Tanita Scale

[leanbean67]

I wish I'd never bought this goofy thing, although I have to admit weighing myself and seeing that I was supposedly at 30% body fat really got me to exercising every single day (during the winter I'm usually a three-times a week-er). I'm a runner who most people would consider to be lean (not as lean as some of you ladies, though!)

I thought that perhaps my history of dieting had caused me to waste my muscle, so I was "skinny fat." So as a result of thinking I'm 30% body fat, I've been eating probably the most consistently I have in years, every three hours without fail. Usually about 1,700 calories a day (I'm 5'6", 135 pounds). So my results after one month of angelic eating and working out with Cathe (I hadn't done much weight training consistently historically) is I weigh the exact same thing, and I'm supposedly still at 30% body fat! I've been eating as recommended by BFFM, I feel great, I thought my pants were baggier in the hips, when I was pre-menstrual I slid easily into my "skinny pants", and then I decided to do my post-menstrual monthly weigh-in. What gives? Does this scale not work? Should I invest in calipers instead? I don't care if I weigh this same number forever, but should I have lost like a 1/2% of body fat, or something? :-(

I'm really tryin hard not to get hung up on a number. People have always guessed my weight at much lighter than what I am, but this body fat thing is really bugging me. Any advice?

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

Unless you are trying to actually lower your body fat, then don't use the scale.

However, if you are trying to lower your body fat, then use it at the very same time of day and under the exact same circumstances. Same time of day, same food (or lack of) in the system, same liquids (or lack of) in system.

Your best bet is to use it first thing in the a.m., before food or water and after using the bathroom. Keep track of the reading along with your menstrual cycle (it will matter).

Once you begin using the thing under the exact same circumstances and on a regular basis, it should be used as a gauge and "ball park" reading...not an exact, dead on reading. Use it as a gauge to monitor an increase or decrease. If you are following the law according to Tom Venuto and do not see the desired decrease, consult the BFFM book and he tells you what to do with diet and exercise according to what happened with your reading.

HTH!!

 

[toastythemosty]

Give it to me!!!! I will take a hammer to it and end all of this. I am sooooo ready to do this to mine!!!!!! LOL! }(
Sara is right though.

Charlotte~~

 

[Beth1]

With the tanita's DO NOT USE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. Your body fat is always at it's highest in the am because you're at your most dehydrated - use before dinner (when you haven't eaten in a couple of hours). And make sure you've programmed it correctly. I had my height in wrong (had myself 4 inches shorter than I am and my body fat was at 19-21%), then reread the instructions - got the height right and am 14%. Also, I did have my body fat percent checked by a professional with caliper's just to make sure the scale was right, that test (done 3 times) came in at 13.8%. So do not do in morning and make sure you've programmed it right.

 

[lov2bfit]

I have the Tanita scale and love it. It actually has been great at helping me gage my fat loss. I do weight at the exact same time and under the same circumstances every day. I weight first thing in the morning after using the bathroom and completely naked. I'm really not so concerned with my fat % being higher in the morning than at night because I'm really only using it as a guide to how much the % is going down, not what the actual number is (especially since they say the % is not that accurate to begin with). But I have to say that it is great at showing progress. At least it has been for me.
Maybe you have a defective one, or maybe you do have it set wrong. If you don't think that is the case then maybe you just need to tweak a few things in your diet and/or exercise. It could be that what you are doing just does not work for your particular body.

Katie

 

[leanbean67]

Whew, took a while for me to find this question again and to read your responses. I really, really don't want to go back to starving half-to-death all the time. Funny how quickly your body gets used to being able to actually eat! And I'm able to work out much more consistently with great energy. But in the back of my mind is that message, "you're the one person this won't work for. Go back to eating a huge salad once a day!"

Maybe I'll try the calorie zig-zag thing. See if that helps speed things along. It's not that I'm in any particular hurry...I just want results right now!