've personally found the Tanita to be very consistent for myself.

It doesn't fluctuate more than 0.1% from week to week as long as I

measure at the same time of day. If you measure at different times

of day, it will be inconsistent.

Andy

> > I know we should use fat calipers to measure progress as scales

> don't normally depict the lbm/fat ratio.....but, I do like to see

the

> scales go down. Unfortunately, the digital scales I have never

ever

> give the same reading. You can move your foot a fraction of an

inch

> and the weight dramatically changes......Can anyone suggest or

> recommend a good set of home scales to check out? I did a search

and

> there are a bunch of them out there. Some, like the Tanita's

measure

> body fat and take your weight. This might have been brought up on

> the list before, and if so, I apologize for re-hashing it, but what

> kind of scales should I buy for my home? I, at least want

> consistency in the measurement, even if I move my foot a little.

Can

> anyone help?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Bob

[Guest guest]

The Tanita does give a consistent reading with weight even if you get

on and off. If it does fluctuate, it isn't more than 0.2 lbs.

I had the same problem with another scale. It would fluctuate up to

3 lbs and I could never get a consistent reading. I purchased the

Tanita since I wanted the bodyfat function as well as the weight.

Andy

> Hi Matt,

>

> I too have a cheap one and it never gives me the same reading. I

can get on and off 3 times and still get big variances. I can't use

weights to calibrate one as I use a bowflex ultimate now ( I live out

in the country and have no spotter) - I got rid of my weights. I

just figured there had to be some pretty accurate, affordable scales

out there somewhere....

>

> Thanks,

> Bob

>

>

> In a message dated 11/4/2002 4:16:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,

matthew@t... writes:

>

> > Oh heck, for weight just get a cheap one at Walmart or something.

> > They tend to be pretty darn accurate. I workout at home, and keep

the

> > scale where I workout. So whenever I want a consistent reading, I

> > throw on 200# of weights, calibrate the scale, and step on.

> > It is

> > hardly ever off, I think we paid $20 for it years ago.

[Guest guest]

Andy,

I appreciate your info. I had read some e-pinions on different models of the

Tanita and was looking at the Tanita BF-556-DG - a bit pricey, but I'll check

ebay. Glad to know the fluctuations are actually so minimal - my current

walmart cheap scale fluctuate 10 pounds or so - never the same....I just want

one I can match to the doctors and be fairly accurate. It'd be interesting to

see the comparison to the BIA of the Tanita to the calipers....but I do know it

is all in the hands of the user, even with calipers. Thanks again, so far the

Tanita is the only one I've heard that is accurate.

Bob

In a message dated 11/4/2002 4:57:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,

andyman68@... writes:

> The Tanita does give a consistent reading with weight even if you get

> on and off. If it does fluctuate, it isn't more than 0.2 lbs.

>

> I had the same problem with another scale. It would fluctuate up to

> 3 lbs and I could never get a consistent reading. I purchased the

> Tanita since I wanted the bodyfat function as well as the

> weight.

>

> Andy

[Guest guest]

I got mine for $99.99 on E-bay. Not sure of the model, but it is for

4 persons, adult & athlete modes.

More than I would normally pay for a scale, but I used money I

received from my research study to purchase.

In the athlete mode, I measure about 6% less than the adult mode.

The athlete mode was within 3% of calipers and BIA for me. No method

is exact for bodyfat so you really just need to be consistent in the

methods that you use and track changes in bodyfat.

Getting the same weight each time on the scale is a big plus if you

are tracking your weight.

Andy

> Andy,

>

> I appreciate your info. I had read some e-pinions on different

models of the Tanita and was looking at the Tanita BF-556-DG - a bit

pricey, but I'll check ebay. Glad to know the fluctuations are

actually so minimal - my current walmart cheap scale fluctuate 10

pounds or so - never the same....I just want one I can match to the

doctors and be fairly accurate. It'd be interesting to see the

comparison to the BIA of the Tanita to the calipers....but I do know

it is all in the hands of the user, even with calipers. Thanks

again, so far the Tanita is the only one I've heard that is accurate.

>

> Bob

>

>

> In a message dated 11/4/2002 4:57:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,

andyman68@y... writes:

>

> > The Tanita does give a consistent reading with weight even if you

get

> > on and off. If it does fluctuate, it isn't more than 0.2 lbs.

> >

> > I had the same problem with another scale. It would fluctuate up

to

> > 3 lbs and I could never get a consistent reading. I purchased

the

> > Tanita since I wanted the bodyfat function as well as the

> > weight.

> >

> > Andy