Stupid Scales!

  • So I have 2 different scales I weigh on. One is actual scales that I bought for 20 bucks. They're digital. The other way that I weigh is using a wii fit board. My reason being that the wii fit board, being more expensive, is probably more accurate. I typically only use the wii fit once every few days for a more accurate weigh and use the digital one daily just as a gauge of how I'm doing.

    Today didn't go so well. I weighed 203 on the digital scales and usually the wii fit says I weigh about a pound more. So I thought ok. After endulging too much this weekend I weigh 204 again..no big deal I can get 1 pound off again fairly quickly. But no. The wii fit said i was back up to 205 again which is the weight I was stuck at for over a month. Not a happy number to see! But since the wii fit is suddenly 2 pounds heavier than my digital ones instead of just one...i don't know which to trust! I'd really like to just rely on the digital ones b/c A. they say I weigh less and B. its way easier than turning on the TV/Wii and weighing, but I also don't want to be lieing to myself.

    Any thoughts on what scales I should use or what I could do to test to see which one is the most accurate? It might sound nit-picky to be upset over 2 pounds, but I find my motivation in the pound by pound or even .2 pound losses I see.
  • Accuracy actually isn't that important. What you want is a consistent measure to show the change in your weight. The actual number isn't as vital.

    So, if you stick with one scale, it'll tell you when you've lose five pounds, even if it isn't the most accurate 5 lbs (i.e. from 205 to 200 rather than 207 to 202).

    I use one scale all the time. Others don't give me the same measurement. It doesn't matter though, because it still tells me when I'm going down/up.

    I know it's easy to get focused on one number, but honestly that's not a critical thing in most people's weight loss. I'd recommend picking one method to weigh yourself and sticking with it.

    And I understand the whole "I NEVER want to see that particular number again!" thing. Just keep doing what you know works and the weight will come off in time.

    Good luck! You're doing great!
  • Thanks I may try sticking with the digital I'm just afraid that its not accurate in a different sense. There have been times I step on it and weight .3 pounds more or less than I did 2 minutes ago. And I hadn't eaten/drank/pottied or anything in those 2 minutes. So i guess that's what concerns me. If I decide to trust the digital ones, it may tell me I'm losing when I'm really not :/
  • Small variations are okay. It's the overall downward trend you're looking for.

    With my scale, it can vary by a pound in either direction. It depends on temperature, how level the floor is, how you're standing, etc. So if it's only a small difference, I wouldn't worry.

    Also, what I do to not get irritated by that is to only step onto the scale once. And that's my weight for the day. It works great, actually.

    Or, if you want to weigh yourself a few times in a row, either pick the weight you like best, or you can just average the numbers together for one number.
  • ok I'll try it and see how it goes. I'm just tired of feeling good about 1 weight I see and then being surprised by the other scale and feeling bad lol. I know I don't need the added stress. Eating right is hard enough without it.
  • Scales should be used only a measure of overall direction - not as an absolute. Maybe don't weigh yourself so often. Concentrate on other elements of your weight loss. This is coming from a gal who has 'noticeable' weight loss - but has actually gained 2lbs from the start of my fitness programme.
  • I agree with earlier posters...you should stick with ONE scale or otherwise they can totally mess with you - as you've noticed today. But maybe for this week, split the difference and go with 204!
  • I do also take measurements of waist, chest, hips, arms, and legs. I typically don't see any changes in them unless I've lost weight because the only exercise I do is cardio. I doubt I'm building much muscle.

    I think I will just use the digital scale now. maybe check the wii once every 2 weeks or once a month or something...mostly because it makes a graph that shows progress and I think its cool to see lol
  • I like to take my 5lb hand weights and use them to see how accurate my digital scale is before I get on it. LOL It's a weird thing I do.
  • Tonyia, I like that idea!
  • i just put a 20 lb weight on my scale and it registered 21.2

    hummm

    so thats good to know..
  • I personally found the Wii Fit board very inaccurate. One time I weighed myself within 2 minutes. The first time it said I was 3 pounds heavier then it did the second time. There was no reason for the difference.

    Anyways, like everyone else said, try stick to one scale and use it on a hard surface. Whether it is completely accurate or not, it will let you know if you're losing or not.