Tracking "fitness": %bf vs. inches vs. ???

Hi,

So I bought a scale recently that I *thought* measured %bf, but it doesn't. (misleading packaging).  I have 2 weeks to decide whether I want to return it.  It's another $50 for the model that does %bf, but I'm wondering if it's worth it?

Since my end goal is fitness, what is the best way to measure "increasing fitness", is it:

1) Scales that measure %body fat (may be innacurate, but good for trends, can be measured relatively easily)

2) Inches (measuring various parts of body, easy&cheap but slowwww results)

3) Tracking heartrate, using heartrate monitor (about the same cost as going to the %bf scale, but not as easy to understand)

4) Something else??

Thanks!!

Original Post by jam_in_van:

Since my end goal is fitness, what is the best way to measure "increasing fitness"...

Before you can figure out how best to 'increase fitness' you need to figure out what you mean by 'fitness'.

Figure out what your actually trying to accomplish (Run a marathon, do 10 pullups, run 5k in X minutes) and base your goals on that, vague goals with no measure aren't doing you any favors.

If your goal is fitness then all three of those items should change slowly through time...

1. I have a Tanita Scale; it "measures body fat" basically according to BMI... no scale is accurate with body fat. Scale said I have 23.9% body fat. I had my body fat measured via Calipers and it was 18.5%. The DEXA (most accurate) was at 21.7%. So don't bother with the more expensive scale.
2. I have lost 22.5 inches since last march, and I have gotten much more "fit" but the 22 inches was more just along the lines of me wanting to be a smaller size
3. If you get a heartrate monitor go for the Polar ones... they are expensive, and they can also track our cals burnt (which is amazing)
4. Something else: your endurance and mindset. When I started I couldn't run a mile... and I had a heck of a lot of cellulite (skinny fat). Now? I run 8-12miles a week (usually just one day) and I am like a machine... I honestly know my strength and I know that there is nothing I cannot do... whereas before? lmao, I was just a girl. To me that's my gauge of fitness.

G'luck!!!

Thanks for your replies!!

I know I need a fitness goal, but I don't have one yet.  I need to meditate more on that.  I have no desire to run marathons or lift impressive amounts.  Last summer I climbed a mountain with a group of friends and I wasn't able to keep up, and I have other friends who have biked across the country, and I feel like that is something that I couldn't do now but would like to. 

Because I am so busy, I can't climb a mountain/bike crazy distances every weekend to test myself, so I'm still thinking about what could be a reasonable analog.

I do want to lose inches, particularly on my arms and thighs.

There's a Canadian show called "X-Weighted" that features overweight people trying to lose weight. In the beginning, the trainer takes their measurements and weight and then gets the contestant to run a timed obstacle course. At the end of 6 months, they run the same course again to see how much their time improved.

Maybe you could set up your own obstacle course? Or do something easy like see how many squats/jumping jacks/burpees/pushups, etc you could do at 1 mins per exercise, plus how long it takes you to run 1 km. See if your time improves each month/3 months/whatever. if you're getting more fit, the time will decrease.

That's a great idea! I like the simplicity of it :)