Is there such thing as a good body fat % scale? I would like to get one becuase BMI is never a good indication for me as I do quite a bit of weight training as well.

If so what models would you recomened? Are any reasonably priced?

Thank You

I like Omron products. There is a handheld one at Amazon for like $30. Just do a search for "Body Fat Analyzers"

You will still have a margin of error, but BMI is not a good indicator for anyone fit.

Your best bet is to get some inexpensive calipers. Body fat scales are not accurate. Most of them base the reading off how hydrated you are.

The doctor that helped me lose my weight uses Tanita scales as well as calipers. They were usually within a couple of percentage points of each other.

The key is to use the same fat monitor each time you do it. And, do it at the same time of day each time.

For instance, I always step on my Tanita at 9 p.m. at night.

As long as it is accurate to ITSELF, than it doesn't matter how much it is off.

If your BF scale says you are 21% today and 19% tomorrow. It is gonna be close enough for gov't work. Even if you are really 24% today and 23% tomorrow. It is showing you progress and that is the reason behind using it.

Don't use the figures to compare yourself to anyone except yourself and it will always work well.

No. There isn't. Calipers are best, if you know how to use them. Still, you will have a margin of error.

Omron isn't too bad. It has a 3% margin of error.

Sarah

I have a Tanita digital scale and I've always wondered how accurate it is. I did some research and I've read that you shouldn't:

-eat or drink for 4 hours prior to testing
-workout 12 hours prior to testing

Here's the article: How to test body fat

I'm still going to pick up some calipers over the weekend.

I take my body fat measurement first thing in the morning. Just be careful with calipers because if you do it yourself... you can only test at certain points. So you may test your abdominal fat and find you are 25% body fat. But you may check your thigh and find you are 20% body fat. So whatever body part you test... you only get a reading for that body part.

In other words... have someone else do caliper testing on you and be sure they take measurements from at least 3 different areas (7 is better) and then average all of those numbers.

Or use a hand held device at the same time each day, wait for 7 seconds and get a reading