Quick To Fit

Review Of The New EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale

A couple of weeks ago I got a new digital body fat scale from the folks over at EatSmart, the EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale. I’ve had a body fat scale from another manufacturer for a while now that I thought worked reasonably well, but after seeing the new Ipad looking scale from EatSmart I agreed to try it out and do a quick review. The GetFit scale just looks cool.

The scale arrived in the mail a few days after the agreed to send it out. The first thing I noticed when taking it out of the box is that it was thin – and had a decidedly high tech look. The first things that came to mind were the Apple iPad, and one of those Star Trek control panels. It just looks nice – and the black color should fit into just about any bathroom’s decor.

The EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale

The EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale can be found at a variety of retailers including Amazon.com where it currently retails for around $55.

body fat scale So let’s look at some of the specs behind the scale, and look at some of the things it measures.

Measuring Functions: % Body Fat, % Total Body Water, % Muscle Mass and Bone Mass
Proprietary Automatic User Identification Technology; Stores personal data for up to 8 users
EatSmart “Step-On” Technology – Get instant readings with no tapping to turn on!
Large 3.5″ Blue LCD display with white backlight – Easy to read.
Auto Calibrated; Auto Power-Off; Runs on 4 AAA batteries (included); 100% EatSmart Satisfaction Guarantee

So not only does the scale measure your weight and body fat percentage, but it also goes the extra mile and gives you numbers for total body water percentage, muscle mass percentage and bone mass. I’ve never actually seen a scale this affordable that calculates all of those things. Honestly I’m not sure how I’d use those stats, but it’s cool to have them if i need them.

Among the other features I also love the fact that it automatically identifies the person who steps on the scale, and the fact that you just step on the scale and it turns on and gives you your stats. It also has a super easy to read screen that you don’t have to bend over to read.

Opening The Scale

When the scale arrived from FedEX I opened the package and was met with a full color image on the box of the new scale. Even before I opened it up I knew I was going to like the design of the unit.

After taking the scale out of the box I unwrapped it and admired it’s shiny surface. It gives off a nice reflection and is as smooth as the touchscreen on a tablet PC. In some respects that’s what it feels like as you touch the buttons on the unit as well. The buttons are touch sensitive, not raised buttons that you depress like you see on so many other scales.

The unit comes with 4 AAA batteries which you insert into the panel into the recess in the middle of the back of the unit. You also need to set the units that the scale will use, either kg or lb, by setting a switch on the back of the scale. Default is set to pounds so I left it.

eatsmart scale review

Setting Up The Scale

After inserting the batteries I started the unit up and hit the set button to enter my height and body type (regular/athletic) into the unit, which it remembers for future use. I also entered my wife’s stats so that she can use the scale as well.

From then on when you step on the scale it will remember which person you are (Person 1-P erson 8), and use your stats to calculate everything from body fat percentage to total body water. There is no need to turn the scale on either as it will turn itself on when you step on it. It will automatically decide which person you are when weighing you.

When you step on the scale it will tell you what your weight is, and if you stay on the scale for a few more seconds it will calculate all your other stats as well.

Using The Scale

I’ve been using the scale for a couple of weeks now, and here are my first impressions:

Seems to be accurate enough with the scale readings matching or being close enough to other scales we use, and the one at the doctor’s office this week when I had an appointment.
It’s easier to use than our old body fat scale. Our old scale doesn’t save our personal stats, needs to be turned on by clicking a toe button, and then you have to enter your sex and height every time. This scale you just do that once and save it.
The blue lighted display is super easy to read, versus our old scale that has a simple LCD display that can be hard to read at times.
Love having that extra data that it calculates, despite the fact that I’m not sure how to use it quite yet.

So there you have it. I love the scale so far because it’s easy to use, it’s accurate, it looks great and it makes checking your weight and body fat percentage so much easier by removing un-necessary steps that other scales ask you to perform.

While the scale may not be as advanced as some others that I’ve seen, like the Withings scale that has Wi-Fi and Ipod/Android apps, it does a good job of what it does at a price that’s affordable for most folks. Definitely a good scale to check out if you’re in the market for a body fat scale.

Have you tried the EatSmart scale, or any other body fat scales? What are your impressions?

I’m Thinking About Giving The P90X Fitness And Nutrition Program A Try. Have You Tried It?

By Peter 2 Comments

At the beginning of 2011 I hadn’t been posting on this site much at all, and I was at an all time high weight for me, over 270 pounds. At 6’4″, I’m a big guy, so the 270 lbs didn’t really look that bad, but I knew something had to change. I wasn’t feeling healthy and I was beginning to feel the strain that the weight was putting on my body.

In January of this year I joined Weight Watchers as a support system to my wife. Over the next few months we both lost weight, and by July/August I had dropped around 30 pounds off of my starting weight. I was ecstatic.

But then reality started to set in. I started getting bored with the program, life started getting stressful and I started to let myself slip into old bad habits. On top of that I hadn’t really stepped up my exercise routine while on Weight Watchers, and I knew I needed to get back on that.

Weight Roller Coaster

This past week I realized that over the past few months I was starting to gain back a bunch of the weight I had lost this year. Frustrating. I know why I’ve gained it back, my eating habits have quickly deteriorated. I haven’t been exercising. I know I need to get back on some sort of healthy eating and exercise regimen.

I’m now at around 255 lbs – still down from my high of 270, but nowhere near my goal of 200 pounds.

I need to get back into something that I can enjoy doing and that will get me moving.

P90X Sounds Intense, But Maybe What It’s What I Need

A few months ago I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn, and he was talking about how he was on a fitness kick. He was doing P90X, an intense 90 day workout from Beach Body, that promises to kick your butt and whip you into shape in no time. At the end of his 90 days, he shared his P90X results. They were impressive to say the least.

…just getting started is the hardest part. At the beginning, it was tough. I could barely do half of the workouts on the DVDs and would constantly drop out in the middle of routines just to rest. One of the mantras of P90X is “Push Play Everyday”, and that’s exactly what I did, and after a while I began to notice that what was once hard was getting easier and easier everyday.Also, I learned that nutrition is more important than anything. What you eat makes up 85% of your results and the workouts and training is only 15%. It sounds crazy, but it’s soooo true.

When I read his results I thought – “Hey, I should try that”! But then I put it on the back shelf in my brain and didn’t think about it again until this past week.

This past week was when I finally realized I was sabotaging all the results I had seen earlier in the year, losing 30 lbs, and slowly getting into better shape. I needed to stop my downward slide and get back into it.

So now I’m once again considering jumping onto the P90X bandwagon, and giving it a shot.

P90X Details

I first heard of P90X years ago when it first came out after seeing it on TV. At the time I wasn’t that interested in it as I was doing another fitness regime called “Body for Life”. While I still think that program is good, I think I need something a little different now.

So what is P90X all about? Here are some basic facts and screenshots from the P90X website:

P90X® is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. You’ll also receive a comprehensive 3-phase nutrition plan, specially designed supplement options, a detailed fitness guide, a calendar to track your progress, online peer support, and much more. Your personal trainer, Tony Horton, will keep you engaged every step of the way, and you won’t believe your results!

Why is P90X so effective?

The secret behind the P90X system is an advanced training technique called Muscle Confusion™, which accelerates the results process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so your body never plateaus, and you never get bored! Whether you want to get lean, bulk up, or just plain get ripped, there’s an endless variety of ways to mix and match the routines to keep you motivated the full 90 days and beyond!

So when you buy the package, you’ll get a 12 workouts on DVD, a nutrition plan, a fitness guide and an overview video to get you started.

The workouts run the gamut from cardio, to weights to yoga.

When you sign up you also will get access to a variety of online support tools, community support and more.

So I’m seriously thinking about jumping in and giving it a shot.

I’d love to get some feedback from others who have tried the program. How did it work for you? Did you get the results you were hoping for? Was it hard to complete? Would you do it again? Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

People Used To Be Willing To Pay Good Money To Gain Weight… Seriously.

By Peter 1 Comment

Living in the culture that we do today where everyone is so concerned about appearance, about being skinny, and where billions of dollars are made by companies helping people to lose weight every year, these ads that I saw today from some vintage magazines seem very foreign.

Vintage Weight Gain Ads

The ads, which came from Vintage magazines from decades ago feature a variety of ads for different weight gain products. Some of the products featured, along with their hilarious taglines:

Wate-On: Don’t let them call you skinny!
Numal: Skinny girls are not glamour girls!
Kelp-A-Malt: I wonder how she did it… she was skinnier than I am!
Wate-On (again): If you want to be popular… you can’t afford to be skinny!
Ironized Yeast: A skinny man hasn’t a chance. I wish I could gain flesh
Unknown product: Gain Weight! Stop being skinny and tired!

Here’s a look at a few of the ads, click the images in the gallery below to view full size.

Vintage Weight Gain Ad

Granted, the ads come from a different era in the 50s and 60s when a “curvy figure” was en vogue and obesity wasn’t the epidemic it is today, but seeing these ads made me realize just how much things have changed. There is no way we would see these ads today.

To be quite honest, however, it’s not like the women in the photos post “weight gain” are overweight by any means, just that they’re not stick thin. In some respects I think that’s a good thing.

What are your thoughts about these vintage weight gain ads?

Ads sourced from retronaut.co. Head over for more weight gain ads on their post: Vintage Weight Gain Ads

15 Minute Fat Loss Workout

By Kevin Leave a Comment

If you’re in a time crunch and want a simple but highly effective metabolism boosting fat loss workout that only takes 15 minutes to complete then this is right up your alley.

Give it a go and let me know how it works for you:

High Performance Lower Body THRASHER Workout

By Kevin Leave a Comment

If you’re anything like me (a glutton for punishment) and love a good challenge then you’ll LOVE this workout. Or you’ll hate me altogether 🙂

WARNING: This isn’t easy and will push you to your limits physically and mentally.

If you’re still reading this then I haven’t done a good enough job of putting you off yet have I?

Ok, if you’re determined to go through with it then here ya go:

High Performance Lower Body THRASHER Workout

Good Luck and let me know how it goes

I’ve Now Lost 10% Of My Starting Weight Using Weight Watchers

By Peter Leave a Comment

About 4 months ago I mentioned on this site that I was going to be joining Weight Watchers with my wife. At the time I really didn’t want to do it as I had a preconceived notion that the Weight Watchers program was mainly helpful for women – a program where women get together at meetings every week and talk about their feelings, and why they struggled to lose weight.

I know that notion wasn’t really a true one, but I think a lot of guys have that idea in their head. Even Weight Watchers corporate has admitted as much in their new set of commercials in which they have several men who have been through the program talk about how they’ve been made fun of for joining what has traditionally been a female focused program, but how they don’t care cause they’re looking better now.

We joined the program at the end of January, and we’ve been attending weekly meetings for about 16 weeks now. In that time I’ve lost an average of 1.7 pounds per week, coming out to a total weight loss so far of 27.2 lbs, see my weight loss graph in the sidebar. (Disclaimer: People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week). At the meetings every week they recognize members who have reached goals that they’ve set. One of the goals you start the program with is losing 5%, then 10% of your starting weight. Since I reached that goal last night, as well as completing 16 weeks of meetings, I got recognized last night with my 10% weight loss keychain and 16 week commitment charm.

Now that I’ve reached that goal I’m setting another goal of another 5% of my starting weight loss – or another 13.5 lbs. My ultimate goal is to weigh in at 200lbs. I know I can do it, but we’ll see how long it takes. If I continue losing at the current rate, it’ll take about 6-7 more months. I think I can handle that. It took years to build it up, to lose it in less than a year is a good thing.

How Did I Lose Weight (So Far)?

So how have I lose the 27.2 lbs that I’ve lost so far?

Portion control: I’ve cut back my portion sizes to more manageable healthier sized meals. I’ve become more aware of what a good portion size is, and let me tell you, it’s a lot smaller than you think. We’ve been conditioned by the food industry and restaurants to think a healthy meal size is mega – when in reality you could probably share an average meal with 2-3 people.
Healthier eating: While I still struggle with this one to a degree ( I like my sweets!), I’m more apt to eat an apple or banana, or eat a salad than I was before. I’m making better eating decisions.
Being more active: I’ve been more active over the past few months, especially using my Xbox Kinect and the fitness video games that I’ve bought.
More portion control: Ok, I’m mentioning this one twice because this has been the biggest piece of the puzzle for me. Before I would sit down and eat the whole bag of chips. Now I’ll measure out a healthy portion size and eat that instead. I’m still finding that I’m satisfied, but I’m eating a lot less, and actually losing.

Ok, so losing weight truly isn’t rocket science. It really comes down to eating healthier (smaller portions, healthier foods), and getting some activity worked into your daily plan. That’s it. The progress isn’t always super fast, but if you do those things you will lose weight.

I for one have become a Weight Watchers convert having seen how it can work in my own life. It’s not just for the ladies, guys!

So now it’s onwards and upwards to my next goal – 15% of my body weight loss!

Are you trying to lose weight currently – and if so, how are you doing it? Tell us about your progress as well!

Read my review of the Weight Watchers program

Disclaimer: This site is an advertising partner with Weight Watchers. I will receive compensation if a new member signs up through one of the links above. Please know that this review does discuss my true feelings of the program and how it has worked for me.

Weight Loss Continues On A Steady Pace: What I’ve Learned So Far

By Peter 3 Comments

A few weeks ago I mentioned how I had decided to start eating healthier again, working out on a regular basis and using some supplements in order to help build muscle while dropping fat. At the time I was doing it mainly because my wife encouraged me to do it – to be her accountability partner and keep her motivated as well. Since we started, however, I’ve become pretty invested in the whole process, and have jumped in with both feed.

We ended up joining Weight Watchers at the end of January, and we’ve been attending meetings and doing the program ever since. I’ve lost almost 25 lbs now, and feeling a lot healthier. We’ve both learned quite a few things through the program, some of which I thought I’d share here.

Things I’ve Learned While Losing Weight

Exercise is important, but so is healthy eating: I’ve always understood how important exercise was to a healthy lifestyle, but pooh-poohed healthy eating to a degree. Now that I’m actually eating healthier and seeing even better results, I’m convinced how important both exercise and healthy eating are.
Portion control can be a big problem: One of my biggest problems before that caused me to gain weight was no sense of portion control. I’ve learned very quickly how to limit my portions and food intake without feeling deprived.
Moderation is key: I’ve learned that you don’t have to deprive yourself, and you can still lose weight. On the whole I’ve been eating healthier, but sometimes I’ll treat myself – and not feel guilty about it. It only becomes a problem when you go overboard.
Finding exercise you enjoy is important: I’ve learned that you won’t be able to stick to an exercise regimen unless you’re doing exercise you enjoy. For me that means playing Your Shape Fitness for Xbox Kinect, riding my mountain bike and running.
Staying consistent despite setbacks is important: You’re not going to have a good week every week no matter what you think. The important thing is to stay consistent over the long haul. That’s how you put weight on, and that’s how you take it off. Slow but sure.
Tracking what you eat can be an eye opening exercise: One thing I’ve learned is that I eat a whole lot more on a daily basis as far as calories, fat and so forth than I realize. By tracking I was able to keep this in check – and really appreciate how I got where I was.

So there are a few things that I’ve learned. What are some things you’ve learned while either losing weight or getting fit? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

How To Burn Fat While Keeping the Muscle

By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

For many people it’s difficult putting down the fork. The problems with obesity in America are at near epidemic levels and the healthcare industry is having a hard time educating and motivating the general public on the most effective way to combat this issue. It seems that more people too often take drastic measures to lose weight and often end up doing damage to their body. Often times the damage done isn’t apparent until later on in life. Crash diets can be really bad for the body and it’s important to know how to diet and lose weight while not losing muscle mass.

Muscle mass doesn’t just mean the tissue on your arms and legs. A lot of people don’t realize that the heart is a muscle as well and losing too much muscle mass and affect the strength of your heart and spell long-term effects on your heart and your health. There are many tips and exercises that will help you lose weight while keeping on the muscle lbs.

Stay Hydrated

Around seventy percent of the body is made up of water and it’s an essential component to living. People often see liquid deprivation as a positive in losing weight. This is a big mistake and common misconception. When you get dehydrated, you’ll not only be shrinking fat but muscle as well. Keeping hydrated will allow essential nutrients to your body while shuttling waste material out. It’s also the mechanism that allows the brain to differentiate between your body’s need for food and its need for water. It also ensures that when you eat, it’s because you’re hungry and not because you’re thirsty.

High Protein Diets

Many studies have concluded that when a person goes on a high soy protein diet that it increases the body’s ability to burn fat while maintaining muscle. The essential part of this diet was the low fat intake. Protein is what allows the body’s ability to build muscle but some high protein foods are also high in fat. Soy is not one of these. That’s why increasing your intake will allow you to reduce your waistline in short order and not sacrifice your body’s health.

Remember, just because you’re losing weight doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing. You may be throwing away important tissue that’s essential to your health. These are two good tips to getting into shape the right way. Not every method of weight loss mean a positive and sometimes, even if the number on the scale is going down, you’re actually doing more harm to your body than if you were to just stay heavier.

The Dumbest And Weirdest Diets

By Guest Contributor 1 Comment

The weight loss industry is one of the largest in the world. It caters to people, mainly in the West, who are desperate and willing to do almost anything to shed a couple of pounds. It’s the same in every language, whether the word is salud, gesundheit, or health, everyone’s after the same results: losing weight.

America leads the world in obesity rates, which has much to do with our increasingly sedentary lifestyle and propensity to drive everywhere. This has created a niche market and every few months a new fad diet pops up and promises the world. It’s usually a parrot of “total results with little or no effort”. For some reason people will believe anything and, as P.T. Barnum said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” It’s so very important to recognize predatory diets that play to our collective ego.

Fad or craze diets can appear like a great idea and some may even deliver real results at first but it’s also important to recognize how harmful some of them are. At any given time there’s something on the market touting it’s revolutionary technique that you’d be crazy not to try. For example,

The HCG Diet: This is a hormone that your body produces when a woman is pregnant. People are taking this hormone for 26 days while eating only 500 to 700 calories a day. You’re also not allowed to exercise whatsoever. This is one of the most extreme diets out there right now and, though you will loose weight, you’re likely to do some serious damage to your body. It should be enough of a red flag when the diet tells you to take hormone injections and you’re encouraged to not exercise. The body isn’t meant to sustain that level of change without having side affects.

There are other diets out there that are just as, if not more, harmful to the body but this hasn’t slowed down their popularity.

The Cleansing Diet and the Paleo Diet are another two perfect examples of a bad idea put into action. Everyone remembers the Atkins craze that swept up the nation several years back. It was popular for a while and then people learned that it was terrible for your body.

Back in 2009 CNN reported on a history of fad diets and some of the are bizarre to say the least. Some of the examples include the parasite diet that was hugely popular in the early 20th century. The nicotine diet was another plan that was devised by cigarette companies in order to sell more product There’s no limit to what people will believe and these are just a couple examples.

The past is strewn with examples just like the ones above. People are tricked, or convince themselves, that somehow there’s a new approach to an old idea. Nothing can supplant the efficacy of good diet and exercise and there’s nothing that’s better and more natural for your body than eating healthy and partaking in physical activity.

How To Create A Diet To Coincide With Fitness Goals

By Guest Contributor 1 Comment

Proper diet and exercise go hand in hand when trying to lose weight. However, I’ve noticed that for many dieters, creating a diet that fits their exercise regimen isn’t always an easy task. The U.S. is well known for giving in to fad diets and fast food, both of which don’t always yield the highest weight loss. To properly attain your fitness goals, you must plan accordingly just as you would for any goal, and there are a few easy steps that can help you create a diet to optimize your goals.

Determine Your Caloric Maintenance

First and foremost, when creating a diet to suit your fitness goals, you must determine your caloric maintenance. When I say “caloric maintenance,” I’m referring to the amount of calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Calculating your current caloric maintenance will be the key to determining the amount of calories you may consume throughout your diet.

Calculate Caloric Goals

After determining how many calories you will need to maintain you weight, you need to decide if you would like to lose, maintain, or gain weight. If you choose to lose weight you will need to subtract around 500 calories from your caloric maintenance so that you can lose between 1-2 pounds weekly. If you wish to gain weight, you will need to add an additional 500 calories to your caloric maintenance amount. Always remember to factor in the intensity of your exercise regimen as well with calculating your caloric goals. Remember, eating too little or too much while exercising can greatly impact your fitness goals.

Create a Weekly Menu

By creating a weekly menu, you are making sure that your diet adheres to its caloric needs. When you don’t have a structured menu, you risk grabbing meals conveniently at local fast food restaurants or grabbing other high carbohydrate snacks simply to satiate your hunger. Each week I create an exciting menu for myself that will fit my caloric goals to optimize my fitness training.

Drink Plenty of Water

I believe one of the best ways to create a diet that optimizes your exercise regimen is by drinking plenty of water. Many dieters don’t drink enough water while exercising which can dehydrate the body and limit muscle growth and weight loss. Whole house water filter systems and other water purifying systems are a great way to promote drinking water as these systems provide clean, fresh water out of the tap at all times ensuring that you get your recommended 8 glasses a day.

What other tips can you give to folks looking to create a diet that fits their fitness goals?