Weird Readings on Scales?

David___D

Let me start by saying I have just been "maintaining" (you could say plateauing) for around 18 months now. Generally just cardio excercising with a small amount of cross training, I run a lot and play football (soccer), and not really bothered as I am comfortable with my weight now, although still classed as overweight BMI, and I very rarely go over "net" 2000 calories.

I had an injury after one of my long runs a few weeks back so not done much running, I went back on Saturday just ran 5k and decided to jump on the scales, as I try not to now as it can become a hang up to do so, to my horror i had put 3kgs back on and had gone to 26% body fat normally float around 22%.
As a point of interest this morning after another 5k yesterday I jumped on again before eating anything my weight was the same, but my bodyfat was 18.5% can anyone explaing this to me, why such a huge difference in 2 days?

I use the fitbit aria by the way.

williams969

Water retention levels will skew the BF% readings on those type of scales. The BF scales can be a good "guesstimate" as long as hydration levels, etc. are similar from reading to reading. Just like weight will fluctuate before and after exercise/eating/drinking/toileting, BF reading will do the same. Don't stress it, take the reading at the same time you take your "official" weigh-in, and keep it consistent (usually first thing after bathroom stop in the morning).

If you're interested in a more accurate body fat evaluation, calipers (done by a trained person) or DEXA scans will give you more accuracy.

mr_mitch

I have those scales.

I know the bodyfat readings are not at all accurate.

at first the readings were a bit random.

but I now use the scales first thing in the morning, after having a pee and always in the buff. and the readings are usually within .2 of a percent.