I also think it’s great that you are willing to continue to make changes in your workout plan. Changing things up every once in a while is a great way to provide an extra shock to your body and it helps to keep your workouts fun and exciting. Doing the same routine over and over again is one of the biggest reasons why people tend to burn out with their fitness program, so I really like your plan on mixing in different weight training and cardio workouts to stimulate muscle growth and help burn body fat.
For recommendations on specific body fat testing products, it’s critical to use the most accurate methods that are currently on the market. The best ones out there are the hydrostatic weighing method where you get dunked into a water tank and a method called the Bod Pod which uses air displacement to analyze your fat and fat-free mass. Out of the two methods, the Bod Pod is going to be your best bet. It’s much cheaper than the hydrostatic method and it’s much easier to find a location that has a Bod Pod available. The process of using a Bod Pod is also much more comfortable when compared to being dunked into a big tank of water and then having to hold your breath for several sessions using hydrostatic weighing. Using the Bod Pod to measure your body fat percentage is super simple. You basically sit inside of machine that looks just like a pod and after about 5 minutes, your body fat percentage is accurately measured.
If you call your local gym you should be able to get some recommendations on different companies that offer the Bod Pod service. Some of the bigger gym chains like Powerhouse Gym have Bod Pods located inside their facilities and they offer the services for under $100 per session. You can also look online for locations around your area that might have access to Bod Pod machines. Try to check your body fat levels once per quarter (4 times a year) for the best results. It’s amazing how drastically you can make changes in your physique in 90 days, so it’s always good to monitor your body fat percentage several times a year to make sure you are on the right track and reaching your physique goals!