Anyone using body fat % instead of relying on the scale?

    I recently bought body fat calipers to measure my body fat %. I find it far more accurate than just weighing in. I found out that my lean body mass is 120 lbs. That confirms what I suspected about what my goal weight should be about 143 lbs which is includes a body fat of 20% (healthy body fat for a woman is between 15 and 23%). So that being said I have about 40 lbs to lose. I have a lot more muscle that I used to so now I know that I will never go down to the weight I was in highschool.

Is anyone else using this method?

I dont but it really is the way to go!  If I had calipers I totally would :)

omg, that sounds exactly like me!  My goal weight is between 135 and 140, although my ultimate goal is 17% body fat.  The 17% is the main thing, which at my current lean mass would actually stick me around 145 (I have a 120 lean mass as well.  I'm 5'6", how tall are you?)

I have an electric body fat percentage machine.  How is the best way to lose body fat % do you think?

17%-23% is not where women should be.  A healthy woman should range from 20-25%, an athletic woman should range from 15%-20%.  And, you should rely on your body fat percentage (not your weight), but have a professional use the calibrator on you because there is only one right way to take it (and MANY wrong ways).  Plus, skin calibers, even if taken the right way, will only be accurate within 3-5% of your actual body fat %.  In regards to the electric body fat machine, if it's your basic $40 scale that you can buy anywhere - it's basing your weight off of the BMI chart.  It's not accurate.  There's a scale that many clinics use called the Tanita Scale.  It costs upwards of $1,200.  It is based on the BIA and it gives a more accurate reading including your total water weight, your fat mass/fat-free mass, etc.  It's only one step down from the accuracy of hydrostatic weighing.

Me too! I definitely care more about body fat % than total weight!

I go to a clinic once a month that has a Tanita scale. I've done a few little experiments with it and the BF% does vary from moment to moment within about 1 pound. 1 pound of variation really doesn't seem like a lot, but to me it makes a difference whether I've lost 2 pounds of fat or 3!!

Is there another "consumer" grade scale called the Tamita, with an M? I hear people talking about it and I always assumed they were the same thing but maybe not.

Trydrop,   I'm 5'1 in height. Pretty short! Hee Hee! I just started with 10 lb weights about a month ago and don't think I will increase them again, just add more reps. I have no idea if my lean body mass will increase any more than it already has. I will just have to wait and see. All I know is my weight hasn't come down that much but the inches have. I have lost 10 inches off of my waist since November. I found it so weird that I wasn't losing weight that fast so I guess I was just building lean body mass during that time while losing fat as well. Fine by me!

I think to lose body fat for us would be to continue with the cardio and weight training as well as eating regularly enough to keep the metabolism going. And last but not least , patience!