Bodyfat Scales...Standard or Athletic?

[cndnguy]

How do you know which one to use?

[in10city]

Originally Posted by cndnguy

How do you know which one to use?

Most will find Standard fits their profile. Even though I fit the Athletic profile, I get errors on readings when it's in AM.

Originally Posted by Tanita

Q: Why is there an "Athlete Mode"?
A: The Athlete mode was developed to provide a more accurate reading for athletic body types. Athletic body types are physiologically different than standard adult body types, due to muscle mass and hydration level differences. Athletes tend to have greater muscle mass and tend to be more dehydrated. These differences would skew the body fat reading high, when taken with the standard Adult mode.

Tanita defines "athlete" as a person involved in intense physical activity of approximately 10 hours per week and who has a resting heart rate of approximately 60 beats per minute or less.

Tanita's athlete definition includes "lifetime of fitness" individuals who have been fit for years but currently exercise less than 10 hours per week. Tanita's athlete definition does not include "enthusiastic beginners" who are making a real commitment to exercising at least 10 hours per week but whose bodies have not yet changed to require the Athlete mode.

[rockdawg21]

Are you talking about those Tanita Fat Scales? They measure using a bad technology called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Even when I'm ripped, they always say I'm 17%.

[RobOH]

Originally Posted by rockdawg21

Are you talking about those Tanita Fat Scales? They measure using a bad technology called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Even when I'm ripped, they always say I'm 17%.

Ok, my scale has rows of metal on it and I believe it works by sending an electrical current through the body and then waiting to see how long it takes the signal to get back. I'm assuming that is "Biolelectrical Impedance"?? If so, you just made my day!! I've lost a lot of weight and I thought I was around 15% bf but the scale said 18% this morning!! There's no way I'm going to lose 16 more pounds at 6'2 192 just to get to 10%!!! 180-185 is the lowest I will go!!

[in10city]

Originally Posted by RobOH

Ok, my scale has rows of metal on it and I believe it works by sending an electrical current through the body and then waiting to see how long it takes the signal to get back. I'm assuming that is "Biolelectrical Impedance"?? If so, you just made my day!! I've lost a lot of weight and I thought I was around 15% bf but the scale said 18% this morning!! There's no way I'm going to lose 16 more pounds at 6'2 192 just to get to 10%!!! 180-185 is the lowest I will go!!

Yup.They are quite variable depending upon measuring conditions. Use calipers or better yet - have an experienced person do it.

[RobOH]

Originally Posted by in10city

Yup.They are quite variable depending upon measuring conditions. Use calipers or better yet - have an experienced person do it.

Yeah, I also don't know but they also seem to take a lot into consideration like age, gender, height...but they don't take into account body type! I think I'll just continue doing what I have been...working out and ignoring the scale! Weight can be helpful but I agree with those who say "Just look in the mirror and/or take pictures". I don't want to become obsessed with the scale like I did before. It caused too much frustration!!

[Cape1]

Originally Posted by rockdawg21

Are you talking about those Tanita Fat Scales? They measure using a bad technology called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Even when I'm ripped, they always say I'm 17%.

x2. Not even good for direction in my opinion. They are heavily reliant on water/hydration levels, which fluctuate constantly. Mine had me at 13.5% body fat the morning when the Avatar above was taken. Trainer at the local gym had me at 5.2%, which is equally a joke. I did it myself and figured I was closer to about 7-8%. Point is, who the phuck knows for sure so just get a method to determine the direction you're heading in:

Buy those little pinchers for $10- accumeasure. Take a veritical abdominal skin fold and track your mm's. They go up, you're gaining fat; down and you're loosing it.

[mavrick77]

Originally Posted by cndnguy

How do you know which one to use?

I can tell you how to use it, as a paper weight for your desk. thoose are the most inaccurate measuring devices for bodyfat.

[cndnguy]

Thanks for the input guys...I agree that the calipers sound like a more accurate method...I think I'll get a trainer to use them instead...It's weird because on standard I'm around 13% and on athletic I'm around 6%...both of which sound a little off...but I do workout roughly 10 hours a week and am quite active...I guess all I really want is a way to measure my progress of losing fat...

[terribletriad]

I have one, the Tanita IronMan Innerscan. (BC558) I like the fact that it has the handles for a bit more accuracy. I've also found first thing in the morning (every week) gives me more consistent readings.

They are really nothing more than a tool, and shows direction. For example, if a persons overall bodyfat is 25%, yet thier legs show 30+%, kinda of gives you an idea where you're lacking.

Again, it's not absolute. It's just a tool.

[rockdawg21]

Originally Posted by RobOH

Ok, my scale has rows of metal on it and I believe it works by sending an electrical current through the body and then waiting to see how long it takes the signal to get back. I'm assuming that is "Biolelectrical Impedance"?? If so, you just made my day!! I've lost a lot of weight and I thought I was around 15% bf but the scale said 18% this morning!! There's no way I'm going to lose 16 more pounds at 6'2 192 just to get to 10%!!! 180-185 is the lowest I will go!!

Yup, that's the one. It's a BS technology. I'm just glad that I purchased one of the cheap ones when I started being serious back in early 2006. I still use it though, it's a nice digital scale and tracks my weight from week to week, which is nice, but I still use the caliper for body fat testing.