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Weight & Body Fat Variations

Hello

I bought my scale yesterday. Set up seemed quite straightforward for me (more time consuming to add other people)

so weighed myself 81kg. Seemed reasonable. Moved it to the bathroom. Same

then at night, whilst trying to get Mrs M linked in, I tried again, albeit on floorboards in our room. 77kg. Hmmmm

back in the bathroom this morning: 79.4kg.

Body fat ranging from 12.5% to 10.7% - when I had a health check in October, I was just short of 19%. I wanted to get this down to ~15% hence the reason to buy this scale (and the link to all other things garmin...)

so couple of questions:

does anyone else have this range of weight variation? I store the scales standing up due to lack of floor space in the bathroom, so then have to put them down to use. Would this cause a problem?

any tips to reduce variations in readings?

how do other people find the body fat content readings?

thx!

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Weight can be variable due to many things, including food eaten, water intake, etc.
It's possible to gain a couple of lbs. eating popcorn, due to the water absorption from this.

Body Fat is measured by "electrical impedance", uses a formula for calculation, and can be
significantly variable due to levels of hydration (even how clean feet, or scale surface, are).

These are not "medical grade" instruments, and can vary due to many factors.
An average over time, rather than a single reading, will be more accurate.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I find any type of movement effects it and it needs a min to recalibrate after being shifted

0 mattmirfield over 9 years ago

I find any type of movement effects it and it needs a min to recalibrate after being shifted

so would you recommend placing on the floor, tap it to awaken it, then give it a min before using?

I wasn't also fully aware that the body fat measure will only reach so far up the body. Given I cycle a lot, the reading would make sense as my legs are pretty good, it's the top half that needs work (so these scales probably don't help at all)

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

so would you recommend placing on the floor, tap it to awaken it, then give it a min before using?

I wasn't also fully aware that the body fat measure will only reach so far up the body. Given I cycle a lot, the reading would make sense as my legs are pretty good, it's the top half that needs work (so these scales probably don't help at all)

After I move it i tap it to make sure it reads 0.0 if it is reading 0.1 or 0.2 i wait for it to recalibrate... Ive never heard of it only scanning so far up the body though? If mine was only scanning my legs my Body fat % would be a lot lower lol..

0 argylesocks over 9 years ago

I am seeing the same thing, but on a much shorter timeline.

This morning, I weighted 212.4 which seemed a bit high. Got back on & tried again, same thing. Got back on the third time & it flashed 211, but then when going through the data, the weight went back up 1.5lbs.

Waited a minute... bot back on, and I was 208. Tried a few more times & it stayed at 208.
Waited about 15mins... and I was back up to 210.4. The next few times were 210.4

No movement of scale... no eat/drink.. .no change in clothes, etc.... on tile floor. In the span of 15mins, I had 3 measurements varying up to 4 pounds!

0 GabeEggplant over 9 years ago

hmm - i am coming up with a difference in weight from one scale that i used extensively a year ago - fortunately the garmin says im a few pounds lighter so i'll go with the garmin ;)

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I am seeing the same thing, but on a much shorter timeline.

This morning, I weighted 212.4 which seemed a bit high. Got back on & tried again, same thing. Got back on the third time & it flashed 211, but then when going through the data, the weight went back up 1.5lbs.

Waited a minute... bot back on, and I was 208. Tried a few more times & it stayed at 208.
Waited about 15mins... and I was back up to 210.4. The next few times were 210.4

No movement of scale... no eat/drink.. .no change in clothes, etc.... on tile floor. In the span of 15mins, I had 3 measurements varying up to 4 pounds!

I have the exact same experience. I even weight on my other scale just to see which one of gamins weight variations is the closest to accurate. This morning I weight 184 and by the time it finished going through all the settings it recorded a 185.2. Very frustrating.