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Old 08-23-2008, 09:20 AM   #1  
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Question Scale Fluctuations--within seconds!

I don't know what to do about my scale--what it records as my weight fluctuates within seconds. Not one hour later after I've eat breakfast, but it changes with seconds.

For example, this morning, I got on, it said 232. I got off, and on again right away, it said 230.5. I got off and on again right away, it said 233. I re calibrated it. It said 231.5. I got off and on again, it said 233. I keep doing this, sometimes recalibrating, sometimes not, and the weight is always different! Ranging between 230.5 and 233, not favoring any specific weight more than another.

Now, I know that weight fluctuates within 5 pounds a day, but there is no way that I am losing/gaining water or fat within a range of 3.5 pounds within a few seconds or even a whole minute.

I bought the scale in July, and it's always done this, so it's not "broken", and I've steadily seen it go down, so I know that it basically works.

Has anyone else had this problem? What do you do? What does it mean?
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Old 08-23-2008, 09:25 AM   #2  
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Is it on a hard surface? Make sure its not on carpet or a wobbly floor board. Also make sure you are standing in the same exact spot and not leaning forward or backwards any more. I know that even if i stant 1/2 inch closer to the back of the scale it says im lighter. What i did was trace the outlines of my feet onto my scale so that i know its accurate. Good luck
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Old 08-23-2008, 09:30 AM   #3  
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Your scale is not accurate. I can get off and on my Thinner scale and it reads the same. The only truly accurate is the balance beam type scale in the doctor's office and that is only if it's calibrated regularly.
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Old 08-23-2008, 10:25 AM   #4  
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Your scale takes the same crack mine does! Oh it's irritating! I had my daughter draw around my feet so I'm sure to stand in the same place every time. Mine is just a cheapy scale that I keep in the bathroom. It's more crazy after someone showers, so I'm thinking temperature/humidity makes it more wonky. I'm planning to buy a new one soon.

On a good note it had me losing 30 pounds in 5 minutes the other day. That was pretty cool .
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Old 08-23-2008, 10:30 AM   #5  
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Get a new scale of better quality. You should not be seeing fluctuations that large within seconds. I recommend Tanita, $30-$50

Jay
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Old 08-23-2008, 10:37 AM   #6  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayEll View Post
Get a new scale of better quality. You should not be seeing fluctuations that large within seconds. I recommend Tanita, $30-$50

Jay
Yup, that's what I've got. Every now and then I will see a .2 fluctuation. Which is nothing. Actually, I don't even have to bother going on it more then once anymore.

I've also found that the heavier I am, the more the scale tends to do what you have been experiencing with the non-Tanita scales. Which is why I went ahead and got the Tanita.
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Old 08-23-2008, 10:51 AM   #7  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by txsqlchick View Post
I'm not sure how accurate it is, but as long as it's consistently inaccurate it doesn't bother me.
I'm not sure why, but that made me . And I agree, you don't need to spend a ton of money, just find one that gives you consistent readings. Yours definately sounds out of whack.

Last edited by JayEll; 08-23-2008 at 01:09 PM.
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Old 08-23-2008, 11:10 AM   #8  
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Default Driving me crazy too !!

I am down 7 pounds !! But tomorrow it will say 5 pounds !! Perhaps tonight it will say 6.5 pounds !!! I am fluctuating between 5 and 7 pounds. I have a good scale , on my tiled bathroom floor. No one uses it but me. I do not have young children jumping on it. So I know how you feel. Even though 5 pounds is a good start, my smile is bigger when the scale says 7 pounds. Could kinda drive you crazy.
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Old 08-23-2008, 11:45 AM   #9  
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I think the fluctuations on mine are punishment for all the years I let my weight determine who I was

Mine goes up/down 3 to 4 pounds within minutes too -- mostly depending on where on the floor it is or where my feet end up. I do WW -- so I just count my weekly weigh in with them and use my scales for a general idea.
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Old 08-23-2008, 12:26 PM   #10  
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I like the idea of drawing my feet on it, I noticed that this can be a factor in the difference.

I don't want to buy a new one right now, as I'm moving to Paris in just over a week. I figure I'll buy one when I get there (I'll be living there for about a year, so I've decided to invest in one because that's just too long to go without weighing myself!).

I'm in a slight panic about it because I don't know any of the stores there, and I have no idea about where to buy a scale or what brands to buy. Also, I'm self-conscious about asking a sales person there for advice because I'm so much bigger than anyone else in France! (Plus, I don't know the word for scale in French or any of the vocab that goes along with it! Thank God for dictionaries!)

Hopefully they'll have this Tanita brand there, and I can just get that, but who knows...I'll just have to spend more money this time, at least. The one I have now that's so messed up cost $20 at Target...I'll have the up the price tag, even more so with the Euro being so much better than the dollar!
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Old 08-24-2008, 07:55 AM   #11  
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I don't think it's that unusual, mine does it too. I don't get back on it immediately, I give it 2 minutes or so but even then I may get different readings and they can be within a pound, or, 1.2 pound's range.
When I weigh myself (twice a month), I usually weigh myself 4-5 times so I can an average value of those readings. Mine is a new scale (bought it in winter), and it was over $50.
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