[WriterChick]

Could I get some recommendations for a reasonably priced scale? The various models I've purchased (and given away or taken back ) over the years seem wildly unreliable; i.e., you step on them 10 times in a row and they give you 10 different answers. I'm looking for reliability most of all, but ease of read-out is a factor as well. I have my own scale (a weighted physician's scale which I love and will continue to use forever), but a friend and I are teaming up in the new year to get back in shape. It's not realistic to expect her to come over to my house once a week to get weighed, hence the need for a scale. Thanks in advance for the help. We're going to need all the help and support we can muster!

[Kelly_S]

Any scale can be accurate or inaccurate and price has nothing really to do with it. Digitals are more reliable than analog. However there are things to see if they are accurate.

Using a 5 or 10 pound weight see what the scale registers.

Also make sure to calibrate it. To do that with digitals you set it, turn or tap on, let register to zero and step on and let a weight register. Repeat this 3 times and disregard all weights and they it should be set to zero.

Secondly make sure it is on a hard, level surface - no tile, no carpet.

Also while many say they are resistent to humidity try not to keep it in a high humidity place such as a bathroom.

Tanita are goods scales and reasonably priced as are Health-o-Meter scales.

[WriterChick]

Awesome. Thanks. That is very helpful. The only part I didn't quite get was the sentence after 'repeat three times.' I will pass this information on to my friend. Is the recommendation to weigh only once a week and to do it in the morning still a valid one? (it's been awhile). Thanks again!

[Kelly_S]

You turn it on, let it register to 0, step on, let it register a weight, let it turn off. Repeat this 3 times...so you do this 3 times.

Also once it is placed do not move them because when you move them you need to recalibrate them each time.

[lisavemt]

I purchased a Health-O-Meter scale from Mills Fleet Farm (hey it's a popular store in Wisconsin!) And it was sitting right next to the Weight Watchers one. My HOM one was priced almost $20 less and it does the same thing. It records up to 4 seperate peoples weight and does the body fat thing. Altho it's not very reliable and accurate. But I do like the part where I can keep track of my weight loss or gains. I think I paid about $40 and it was a great investment, and it's very accurate. I believe it's about .4 lbs off of what my WW WI scale says at the center. And hey, that's purty darn good!

[PebblesGma]

I love my Tanita scale. It is digital, keeps track of previous weights for up to 4 people and is the brand scale that my WW meeting uses. It was under 50.00 and I got it on line at the Tanita website! (www.Tanita.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Carole

[Texasgirl]

I love my scale. It is a WW Conair digital scale. It is so accurate. I weigh myself before I go to the WW meeting and it is about the same (within .3) as the scale at the meetings. I first saw it advertised in the WW meeting. I bought it through Amazon.com.

[SueJo]

I use a digital scale with success.

s

[Katrinka]

I've had the same problem. I've thrown out at least six scales in as many years. I got one of the WW scales about a month ago. It weighs to .1 of a pound, but I saw several posts that recommended it -- it's wonderful. When you step on it, it fluctuates wildly. It always starts out about two pounds less than it ends up. But when it makes up its mind, it sticks to its guns! I can weigh three, four, five times and it's the same, to the one-tenth of a point! I ordered it through the WW site.