Anyone else prefer a lower precision scale?

kaebaka · 02-03-2013, 12:01 PM

The scale that I have had for the last few years is pretty accurate; I have calibrated it relative to 2 gym scales and they report the same weight to within a half pound.

However, my home scale only reads to the half pound- so I can be 219.0 or 218.5, but my scale will never tell me that I'm 218.6 or 218.8.

Personally, I think I prefer it this way. Due to the usual fluctuations in weight throughout the day / over the course of a couple days, I think my lower-precision scale helps keep me focused on the overall trend and I don't personally see (as much of) the smaller daily changes that might otherwise make me feel down.

Anyone else feel the same?

April Snow · 02-03-2013, 12:56 PM

I don't weigh daily but I could see where that makes a difference. I like my scale which uses .2 of a lb but I have also come to see the scale as a tool, not just a way to measure weight. So for me. the .2 works well but if .5 works well for you, then that is great too!

Jez · 02-03-2013, 12:59 PM

I used to document my weights down to two-tenths, but then I realized how ridiculous that is, because 2/10ths is about 3 oz. THREE OUNCES. So, I started rounding to the half-pound. Then I realized one cup of water's worth of weight is also as ridiculous. So now I just look at the number before the decimal, and go with that. I'm neurotic enough as it is. I don't need to worsen it.

AlmostMe · 02-03-2013, 01:24 PM

This decimal place stuff is pretty neurosis inducing, I reckon. My scale does weigh to the tenth of a lb (I reckon), but right now mine measures in kilos and .5 of a kilo is more than a pound. I'm weighing daily, but moving the ticker over only once a week.

Veneficae · 02-03-2013, 02:22 PM

My scale will weigh to the half pound above 200 pounds, and below 200 it weighs to .2 of a pound. That makes sense but yeah, at 279 pounds, is a tenth of a pound really impacting my health? Ha! I do like numbers to move, no matter how small though.

betsy2013 · 02-03-2013, 02:25 PM

Mine weighs to the .2, but mainly I just focus on what the whole pound number is. Although to be honest, I get really excited if it's gone down by some part of a pound if I've been trying hard and just assume it's water weight if it goes up.

Mozzy · 02-03-2013, 02:29 PM

I prefer my scale that only reads in half pound increments.

Vex · 02-03-2013, 02:49 PM

Yes. Mine only reads .5, and if I saw anything smaller I'd probably lose my mind.

kaebaka · 02-03-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by betsy2013

Mine weighs to the .2, but mainly I just focus on what the whole pound number is. Although to be honest, I get really excited if it's gone down by some part of a pound if I've been trying hard and just assume it's water weight if it goes up.

Ha ha, yes, this is exactly it. I prefer avoiding that second rationalization part (even if it's completely logical and accurate!), and I'm willing to trade the exciting small decreases for it.

Also - Vex... I love GrumpyCat / Tarder Sauce. She is my favorite.

bethFromDayton · 02-03-2013, 03:09 PM

I just bought a digital scale after having a dial scale. It weighs to the .2 lb, and like others, I agree it's a pretty small difference to be concerned with.

I weigh daily and am recording my weight in MFP, but I only update here when it seems 'solid'.

It's just a number--I know it's just a number--but it does seem to affect my mood.

HelloNurse · 02-03-2013, 03:22 PM

I'm not a disciplined person, so I need all my equipment and partners to be brutally honest. I had a dial scale, and it would give me 3 different readings on 3 consecutive weighs in a 5 minute period depending on how I stood, how I stepped onto it, etc. I like my digital scale because I can't lie to myself. It's so easy to fool me with a dial scale because of the different factors that influence its accuracy. "I think the zero was off before I stepped on, let's deduct a half pound for that." or "I'm leaning forward to read it over my tummy without my glasses, so that's gotta add at least like 2 pounds". And then if I did lose, I was never sure if I truly lost or if it was just a funky reading on the scale. None of those things affect my digital scale, so I know that the number on there is a true reading. For better or worse.

Ruthxxx · 02-03-2013, 03:38 PM

Mine weighs to the .2 of a pound but sometimes, to fight my obsession, I switch it over to Kilograms because I love to see that I weigh less than 100!

immaculate · 02-03-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by betsy2013

Mine weighs to the .2, but mainly I just focus on what the whole pound number is. Although to be honest, I get really excited if it's gone down by some part of a pound if I've been trying hard and just assume it's water weight if it goes up.

I'm the exact same way! I try to focus on the downward trend rather than the exact numbers, but seeing the pounds drop even a little is motivating.

the shiv · 02-03-2013, 06:43 PM

My scale is a piece of ****! It's not even digital. But I know it's not playing an evil joke on me and telling me I'm 201lbs when I'm really 130. I eat healthily, it goes down. I eat loads of junk, it goes up. When I get to 175 I'm going back on the pill so will need to do the dreaded weigh-in at the doctor's office. I'll probably say 180 in there because of clothes and the fact it's not first thing in the morning.

I weigh daily as well as I'm tracking the overall trend in an app on my phone. I have always had truly horrendous periods and I want to monitor how my weight fluctuates due to that. Also, I've been less freaked out by the occasional 1lb increase because I see the overall line on my graph going down.

I think if I had scales that were too precise, I'd drive myself mad over the tiniest fluctiluations.

synger · 02-03-2013, 07:02 PM

I have a digital that reads to the .2, but I only record the whole number. I don't bother with the fractions. I don't even pay attention to them, really.