Do you ever feel like the scale is lying to you?

moosey2011

I've lost about 20lbs since the summer and my clothes have gotten progressively looser. I know I've lost weight because of my clothes and because of the scale, but sometimes I worry that the scale isn't accurate and that I haven't actually lost as much weight as I think I have. My reason for this is because since I'm almost at goal, I haven't been as strict in tracking and there are days I've gone over and even eaten 2000 cals, but somehow I still didn't gain weight? I'm just feeling confused and probably delusional.

Tacklewasher

I know mine lies to me, but maybe not in the way your talking about. If I get on mine 2 days in a row with little weight change, it will show me the last weight. If I then get on holding some weights, then get back on without the weights, I get a different weight.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10485204/dumb-scale-question-weight-watchers-scale#latest

85Cardinals

No, but I sometimes think it talks about me when I'm not around.

moosey2011

85Cardinals wrote: »

No, but I sometimes think it talks about me when I'm not around.

Mine probably does that also!

queenliz99

I put into "Time out" for bad behavior, it straightens out after a couple of days. It tells me it is sorry. XD

kshama2001

moosey2011 wrote: »

I've lost about 20lbs since the summer and my clothes have gotten progressively looser. I know I've lost weight because of my clothes and because of the scale, but sometimes I worry that the scale isn't accurate and that I haven't actually lost as much weight as I think I have. My reason for this is because since I'm almost at goal, I haven't been as strict in tracking and there are days I've gone over and even eaten 2000 cals, but somehow I still didn't gain weight? I'm just feeling confused and probably delusional.

Trust your jeans!

Unknown

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kami3006

Mine whispers in the corner with my food scale. They think I don't notice. I think they're mean girls.

lorrpb

moosey2011 wrote: »

I've lost about 20lbs since the summer and my clothes have gotten progressively looser. I know I've lost weight because of my clothes and because of the scale, but sometimes I worry that the scale isn't accurate and that I haven't actually lost as much weight as I think I have. My reason for this is because since I'm almost at goal, I haven't been as strict in tracking and there are days I've gone over and even eaten 2000 cals, but somehow I still didn't gain weight? I'm just feeling confused and probably delusional.

Eating 2000 calories even several days in a row isn't going to make you gain weight. You have to eat 3500 OVER your maintenance cals to gain 1 lb.
Yes, there are times I KNOW I've lost but it's not showing on the scale, likely due to water retention. I just stick with my plan until the loss shows up!

MelanieCN77

When I move it to different places in the room the weight can be pounds and pounds different. I ended up just leaving it in one place and going with it.

janetennet

All the time... I often mistakenly go for the higher number when inputting my weight because I'm not used to weighing what I am now. I sometimes find it completely unbelievable as I still feel the same-ish but then I put some of my "older' clothing on and notice the difference there too.

CM_73

Mine lie all the time. Every time I get on them, they tell me I'm fat whereas in my mind I'm quite obviously lean and ripped and can't possibly weigh that.

On a more serious note, if your scales are on a solid surface, the batteries are good, you haven't moved them, you've calibrated them if you have and they give you consistent readings then you're probably OK
You can check accuracy by scrabbling back on with a pint of water in a glass to see if the weight climbs by a corresponding amount, but just be aware of the limitations of home scales.

TL;DR: You're doing great, well done!

jaedwa1

My scale and the calendar are conspiring...there is no way I am this fat AND this old!!

ladyreva78

So it's a conspiracy! I thought I was the only one with such a mean, mean, mean scale. It shows me a 20kg loss since beginning of the year... but that can't be right. All I did was eat less

ShammersPink

It's not the lying I mind, it's the sheer rudeness.

Milesmac

My scale and I separated recently due to "irreconcilable differences". I have visiting rights every Monday, but shortly after we're at odds again so I leave. We just can't communicate. My father told me it would never work, and I guess he was right. Time to just move on but I'll always have the memories. As the old saying goes, 'Tis better to have weighed and lost than to have never weighed at all."

CM_73

Milesmac wrote: »

My scale and I separated recently due to "irreconcilable differences". I have visiting rights every Monday, but shortly after we're at odds again so I leave. We just can't communicate. My father told me it would never work, and I guess he was right. Time to just move on but I'll always have the memories. As the old saying goes, 'Tis better to have weighed and lost than to have never weighed at all."

Absolutely superb, thanks for the laugh!

Lounmoun

Put a weight on your scale to see if it is weighing correctly.

CM_73

Actually, that reminds me.
I wrote an open letter to my scales in my blog a Year or so ago:

Dear scales,
Following our little "misunderstanding" last Sunday, I thought it might help to clear the air a bit by just clarifying the rules again.
As scales, you are an integral part of my self improvement journey. Therefore, it's important you understand that the lump of lard perched on top of you every Sunday is actually quite vulnerable and has feelings. So, when you display the wrong numbers, those feelings get hurt.
So, let's keep this simple. Your job is easy. All you have to do is display a number every week, but with 1 or 2lbs subtracted from that number from the week before. And that's it. Not rocket science is it? Very occassionally, it may be OK to display the same number as the week before. But, when you do, the following week that levelling off had best be accounted for with a significant drop. Increasing that number in any way, shape or form is strictly forbidden and will result in disciplinary action.
I hope that's made everything clear, and with the above in mind, we can avoid a repeat of last Sunday's "mistake."
Thank you.

kami3006

Mine also needs a therapist. It's obsessed with weight!

cwolfman13

moosey2011 wrote: »

I've lost about 20lbs since the summer and my clothes have gotten progressively looser. I know I've lost weight because of my clothes and because of the scale, but sometimes I worry that the scale isn't accurate and that I haven't actually lost as much weight as I think I have. My reason for this is because since I'm almost at goal, I haven't been as strict in tracking and there are days I've gone over and even eaten 2000 cals, but somehow I still didn't gain weight? I'm just feeling confused and probably delusional.

Because you don't just up weight when you overeat here and there...that's not how your body works...

Also, who cares about "accurate"...the number isn't important, the trend is. Stop worrying about some arbitrary number that is made up of many things, not just fat.

No, I don't think my scale is "lying" to me...my scale is a simple tool that allows me to track my weight management trends over time...and it's only one of many tools so I don't put all of my stock into it.

mlewon

You could take your measurements for reference as well, but clothes are really our tell-all. If you have clothing that you were wearing prior to the weight loss and it's looser now, then you've definitely lost weight. I like taking my measurements once a month, and I weigh myself every Friday. Keeps things consistent.

Tacklewasher

My clothes are as tight as they were 3 months ago. Of course I'm wearing size 46 instead of 52, but the pant s are still tight.