taurusmoon's Full Review: Tanita BF 679W Duo Scale Plus Body Fat Monitor and...
There are several different kinds of friends.
There are those who’ll tell you anything they think you’d want to hear:
“Does your behind look big in those jeans? Are you kidding? You look great. You look great in anything you wear.”
There are those who don’t want to hurt your feelings, but don’t want you making a fool of yourself either:
“Those jeans are nice, but I’m not sure I like the way they’re made. See that seam there? It doesn’t lay quite right. Isn’t there any quality control anymore? Try the black pair on again.”
And then, there are those who tell it to you like it is:
“I don’t know about those jeans, Sara. They’re really not the most flattering. Let’s see if we can’t find you a pair that’s cut a little more generously around the hips.”
So, which is the better friend? I guess that depends on how fragile your ego is. When it comes to my lifelong battle with my weight, I suppose my ego is as delicate as it can get. Thus, I had always been grateful for a few white lies. That is until a recent visit to the doctor included a reality check(up). What’s worse? Finding out how bad your situation really is? Or, being deluded into ignoring it?
I can’t begin to count the number of scales I have been through over the years. Each has proved to be a fair weather friend. I’ve had them waiver. I’ve had them lie. I’ve even had them break off our friendship. (Imagine how disconcerting it is to step on a scale only to hear a boing! and see a spring shoot across the room. Yes, it’s true. Sigh.)
Every scale I’ve ever bought has been guaranteed accurate. And, they were. Give or take 10 pounds. Is inaccuracy an epidemic? Or, have I somehow achieved notoriety in the health and fitness world for being overly sensitive when it comes to unflattering readings? Regardless, I had allowed myself to be fooled into a false sense of “I’m not all that fat after all” for far too long and was determined to find a scale that wasn’t going to blow smoke up my too tight skirt.
Now I can’t say that all those false readings were entirely the scales’ fault. I was a master at cheating. For every scale I owned I had a system for rigging the outcome. If I leaned to the left I could shave off 3 pounds or so. If I scootched my feet forward about an inch and a quarter, it was good for another pound. If I moved the scale four inches to the right, I’d get a “better” reading. And, if I was using an analog scale and closed my right eye, the line would appear slightly to the left of the true reading. If I combined several of these tactics I was in dieter’s heaven. Woohoo! I had the pie (yes, the whole pie) and still lost half a pound.
Well, I now have a new best friend. Tanita. Tanita levels with me. She doesn’t try to flatter me. She doesn’t lie to me. And, she doesn’t let me lie to myself.
Tanita doesn’t insist on splitting a slice of cheesecake with me and has an amazing knack of knowing when my other friends have not been as supportive. She listens to me cry – and do I ever – without judgment. She’s everything I could ask for in a scale and in a friend.
Of course, as occurs in most relationships, there are things you like and don’t like about your friends. Now, while I usually try to avoid gossiping (sometimes unsuccessfully), here’s some of the dirt on Tanita:
Tanita TBF-621 is loyal to a fault
Some people have dozens of acquaintances. Some are more comfortable with one or two close relationships. Tanita falls into the second category.
This scale has to be preprogrammed with personal data in order to operate it. You can’t just step up and expect a warm reception. You’ll have to bare your soul (as well as your soles) before she’ll respond to you. Tanita will ignore you completely unless she knows your age, sex and height. Which is a problem if you’re going to want to share her. This model only stores data for 2 users. If you have a large family or guests who like to sneak a weighing while nobody is looking (yes, we all know that type) you’re out of luck unless you plan on reprogramming before each use. Fortunately, Tanita has several sisters who are far more gregarious. If you need the flexibility of adding more users, look into one of the “Family” models.
Tanita is multi-talented
Not only will she tell you your weight, she can estimate your body fat percentage as well. “Hey, I’m not fat, I’m big boned.” Let Tanita be the judge of that.
Unfortunately this model doesn’t have a good eye for athletic types. If your body fat percentage is particularly low due to a rigorously athletic lifestyle, you’ll need to look into one of the other models designed specifically for your body type. My son has a bit of an issue with this scale. This 15-year-old jock, who has dubbed himself “170 lbs. of rippling steel,” routinely gets readings well below the normal range. I, on the other hand, have a long way to go to have any complaints.
Tanita discriminates
I like Tanita. I really do. But, she does have one obvious character flaw. When it comes to serious weight problems she's a bit intolerant. If you weigh more than 300 lbs. she won't give you the time of day (let alone measure your body weight). However, she has a somewhat more lenient sibling that will measure up to 330.
Tanita is easy.
Once you’ve broken the ice by inputting your personal data, Tanita doesn’t mind getting close. So close, in fact, that she wants to feel your naked flesh against her. The scale’s interface consists of metal footplates that read your weight and body fat through gentle electrical impulses (more on that later). In order to render an accurate assessment of your gravitational situation, the scale needs complete contact with your bare feet. Clean, dry bare feet. Now, for someone like me, who recognizes that socks add precious ounces to a weigh-in, bare feet are not a problem. Other people may find this requirement inconvenient. And, let me reiterate: Tanita is a clean freak. She had a bit of a sneezing fit when I inadvertently dragged cat hair across her face.
Operation is simple. The unit runs efficiently on 4 AA batteries. Each user has his/her own on switch which can easily be activated with a gentle nudge from a toe. The user’s data appears for a moment before the scale zeroes out indicating ready mode. Step on the footplates and in a few seconds your weight appears, followed by your body fat percentage. The digital display is easy to read, even in dim light. The numbers are large enough for those of us with moderate visual impairment to make out, yet subtle enough to prevent uninvited onlookers from peering from a distance. And, Tanita can keep a secret. The display shuts off seconds after use. But, don't expect her to remember the numbers for you. She's loyal, but she's not that bright. If memory is a function that's important to you, chose your friends more wisely.
Dependable and Consistent
I’ve had great issue with fair weather scales in the past. They flatter you one minute then slam you the next. Tanita’s not like that. She's honest. Sometimes brutally so. Like it or not, the reading you receive will be accurate and consistent (even on carpeting).
Believe me, I’ve tested her. Sure friends aren’t supposed to be like that. We’re supposed to accept each other for who we are without stooping so low as to test each other. But, I’d been hurt in the past and I was not going to allow myself to get fooled again. So, I cheated.
I wiggled, I leaned, I climbed on and off. Nada. Tanita wasn’t going to crack. She gave me the same reading each time, whether I liked it or not. I didn’t like what she told me, but I respect her for being honest with me each and every time I ask her for her opinion.
Tanita has an electrifying personality
Unlike the skinfold caliper or the water immersion methods of calculating body fat, Tanita relies on what the manufacturer refers to as Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Basically, the scale runs a tiny electrical charge through your body and uses your body’s stored water to carry the signal through. If there’s too much fat in the way, the signal will not travel efficiently and will report back with the dismal news.
Can you feel the current coursing through your body as it attempts to gather data with which to blackmail you? Not at all. However, there are certain people who should not use this scale. If you have a pacemaker, Tanita is definitely not your type. She’ll only break your heart. If you’re pregnant, she will lie to you. (Not what you want when your hormones are raging.) If you have any concerns about the safety of this method of analysis in conjunction with any medical condition you may have, it would serve you to research it further.
The Ample Bottom Line
If you’re on a weight loss or maintenance program and you want a reliable friend to help keep you honest, the affordable Tanita TBF-621 is perfect for you. If you’ve got multiple users in the household or are a serious athlete, ask Tanita if she can introduce you to one of her sisters.
Now if only I could get Tanita to help me shop for some new clothes…
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