Anyone using Skulpt Aim, the first portable device to measure muscle quality and fat %?

Yoyo_Fitness

I was getting sick of my scale giving me inaccurate body fat % readings then I read about Skulpt Aim (skulpt.me).

"When placed on different areas of your body, the Aim uses electrical impedance myography to send pulses through your skin, muscle, and fat to read how strong your muscles are. It rates each part of the body based on muscle quality and fat percentage, and then gives you an overall assessment of your physique."

I am just curious if anyone is using this already and if so, what do you think? So far I did a full body scan 3 times, got readings over 24 different muscle groups, and yeah, I am very happy with the results. Right now my body fat % is 17.4% (athletic) and muscle quality is 132 (almost athletic). My abs are the best with the MQ of 151/152 (left/right), weakest is shoulders, 117/122 (left/right). Now I am spending more time on my arms and it is improving already!

It really gives me motivation to improve my muscle strength... this is the most ideal way to track my fitness progress!

mkakids

don't scales use the same technology? I'm pretty sure they use an electrical bio impedance sent through the feet (and sometimes arms too depending on the scale) to measure body fat and muscle. I'm not sure how this would be different, except that the current wouldn't have to travel as far.

side rant......I hate when companies purposely misspell words in their name or product names. I refuse to buy something that is purposely misspelled (skulpt instead of sculpt), so I won't be trying this product.

jim180155

I'd like to get one but at $200 they're a little too pricey for me. They claim a high degree of accuracy. I'd like to see comments from users who've compared Skulpt results against DEXA results.

Yoyo_Fitness

@mkakids the scanner is portable and you put that against various parts of your body, so you get separate readings rather than one (which you get from the bathroom scale). @jim yes it is pricey, I agree, but it is definitely one of the most affordable, easy to use 'fitness tracker,' which can give various body fat % measurements and muscle quality scores.... I read that people measure the body fat % in an enclosed water tank but I would die of claustrophobia!

brianpperkins

The reviews aren't glowing.

http://drop-kicker.com/2014/01/skulpt-aim/

http://www.cnet.com/products/skulpt-aim/#!

Mr_Knight

From a technical perspective, this has "problem child" all over it.

zoeysasha37

Some people mentioned this at my gym, but i haven't used it. The gym owner said its still too flawed for him to purchase one yet and its obviously still just an accurate guess anyway like other methods.

mkakids

I understand what you meant...which is why I said the current wouldn't have to travel as far.

I still don't understand how having the current travel a short distance for each body part vs traveling a longer distance and covering the entire body, makes it more accurate.

Yoyo_Fitness

yes reviews vary but this is the kind of device you need to use over a certain period of time. I am very much addicted to this, and gives me a lot more motivation than before. Before I was only focused on losing weight, then my friends convinced me to work more on muscles so I completely changed my fitness routine - increasing strength workout and doing much less cardio. For my purpose, it just became pointless to measure the progress by looking at how much I weigh. Body fat % was the only proof how well I was doing but the value was fluctuating so much with my home scale, it was not so motivating.

With this device, I realised how lazy I have been with my arms because of my old shoulder injury. Yesterday I pushed myself with an extended dumbbell session and wow, I felt so good! I've also gone up with the weight with squat as well. Just because I want my muscles to improve!!! and I can measure it with this device!

Many reviewers write that the readings vary a lot depending on where you put it. Then stick to the same place, what's the problem. It's like you should always weigh yourself at the same time otherwise the reading will never be consistent. These quickly written reviews are often biased in my opinion.... If you collect the data over a month, it should definitely show you more reliable progress chart over your muscle development/body fat loss.

I will continue to use it over a few months and report back to you

brianpperkins

"Many reviewers write that the readings vary a lot depending on where you put it. Then stick to the same place," ... that doesn't give the user an overall BF%, it gives a very localized fat reading.

Thank you for highlighting the inherent flaws in the device. Sadly, you overlook them.

DavPul

Why does this thread read like a product pitch?

Jelaan

^^^ yes was thinking the same thing

Yoyo_Fitness

just realised that, too! I just wanted to find the people who use this device, that's all... If anyone uses this, please PM me!

jim180155

Yoyo, I understood where you're coming from and I'm genuinely interested in the product. I'm not ready to drop $ 200 on one just yet, but I do hope to hear more from you and other users over time. Don't let the skeptics bother you.

tomatoey

DavPul wrote: »

Why does this thread read like a product pitch?

what happened to your tiger outfit

Azdak

brianpperkins wrote: »

The reviews aren't glowing.

http://drop-kicker.com/2014/01/skulpt-aim/

http://www.cnet.com/products/skulpt-aim/#!

Pretty much what you would expect. You are still measuring random bits and trying to estimate the big picture from that data. It's the same general concept as HRMs and other trackers, but with even more variability.

Right now I just don't have the confidence that these smaller companies have the time, interest, or resources to develop algorithms that are any more accurate than our current methods.