Body fat analysers

nisha0612
nisha0612 Posts: 75 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So at my gym, we are having this new drive called "be the best you can be".. where you write your goal put it on a wall and then if you reach it the gym gives u a gift :) So mine was to reduce my body fat by 5% by December. Currently, I am 5'3, 127 pounds.

We did the body fat test using this machine - it said my body fat was at 28% - http://www.firstaidwarehouse.co.uk/pic/280x280/09/52/omron_body_fat_monitor_952.jpg

the same week i was at the other branch of my gym where they have these snazzy new machines - its called the tracker or something - http://www.virginactive.co.uk/active-matters/blog/~/media/Images/Group/Blog/tracker.ashx

it said my body at was 21% which made me go like - WOooHOOOOoyay.. but also made me think - what should i trust... any thoughts on this?

Replies

  • nisha0612
    nisha0612 Posts: 75 Member
    any one??
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    all the gadgets are bogus, for the most part...unless you get in a Bod Pod, or similar device. Calipers, and weighing devices are notoriously wrong.

    I'd say, "Hey, goal met." Or just pick one and go with it. But to lose 5% body fat at your weight is pretty tough - - by December - - ? Pushing it.
  • kristy6ward
    kristy6ward Posts: 332 Member
    From what I've read those machines are all approximations. But once you take a reading, base your fat loss % by using the same machine, that way the margin for error will be the same.
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    these things aren't precise...

    A Caliper could be better but mostly done by a professional cause we never know how much to pinch and where etc...

    A measuring tape is good too, using a simple program easy to find on the net but still not 100% precise.

    The only way I know that it's 99% sure is with an hydrostatic underwater Weighing tank.



    but I use a caliper and measuring tape myself...it's almost perfect and easy to do.
  • pixietoes
    pixietoes Posts: 1,591 Member
    Analyzers are interesting.... personally it would be interesting to see if each analyzer continues to follow your progress at the same rate. Kind of like a scale that says 120 and another says 125 and they each say when you lose a pound at the same time.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    Try another gym? My gym uses a bodpod which I had heard was pretty accurate, but the last time I went, it gave me an insanely low number, but about the number my scale gives me if it's set on athlete. I don't set my scale on athlete for that very reason. Well, that and I'm not an athlete.

    Have you tried any of the website measurement calculators? Try one of these or just google "body fat calculator." Won't get an exact result, but should get a range.

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/cbbf/

    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

    http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/bodyfat.htm
  • shelbiejo
    shelbiejo Posts: 283 Member
    Use the Bod Pod. I refuse to go by anything else.
  • tomcat941
    tomcat941 Posts: 47 Member
    Just choose one and go with it, you'll see how much you are losing.

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