So I stepped on the scale this morning and it said 198.5, I was so happy so stepped off and back on just to double check! So then I called my husband in to the bathroom (I was proud) and stepped back on, it said 201.5, then I tried it again because I really wanted him to see. It said 201.5,201,199,and back to 200 and then I gave up. SOOOOOO, my husband didn't get to see the 198.5 and I have no idea how much I weigh!!!
OK, a scale is just a machine. Depending on how old it is, what kind of machine it is, it can do just what you described. That's why the general rule is, get on it ONCE and call it done. Otherwise you'll be on and off it all day, trying to get a "better number."
It's generally best, if you weigh once a day, to always weigh at the same time, and wearing the same clothes or no clothes. I weigh in the morning after the bathroom, because that's when I weigh the least.
I try to limit myself to once a week, but I do the same. Weigh naked first thing in the morning after using the bathroom...for the same reason as Jay.
But just a suggestion, if you aren't already doing so, try measuring yourself also, as scales are not infallible and not the only means of measuring your success.
I weigh myself in the morning as soon as i wake up, with no clothes on, thats what I was doing this morning and it read different! My husband also gave me the "weigh yourself once" speech, its so frustrating though. I got the scale at Wal-mart in January!
Don't fret, Dawn. It happens to me and I have a high-end scale. It'll move around like that and add two pounds just because I blink or look out the window.
You're teetering, is all. That 198.5 will stick and you'll see it in a day or two. Just don't fall off your plan because it unmotivated you. Let it be the challenge and kick its ***!
In my experience, spring-based analog scales are prone to fatigue... if my (heavier) hubby got on the scale before me, I was in for an unpleasant surprise. The same could happen even with multiple weighings of myself.
My digital scale is pretty good at repeating the same number, unless I fidget or step on it differently. I can usually get it to read to the same half-pound three times in a row. But I try to step on it the same way each time. It's possible that with practice you will be able to get repeatable readings on your scale. If not, you might consider getting a new one.
All that said, there's so much meaningless fluctuation that even a month's worth of dieting results is easily wiped out by a high fluctuation day.
A friend from another weight loss board told me to "zero the scale out" by stepping on it and stepping off quickly to put it at zero and THEN step on it. I just did it 3 times and its at 198.5!!!
I have a spring scale and get a different number frequently. I often weigh 3 times and just pick the "average" weight. It can vary a couple of pounds. I've learned not to fret over it, even if I don't always like it!
Congrats on your loss so far and welcome to ONEDERLAND!!!!!
Scale saying different....
