Jan - I recommend getting a body fat scale like this one from Tanita. The measurement of % body fat may be off (e.g., it may read a little high), but, it will be consistent (i.e., it will ALWAYS be a little high or a little low), which is all you need. However, it is not the % body fat feature that is important in this case, it is the hydration level reading. The scale will scroll through a number of things including weight, % body fat, and hydration level.
What I notice is, the day after a really hard, long workout, my weight may be up a couple lbs, my % body fat will be down 1-3 % and my hydration level will be up 1-3%. The body fat measurement is impacted by hydration level. So, when hydration is up above normal, you are retaining water, thus the body fat reading will be low.
So, the benefit of the scale is that you can see WHY your weight is off normal. Also, you can see WHEN you are retaining water and WHEN you are dehydrated.
From my experience, the more sore I am (e.g., day after my long run), the more my hydration level goes up. Damaged muscles, trying to rebuild themselves, retain water like crazy. So, the scale helps you identify when this is happening and makes it easier to understand the weight readings.
Here are the scales. I have the [Edit: I have the 554, not the 549, which I identified in my original post]. I like the 554.
http://www.tanita.com/IronManScales.shtml
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers
Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR
What I notice is, the day after a really hard, long workout, my weight may be up a couple lbs, my % body fat will be down 1-3 % and my hydration level will be up 1-3%. The body fat measurement is impacted by hydration level. So, when hydration is up above normal, you are retaining water, thus the body fat reading will be low.
So, the benefit of the scale is that you can see WHY your weight is off normal. Also, you can see WHEN you are retaining water and WHEN you are dehydrated.
From my experience, the more sore I am (e.g., day after my long run), the more my hydration level goes up. Damaged muscles, trying to rebuild themselves, retain water like crazy. So, the scale helps you identify when this is happening and makes it easier to understand the weight readings.
Here are the scales. I have the [Edit: I have the 554, not the 549, which I identified in my original post]. I like the 554.
http://www.tanita.com/IronManScales.shtml
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers
Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR