Fat % and BMI Scale

[Aloyouis]

Hi all,

I am a newbie here and this is my first post.

I have been going to the gym and using MFP since 1/2/19 and have lost 52 pounds (242 - 190). This actually happened on March 28. Since then I have upped my calorie intake some and my protein intake a LOT in an effort to become more fit by adding muscle. My weight has stayed the same as I have added weight training and obvious muscle is back on my frame.

My issue is that my "digital BMI scale" shows little improvement in BMI since I stopped losing weight and started moving it around. This makes it clear that it is using my weight and other info I input ( such as age, height etc) to calculate BMI and body fat % rather than actually determining it through electrical means. Bummer. Wasted money.

I need someone here to point me at a better scale that actually does the work of measuring body fat %, muscle mass, etc.

What is a good model? Where can I get one?

TIA,

Jim

 

[PLB_old]

Hey Jim, welcome to the forum! Wow, it sounds like you've made amazing progress so far!

Bioelectrical impedance scales are often not very accurate, but they can be useful sometimes for seeing long term trends (if you are very consistent with your routine before stepping on the scale). I can't really suggest a better brand as the technology itself isn't all that reliable. My question is, do you need this information or could you still be successful in your training without it?

If you really want to know your body fat percentage, you could find someone who is skilled in using calipers to measure body fat. Other, highly accurate methods like DEXA and Hydrostatic weighing are usually expensive, not widely available, and generally used for research, not everyday training.

As for BMI, this measurement has its limits, especially as you start to gain muscle mass because it does not take body fat percentage into account. People who are perfectly healthy and muscular can show as having an "unhealthy" BMI. I would not worry too much about this measurement if you are eating healthy and being active regularly.