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looking for a good scale

Discussion in 'Health & Fitness' started by nthfinity, Jul 26, 2009.

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  1. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

    Mar 21, 2005
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    Isaac not Issac
    #1 nthfinity, Jul 26, 2009
    Mine has been given away for good cause (my heavier older brother has decided to start slimming down); whats a good brand. My previous scale belonged to my grandfather, and ticked with my heart even! It really is a key part of my weight loss...
     
  2. Modenafan

    Modenafan F1 World Champ
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    #2 Modenafan, Jul 27, 2009
    I use a Tanita because it measures fat% along with weight. I'm not sure how accurate the fat% is but it gives you an idea of your progress. Best of luck. :)
     
  3. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #3 nthfinity, Jul 29, 2009
    Picked up a Homedics (support local business!) health Station 560

    Measures
    Weight
    Body fat
    Body water
    Body Muscle

    One problem, it requires wet and flat feet. My feet are not flat.
    It takes me 10 minutes to get a reading on anything but pure weight.

    A couple readings in, Body fat's deviation appears pretty low (24.7 vs. 24.3 ) whereas the other readings seem mostly useless with a deviation of 8 points.
     
  4. Modenafan

    Modenafan F1 World Champ
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    #4 Modenafan, Jul 29, 2009
    My Tanita takes about 5 seconds to register body fat and weight. It doesn't do the other functions you've listed but it seems pretty accurate.
     
  5. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #5 nthfinity, Jul 29, 2009
    when it works, it takes 5 seconds. But, since my feet aren't flat, its incredibly difficult to position my feet to get the reading done.
     
  6. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

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    #6 ducowti, Jul 29, 2009
    Bioimpedence units (i.e. what you're talking about) send current through your body and yield readings based on resistance from contact to contact (in this case, foot to foot). Problem with this type of reading is that it's affected by state of hydration. So, if you're not properly hydrated the unit will be less accurate than if you're properly hydrated.
     
  7. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #7 nthfinity, Jul 30, 2009
    OK, found a way to make the scale do a reading every time... flat feet on the edge of the scale, with my legs apart.

    Deviation of BF is still 1% (in the other way this time) Body Muscle is another wild swing in the other direction...
     
  8. Modenafan

    Modenafan F1 World Champ
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    #8 Modenafan, Jul 30, 2009
    You're correct about the dehydration. The directions state that you should use the scale at the same time each day and you should NOT be dehydrated.
     
  9. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

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    #9 ducowti, Jul 30, 2009
    In this industry - among competent/clinic-trained folk anyway - bioimpedence units are disaffectionately referred to as 'random # generators' :rolleyes: Take their results w.a shaker full of salt.
     
  10. JoesFun

    JoesFun Karting

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    #10 JoesFun, Jul 30, 2009
    Your bathroom mirror is the best scale.
     
  11. Modenafan

    Modenafan F1 World Champ
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    #11 Modenafan, Aug 4, 2009
    Well, I can't say how accurate the scale is but it's very consistent. I hadn't checked in years but I do log the results I get. After years I was up about 3% which made since my excercise and come down significantly. Now after 3 months back cycling the number have come down along with my weight. I don't take the numbers too seriously, I just use it to see what ballpark I'm in. :)
     
  12. thecheddar

    thecheddar Formula 3

    Jun 29, 2006
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    #12 thecheddar, Aug 5, 2009
    Consistency is probably more important than the accuracy of the scale! Mine seems to be off by a pound (plus one, of course) but, really, who cares? What's important is when it shows you're up or down a few pounds, not the actual number itself. that's when you know to work a little harder or stop at In-N-Out! ;)

    I've found that the body fat scales and calculators never work consistently. I've had a handful of scales and each of those seemed to be terribly off. The one at my gym seems to work really well but I think it cost a few hundred bucks, at least.
     
  13. Vector W8

    Vector W8 Formula Junior

    Jun 30, 2004
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    #13 Vector W8, Oct 24, 2009
    I typically use a scale from 1 to 10 when rating anything.
     

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