Okay, here's the deal...

I started this "endeavor" back in September. At the time I was using my old scale - a dial type scale. It said I weighed 180 lbs. By mid-October I had lost 11 pounds, taking me down to 169, but decided to just be careful of what I eat and not worry so much about losing during the holidays.

On January 2nd I began again. I stepped on the scale and found that I had gained 3 pounds over the holidays (I was actually pleased to see it was only 3 pounds). Now I weighed 172.

After about a week of counting and a 2 lb loss I went and bought a new digital scale. It said I weighed 180 NOT 170.

I have come to terms with this and until today I wasn't sure it was accurate so I stepped on the doctor's scale and it is my correct weight. Since I bought the digital I have dropped another 4 lbs.

Here's the question...do I count the first amount of loss but assume my start weight was 190 and I've lost 14 pounds OR do I assume the first scale was totally broken and my loss has been 4 pounds?

Whatchathink?

It's simpler to stick with the one scale. But it's far more motivational to think you've lost 14 lbs .... hmmm .....
If your new scale is the same as the Doc's you'd better use that. But if a snotty acquaintance asks ... tell'em you've lost 14!

Did you already throw out your old scale? If not, I'd do more than a few compares, placing both scales on the same spot on the floor, weighing on one right after the other, etc...
Also, how do your clothes fit? Weighing only 180 to being with, if you dropped 11 or 14 lbs, I think you'd definitely notice a difference (even if it's just you that notices)!

Here's to it being 14!

Hmmm...my clothes.

I have gone down in one pair of jeans. The old pair was borderline to begin with and now I've just gone and bought another pair in a size smaller. However, I do have another pair of jeans (different style) that still fit in the larger size.

Susan, you may be right. It just may depend on who's asking.

HI,

I've heard that digital scales are more accurate and anytime you buy one, it will look like you gained 8-10 pounds. It's just a difference in types of scales. IMHO you have lose all 14 pounds. I think if you had weighed on the digital scale the 1st day you started your program it would have said 190 and not 180. That's just my opinion.

Amber

What you need to think about, is that all scales are a little different, so you need to stick with one. Yes, you probably weigh more, and weigh more accurately on your new scale-but if you would have STARTED with that scale-your starting weight a while back would have also been higher.

I wasn't going to switch back and forth. The old scale just needed replacing so I upgraded. I would have done it in the beginning but that's a whole other story.

As far as weighing more in the beginning, I would agree. I don't think it changes anything now, only that I've lost all the way up to where I started a few weeks ago.

Hey, if I cain't make it fun, then I quit!

Oh - I had the same thing. I bought myself some fancy new digital scales and they said I was 3 pounds heavier than my old ones. Poor you - it saying 10 lbs!

But I took the positive way out and just bumped my starting weight up by 3 pounds. At that point I had lost 7 pounds according to my old scales and I had definitely lost those 7 pounds!!!

I have proved it by occasionally weighing myself on the old ones jsut to check and the weight loss is the same on both scales.

Once I've lost a stone (14 pounds) and it says a stone on both scales I will probably finally throw out the old ones

So you have definitely lost 14 pounds - congrats! It's just that you were heavier than you thought.

The downside is that the goal weight is now further away - but the positive side is when you hit it on your NEW scales, you'll be thinner than you would have been with the old scales.

I like the way you think! I hadn't thought about being thinner than I would have before the new scale. At least I never had to actually see that 10 pounds.

Thanks for the help everyone. Here's to 14 pounds!