frustrated! body fat percentage scale
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| Mon, 07-25-2005 - 8:16pm |
I have to say, Im a little frustrated right now. Im 20, work out every day, and follow this diet to a T. Everyone says that they see my results, and my mom even said that she thinks that its time that I go on maintenance. I recently got one of those Tanita body fat percentage scales. I thought that it would be helpful, becasue I wasnt seeing that much difference on the scale (I don't have that much to loose, I just want to tone up). I got on, and it registered 22.3 percent body fat, which is on the low side of healthy. So Im feeling great. Then, tonight, my mom gets on. She has always been thin, and she runs around a lot, but doesnt do any organized exercise. (I get my figure from my fathers side) In any case, she is thin, but not nearly as toned as I am. She gets on the scale, and it registers 18.8 percent, under-fat! I just dont understand how this is possible. Does anyone know anything about these scales and how this could be accurate?
Sorry to vent, but its just so hard to work so hard and then have something like this happen.
Sorry, its just disheartening.

Oh, I understand how you feel. I think the most accurate way to check body fat percentage is to have it checked with the pinchers -- where someone would pinch your arm, stomach, leg, chest, etc. and measure the 'thickness' of the fat layer. I've never used a scale that does body fat %, but I have used the thing that puts a sensor on your arm to check it, as well as the pinchers. I would imagine that the body fat scale is less accurate than the pinchers as well. It's probably difficult to accurately measure body fat without actually 'measuring' it at all the different points of the body.
Try not to get too worked up about it. Just be glad you are in a healthy range, and keep up the good work on SBD and exercise!
Stephanie
125/115/110
Stephanie - 154/152.5/130
I was going to get one of those scales awhile ago until I did some research on the internet - they're not very accurate - depending on how hydrated you are will effect the fat percentage.
Stephanie is right - the best way to measure body fat is with those pinchers - and also done in water. My gym uses the pinchers, but has no pool so it's not as accurate. My gym also has an age chart - I'm 54 - when they measured me I was good, but if I were 20, it would have been poor.
Don't take the scale to much to heart.
thanks guys...you know, its so hard cause my rational brain tells me that i shouldnt care, that its probably innacurate, and that I look good and Im making progress. But emotions tell you a different thing, you know?
But I think your all right. Thanks again for the support!
Sophie
spring06sig2