Get Results with Rice Lake's body Composition Analyzer

In the fitness world, results are king. When a new client enrolls in a fitness program, they have certain goals in mind. Whether it is to lose weight, increase muscle, improve overall fitness or all of the above, the client often has an image in their mind that serves as a target and fuels motivation. However, it is what’s on the inside that really matters, and inside matter is best measured with a Rice Lake Competitor Series body composition analyzer.

In 2013, Bode Central in Green Bay, Wis., began the search for a tool that measures clients’ body fat, lean muscle mass, water weight and more. The business was only one year old and wanted an industry differentiator. There were plenty of competitors in the area, but none of them offered a body composition analyzer (BCA). Incorporating a BCA would not only be distinctive, but also provide unique data to improve and track program effectiveness.

“When I first started looking,” explains Glenn Gajeski, treasurer of Bode Central, “I was interested in mobile underwater weighing where they analyze the client in a weightless environment. Then, I saw the cost. It was astronomical, but the data it provided was impressive. So I worked my way back from there to find something that offered similar metrics at an affordable price.”

Glenn attended the IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) trade show on a mission to find a solution. “Most analyzers I found at the show required the client to put on a liquid paste or stick electrodes to their skin.

Nobody wants to do that, so I knew those wouldn’t work for Bode Central. Most of the equipment also required the client to get down to their skivvies, which is too invasive and makes them uncomfortable. I moved on to handheld alternatives, which were minimally invasive, but they weren’t accurate or reliable. Then, I discovered Rice Lake’s BCA.”

“The first thing that attracted me to the BCA was the affordable price,” Glenn continues. “Then I saw how easy it was to operate and all the information it provides, and I was sold.” The Competitor Series BCA gave Glenn the metrics he wanted: lean body mass, fat mass, total body water and hip-to-waist ratio at a surprising value. Additionally, the BCA only requires the client to take their shoes and socks off, so they are not intimidated or uncomfortable. They simply stand on the scale base and grip two small monitors with their hands. Built-in electrodes make direct contact with the hands and feet, and the BCA sends a low-voltage electrical signal through the upper and lower body. Muscle, fat and water affect how the signal travels, so the BCA can calculate accurate composition levels by interpreting the signal’s results.

Bode Central set up the BCA in a private consultation room and began using it with their fitness programs. “Right away, the members loved it,” explains Brian Gajeski, a fitness consultant with Bode Central. “They were wowed because we were able to give them a wealth of information that’s specific and relevant to them. It not only shows them their levels of fat, muscle and water, but also where in their body those levels are.” Each client received a detailed printout, which is also stored electronically as a PDF and attached to Bode Central’s client database.

When it comes to fitness, a scale only tells half of the story. For clients who have more general goals, a body composition analysis adds motivation and encouragement. “For some of our clients who are trying to lose significant amounts of weight,” Brian explains, “they see a lot of negatives when they have a standard scale weight. However, they actually have more muscle mass than the average person so the BCA results are uplifting. It keeps them inspired that they can get where they want to be because they are seeing some positives right away. Some weight loss programs are concentrated strictly on weight. We don’t care what your weight is, it’s the composition that is important.”

Brian began using the BCA to tailor fitness programs to individual client needs. For performance-driven athletes, he uses the BCA to pinpoint fat-to-muscle ratios (and much more) for five segments of the body: left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg and core. This allows Brian to design a workout regimen to strengthen specific muscles and track improvement over time.