So, I know I shouldn't do it, but I weigh myself on different scales. And my issue is: which one is more accurate?
Here are the scales I weigh myself on-
-The one at the gym: the old school ones that are used at the doctors office where you push the tabs on numbers to balance the pin.
-Wii Fit board
-Digital scale at the doctor's office: Very similar to the old school one but now is digital and can also weigh me in kilograms.
-Dial scale- the flat ones you can buy at Wal-mart that have a pin that goes around in a circle.
-Digital scale- flat ones that you can buy at Wal-mart that are digital and zero out before you weigh yourself.
Well, I hope I described those correctly. HEEEELP!!!
I vote for the one at your gym. Also, any scales that agree with that one. Mostly, I think it doesn't matter really.....as long as you have a scale that is consistent and shows you if you're headed in the right direction.
Who says you shouldn't weigh on different scales? Probably the same people who say you shouldn't weigh daily. It may be true for some people, but it's more about how you interpret or react to the weigh-ins, not the weighing itself. If you realize that fluctuations and variations are part of the process and don't mean you're failing, there's nothing wrong with either. If you freak out when you see a pound gained even during TOM when you know it's water retention - then don't weigh daily or learn not to freak out. Remember that the scale is a tool. If you're using it, and it's working as a tool for weight loss tool and not for personal torture, there's no wrong way. If it works for you, it's all good. If it works against you, then you have to change the way you're using the tool.
I weigh myself daily and on different scales, and it doesn't hurt my weight loss, because I know that they're all estimates. The "exact" number doesn't matter. I do have to remember though that the scales are different. For example, my doctor's scale reads 4 or 6 (I forget which) lbs heavier than my home scale. As long as I know there's a discrepancy, there's no chance of my thinking I magically lost weight on the drive ot the doctor's office.
Which one is more accurate? Can't tell you that, it could be any of the ones you listed, or none of them, and it doesn't really matter.
There's no "prize" for knowing your exact weight to the tenth of an ounce. You just need to know you're losing, and the approximate amount.
Personally, I prefer balance scales (like the gym) but they have to be calibrated regularly to remain accurate. The steamy environment of a locker room can be hard on these type of scale, and most gyms don't have them callibrated, at least not on schedule.
I used to own a balance scale and I loved it, but boy that sucker was expensive. Now I own a WW scale made by Conair that I bought at Walmart. I don't know how accurate it is (I assume the doctor's office scale is more accurate, but I don't know that for sure).
I suggest that you use the scale you have the most reliable access to. If you want to weigh daily, you need a scale that you're going to have daily access to.
In my experience, scales that cost less than $30 tend to be the least reliable, especially the digital ones. I've had digital scales that weighed me as much as 100 lbs off. I joked that one scale was more like a magic eight ball, I could weight whatever I wanted to, if I got on and off the scale enough times.
So, I know I shouldn't do it, but I weigh myself on different scales. And my issue is: which one is more accurate?
Here are the scales I weigh myself on-
-The one at the gym: the old school ones that are used at the doctors office where you push the tabs on numbers to balance the pin.
-Wii Fit board
-Digital scale at the doctor's office: Very similar to the old school one but now is digital and can also weigh me in kilograms.
-Dial scale- the flat ones you can buy at Wal-mart that have a pin that goes around in a circle.
-Digital scale- flat ones that you can buy at Wal-mart that are digital and zero out before you weigh yourself.
Well, I hope I described those correctly. HEEEELP!!!
I think the old balance scales are most accurate. However, I brought this up with my DR. He said to use something that you know the specific weight of like a 5lb. weight or even a 4lb. bag of flour, sugar, ect. Weigh that and calibrate the scale to register the weight of the item. Then your scale (whichever type) will give you a more accurate reading.
Last edited by islandchick1; 09-10-2010 at 07:10 PM.
I just wanted to add in a question here which is pretty similar to the topic - if a bunch of different scales show the same thing then theoretically they're all approximately accurate-ish - would you ladies say this is true?
I think a number of scales tending towards the same number probably are approximately accurate, yes.
But then the only scale I have is a cheap IKEA one with increments of kilos (= 2.2. lb) so you can see I'm not a stickler for precision, either. I have to be patient and disciplined if I want to see it move down just one line! And if I see it move up that is grounds for serious action (although usually I have noticed in my clothes by then.) I know that my weight is naturally going to up and down in a range, so I kind of feel OK about that. If I want another measurement than that I have to go to a local pharmacy where they have a scale.
My mother used to be a check-in agent at the airport, and the ladies there all used the baggage scales at the check-in desk. They have to be inspected and certified periodically. So if you're really into this, that's the kind of place to go.
bronzeager Kilograms are killer, but since that's the normal unit of measurement here in New Zealand, I'm pretty used to them. And I like them, I feel a bigger sense of achievement with each kilo lost, more than perhaps I would with pounds.
bronzeager Kilograms are killer, but since that's the normal unit of measurement here in New Zealand, I'm pretty used to them. And I like them, I feel a bigger sense of achievement with each kilo lost, more than perhaps I would with pounds.
Yeah, that's kind of how I feel too I guess. I teach science so metric isn't that odd to me (except for a slight tendency to speed on the road because who knows how much 130kph is really ).
My biggest problem is now I'm becoming an Old, I'm so nearsighted and the lines are so close together! And it makes a bigger difference in kg. So I spend a good deal of time squinting at the bobbly arrow to see if it's gone on the LOWER side of the 65 line or the upper....
Which one should I trust?
).
