[QUOTE=heathdyer, post:19, topic:407418]
This is excellent information. I also appreciate you taking the time to write the extensive explanation. Most would not have taken the time. I agree that this is worth it for the relative measurements it gives you for body fat percentage, along with the Bluetooth connectivity. The only limiting factor I see is that Pyle tends to make products of suspect quality (judging by the posts). I think it’s worth the risk though…
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Thanks for the feedback. I do it because people tend to have unrealistically high expectations for BIA. For example, I’ve seen women saying that they don’t need to do a real bone density scan because their BIA scale shows that their bone percentage is fine. Or that they don’t need to drink water if the scale shows normal hydration. Neither are true, but the scale does give a good rough guideline. And of course, if the scale indicates that you’re consistently abnormal in any area, consult your health care provider for further testing.
Despite my warnings, I too may buy one just for the fun of it.
Don’t underestimate the Bluetooth as a mere gimmick. I believe a recent study showed that posting one’s progress on social media, i.e. Facebook or Twitter, has a positive effect on weight loss. It has to do with the social support and accountability, i.e. public shaming if one gained weight. It’s one of reasons Weight Watchers recommend group meetings and weighings.
CNN host and NY Times columnist, Brian Stelter, lost 90 lbs by posting his progress publicly. You can read his story here.
[QUOTE=sdc100, post:6, topic:407418]
This is a nice motivator, if only because it’s fun and provides feedback. But don’t expect any of these BIA scales to be very accurate in measuring fat, muscles or bones. We tried them in a study on HIV wasting, and they were judged too irreproducible and variable to be medically useful. We ended up with a professional model which requires lying down and measures electrical flow from the fingers to toes. That gives a more accurate picture since the electrcity travel through most of the body, Handheld and scale models only measure the top or bottom halves of the body.
The biggest problem with these BIA machines is that they don’t measure fat, bone or muscles at all. They estimate water contents based on the impedance, or how much the electricity is impeded as it goes from point to point. The more water you have, the less impeded the electricity. Since muscles are composed mostly of water and fat contains very little water, electricity will flow faster through muscle than fat (fat is an insulator … that’s why our neurons are encased in lipid). An internal formula then guesses how much fat you have based on a database that was compiled using the averages of others with your age and sex.
For accurate measurements, you really need to measure yourself under identical conditions each time. Ideally, you should have an empty bladder and stomach (water in the intestines decreases impedance, confusing the scale). And no alcohol.
Even with professional models, we realize that it’s not a perfect measurement of body fat (most accurate are DEXA or water displacement tank). BUt they are very useful at keeping track of trends, i.e. more fat, less fat. And they are a nice motivator because you can watch the relative fat levels rising or falling. This unit is especially nice because you’re not limited to what’s in the scale. The software can be adjusted or replaced as necessary.
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Glad to see you are still around sdc100 providing information like this. I still lurk, but woot! is far too diluted now with too much to track for me to follow it too regularly.
Thanks for the education on this, one of the few products I have considering buying lately.
[QUOTE=theguruguys, post:26, topic:407418]
Glad to see you are still around sdc100 providing information like this. I still lurk, but woot! is far too diluted now with too much to track for me to follow it too regularly.
Thanks for the education on this, one of the few products I have considering buying lately.
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THANKS … I noticed that you’ve been quiet and missed you. I agree with you that Woot’s new format is very busy, which is why I too post less. Unlike the past, where I posted on many items, I now focus only on items I’m passionate about. Woot isn’t alone. Several Deal-a-Day sites have done similar expansions in the past year, i.e. 1sale, dailysteals, dizbee. I’m working from home today and it’s raining so I use Woot for my regular breaks. Happy New Year and I hope to read more from you soon!
@sdc100, thanks for this. You’ve answered questions I was too unknowing to ask. What a great way to learn stuff.
This tech and the Fitbit stuff has hit my gotta buy radar screen.
And the social impact of sharing weight loss progress in your other post - I’ll be forwarding this deal and your education to a good friend who’ll find it interesting.
[QUOTE=sdc100, post:6, topic:407418]
This is a nice motivator, if only because it’s fun and provides feedback. But don’t expect any of these BIA scales to be very accurate in measuring fat, muscles or bones. We tried them in a study on HIV wasting, and they were judged too irreproducible and variable to be medically useful. We ended up with a professional model which requires lying down and measures electrical flow from the fingers to toes. That gives a more accurate picture since the electrcity travel through most of the body, Handheld and scale models only measure the top or bottom halves of the body.
The biggest problem with these BIA machines is that they don’t measure fat, bone or muscles at all. They estimate water contents based on the impedance, or how much the electricity is impeded as it goes from point to point. The more water you have, the less impeded the electricity. Since muscles are composed mostly of water and fat contains very little water, electricity will flow faster through muscle than fat (fat is an insulator … that’s why our neurons are encased in lipid). An internal formula then guesses how much fat you have based on a database that was compiled using the averages of others with your age and sex.
For accurate measurements, you really need to measure yourself under identical conditions each time. Ideally, you should have an empty bladder and stomach (water in the intestines decreases impedance, confusing the scale). And no alcohol.
Even with professional models, we realize that it’s not a perfect measurement of body fat (most accurate are DEXA or water displacement tank). BUt they are very useful at keeping track of trends, i.e. more fat, less fat. And they are a nice motivator because you can watch the relative fat levels rising or falling. This unit is especially nice because you’re not limited to what’s in the scale. The software can be adjusted or replaced as necessary.
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[QUOTE=bluemaple, post:28, topic:407418] @sdc100, thanks for this. You’ve answered questions I was too unknowing to ask. What a great way to learn stuff.
This tech and the Fitbit stuff has hit my gotta buy radar screen.
And the social impact of sharing weight loss progress in your other post - I’ll be forwarding this deal and your education to a good friend who’ll find it interesting.
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Hey, another name I recognize! Thanks for the feedback. I love learning stuff off Woot too. The site satisfies my shopaholism (?) and thirst for knowledge simultaneously. Happy New Year.
I received 3 emails asking how it measures bone and muscle since it’s designed to measure water. Sorry I wasn’t clear in my original post. BIA machines work by sending electricity through the body. IN this case, it goes from one foot to the other, passing through the hips. Water is a conductor, so the more water there is, the more freely the electricity flows. Fat is an insulator and blocks the flow of electricity. In fact, our nerve cells are coated with lipid (fat) just as electrical wires are coated with insulation. The machine estimates how much water is in your [lower] body by measuring how well the electricity travels from one foot to the other. When it has that number, it uses a database and look up average body compositions in your age and sex. And based on those profiles of healthy people, it splits your weight into percentages of fat, muscle and bone. Since these are average healthy numbers, the scale will fail for unusual body types, i.e. very emaciated or sick people, and very fir athletes. Better BIA scales will have a special setting for very fit athletes.
[QUOTE=cole103, post:15, topic:407418]
Wow, so you’ve got to be running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean to link to this? That’ll cut out a lot of android folks. Would love to have this, but how about some info about backwards compatibility? (I’m pretty backwards, ICS on my tablet and GB on phone).
Thanks for any info you can provide.
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The Woot listing for this is highly deceptive. As someone else pointed out, the statement that this scale and app support iPhones is incorrect. It supports iPhone 4s and later. The scale I received wouldn’t even turn on. So my phone won’t support the scale and app, and I can’t even just use it as a regular scale. I emailed Woot, and ten days later, still no response. Not that I guess I should be surprised apparently. Has anyone read the FAQ “Will I receive customer support like I’m used to?” What a joke.
[QUOTE=meredithkate, post:32, topic:407418]
The Woot listing for this is highly deceptive. As someone else pointed out, the statement that this scale and app support iPhones is incorrect. It supports iPhone 4s and later. The scale I received wouldn’t even turn on. So my phone won’t support the scale and app, and I can’t even just use it as a regular scale. I emailed Woot, and ten days later, still no response. Not that I guess I should be surprised apparently. Has anyone read the FAQ “Will I receive customer support like I’m used to?” What a joke.
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I’m sorry you haven’t heard back. I’ve passed your info along; you should get a reply soon.
As with meredithkate, I also received the scale DOA. Friday, 2/7 will be three weeks since I submitted a request for support and still no response. I have never had to contact Woot support in my 4+ years of being a wooter, but really wish support was as good as the deals they offer.
Mine was also DOA. Did not turn on. in view of the responses above from customer support. I did not ever bother contacting woot. I just threw it. Very disappointing, for this 7 years wooter.
I got a nice email from woot support. unfortunately the only option given is to mail the scale to Pyle for “warranty”/ Pyle charges 15$ for “warranty” work. you add the price of shipping it back, this becomes financially a moot point.
[QUOTE=ThunderThighs, post:37, topic:407418]
We did experience delays in CS responses for a bit but they are caught up now. Response times are 24-48 hours. You should email in.
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