Does anyone know what kind of things will affect the body fat % on the scales. If you are retaining water, will your body fat be lower? What time of day should you test your body fat and should it be before or after you eat? Does what you eat affect body fat as well? Thanks. Andrea

[quote:743c07b3aa]Does anyone know what kind of things will affect the body fat % on the scales. If you are retaining water, will your body fat be lower? What time of day should you test your body fat and should it be before or after you eat? Does what you eat affect body fat as well? Thanks. [/quote:743c07b3aa] I have a Tanita Body Fat Monitor. Their manual says that your body has varying degrees of moisture content based on food, aldohol, illness, urination and bathing patterns. Caffeine, alcohol and exercsie are dehydrating so for accuracy, wait several hours after taking substances or exercsing before taking a measurement. Also women experience a much greater change in hydration levels due to hormone changes. The most reliable way to take a body fat reading is late in the afternoon at the same time every day. The Tanita BF-679 is great because it has an athletic setting which is more accurate if you exercise a lot. Rosebud

[quote:abc6249cb2="rosebud101"]I have a Tanita Body Fat Monitor. Their manual says that your body has varying degrees of moisture content based on food, aldohol, illness, urination and bathing patterns. Caffeine, alcohol and exercsie are dehydrating so for accuracy, wait several hours after taking substances or exercsing before taking a measurement. Also women experience a much greater change in hydration levels due to hormone changes. The most reliable way to take a body fat reading is late in the afternoon at the same time every day. The Tanita BF-679 is great because it has an athletic setting which is more accurate if you exercise a lot. Rosebud[/quote:abc6249cb2] Side Note: The latest issue of Consumer Reports has tested some Body Fat Scales, including Tanita. They found them to be less than accurate. I use mine, (not Tanita) mainly for the weight accuracy. Which, coincidentally, is what CR recommends. I noticed that although I lost 30 lbs. - my BF according to the scale only went from 29% to 28%. However, using the measurements and the Dr. Sears calculations on this site, I went from 32% down to 24%, so far.

Thanks, John! That makes me doubt my Tanita, because it says I've only gone from 35 (Dr. Sears) to 33 (Tanita--I just got it), and I have lost about 17 lbs. or so. (From a size 14 to an 8). Yippee! It's probably wrong! :lol: Ronica

John and Ronica, Do you have the Tanitas with athletic modes? I find the body fat measurements more accurate using athletic mode - assuming you exercise a few times a week. I also find the fat measurements more reliable if you weigh yourself at the same time every day - preferably in the late afternoon and not near times you drink a lot of water and/or are dehydrated.

Nope, I was cheap and got the regular, but my athleticism is athletic shopping (with Xmas coming up, I've probably logged at least 20 hours in the last week) and competitive dog-walking. :) I do try to measure at the same time, but I just got it, so don't have a lot of good data on that yet. I haven't done it in a week or so, so I'll have to check. It's weird though, with me, as I find that I'll stick at one weight for a while, then notice my clothes looser, and BOOM! I'll have dropped 4 lbs. Crazy! I've been zoning 8 months, and this is the pattern. But I'm fine with my weirdness. :lol: I seem to lose slower than most (2 lbs. a month, instead of a week) but I don't care--I feel great. I think it's just my own metabolism. Doesn't matter to me. Gone from a 14 to an 8 since April, so I can definitely wait another 9 months to get to my "ideal" weight. As long as I'm getting there! Ronica