Body Fat Analyzer VS. A Scale?!

Alright so as I progress through my weight loss journey I am increasingly feeling like purchasing a Body Fat Analyzer would be far more informationally effective (just invented a new phrase?) over a traditional scale.

EXAMPLE: http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HBF-306-Body-Fat- Analyzer/dp/B00006WNPU/sr=8-2/qid=1170889112/ ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-1421059-3078347?ie=UTF8&a mp;s=hpc

I say this because I recently put "two and two together". I am currently the same weight as I was 4 years ago. BUT I look signifigantly "larger". After alot of research and thinking I remembered that 4 years ago I was rowing 5 days a week hence I was alot more muscular. So my body fat has probably been doubled since then...

Opinions? And any suggestions on a particular (cheap but good quality) body fat analyzer to purchase...

I've heard those "body fat measuring" scales are notoriously unreliable because of the way they measure.

Essentially they send a small electric charge through one limb (legs if you're standing on the scale, arms if you have the one you hold onto) to the one that's holding the other receptor.....

So basically if you're female with large breasts but otherwise skinny it's going to give you a somewhat inflated reading because...well... breast tissue is mostly fat.   Or if you're standing on it --- and have muscular legs, but carry your fat around your middle, your reading might be off that way.

That's just coming from my nutritionist though....

Well if you are nutritionist then I consider that reliable advice! That is definitely something to think about. darn!

When I looked into it further I was a little baffled at how they measured your body fat.

Hmm, not sure if I want to blow money on something that could be unrealiably... Especially since I am a female with large breasts. : )

Oh -- I'm not a nutritionist!  It was my nutritionist who told me that :) 

Honestly --- I don't know if you have a gym near your house -- but they usually are able to help you with that.  I know for $10 my gym sets up times twice a year when they actually do all the body fat measurements properly in water and everything.

Measurements are another option :)

Well, I can definitely see how that makes sense.

I should look into that gym offer... I was kind of looking to use a body fat anaylzer as a scale.

Thanx!

I also find the electronic BF% reader is on reliable if your BF is not spread out through out your body. My BF% using caliper measurements is 18+%, but using the electronic reader it shows anywhere between 24%-27%. But, my sister's reading is pretty much on the dot 30.9% with caliper and 31% with electronic. Our body structure and where we store fat are different. Hers is more evenly throughout the body, mine only on my legs.

i dont know how reliable it is..  but i used this site to figure out my body fat...

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home -body-fat-test- 2774-143.html?#accurate


i also have a scale that does it..  and it reads like 4% higher then the above home body fat test does...   i dont know how it compares to caliper test, or whatnot...

Unicat- I LOVE that body fat calculator.  For years I have struggled with being told I am obese when in fact I don't believe that I am. On the heavy side... Ok I accept that!  As a matter of fact, when I was in the Air Force my maximum allowable weight for my height (5'4") was 136 pounds.  At 148 pounds, I was a size 6 - 8.  I think 136 would be unhealthy for me! 

 At any rate, I am losing weight right now to get back down to 145.  I currently weigh 169 pounds and your calculator puts me at 28% body fat. That is great (even if it is off by 2% and I am at 30%.)  I have always been very muscular.  Right now my body fat analyzer scale at home says I am 34% body fat but I am a size 12.  And according to the BMI chart I just made it below "Obese" with the last few pounds I lost.  Ridiculous.  This is why you can't always go by standard charts. 


Also, for anyone considering these home analyzer scales, you should realize that body fat and hydration are linked by how the scale operates.  I drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, sometimes more, and I am NEVER at the recommended hydration level because it is a percentage.  I am usually at about 43% hydration when they recommend between 50-60%.  If my body fat percentage is being miscalculated by the scale I guess it IS impossible for me to be 60% hydrated, 34% fat, and still have bones and organs!

Thanks again for the link!

you are welcome peanutt :) like i said.. i dont know exactly how accurate it is, but it sure makes me feel good..  especially with all the measurements being taken into account...  and according to it i have just gotten into the acceptable range for woman :)  which makes me feel even better :) (although if it is truly off by two percent that would put me back above the acceptable range, lol.. ) hoping to see a big improvement in the next month :)  i am keeping track of it in my journal :)