1 lb difference on a different scale in the house, which scale do I trust?
Noelishere
Posts: 22 Member
My normal digital (newer) scale I’ve been using for a year is reading a pound lighter than another older digital scale in the house
How do I know which is my true weight?
I ate kind of bad yesterday so I wanted to double check on a different scale. I know a lb isn’t “a big deal” but I like to keep track to see what foods work well with me each day and which don’t
How do I know which is my true weight?
I ate kind of bad yesterday so I wanted to double check on a different scale. I know a lb isn’t “a big deal” but I like to keep track to see what foods work well with me each day and which don’t
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Replies
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Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.9
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kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
Yep. Pick one and stick to that one. Choose a set time of day to weigh. Most people like first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom, and either naked or in the same clothing. This gives the most accurate weigh-in.
All scales will show a bit different number. Don't make yourself crazy.1 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
I know my weight changes every day I was actually asking a question about the scale, not the fact that weight fluctuates.1 -
every scales gonna say something different. just pick one. id pick the one that said i was heavier2
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Noelishere wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
I know my weight changes every day I was actually asking a question about the scale, not the fact that weight fluctuates.
You asked which one is your "true weight", but there is no such thing. I would use the newer one by virtue of the fact it may be more accurate, but as others have said, it really doesn't matter.2 -
Good! I answered your question about the scale too.Noelishere wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
I know my weight changes every day I was actually asking a question about the scale, not the fact that weight fluctuates.3 -
lol at worrying about a 1 lb difference.... Now the scale at my doctor's office is about 5lbs heavy. But they won't listen to me.2
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kommodevaran wrote: »
Good! I answered your question about the scale too.Noelishere wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
I know my weight changes every day I was actually asking a question about the scale, not the fact that weight fluctuates.
No you didn’t.
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As long as you use the same scale every time it shouldn't matter as it should show the change relative. But you could get like a 20lb dumbell sit it on there and see what it says, assuming the dumbell is exactly the weight it says! But try not to get too hung up on the scale. I like using measurements or how my clothes fit more. You’ll find your method but dont let a scale become your worst enemy.1
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Most scales will have some variance in their reading depending on the slope of the floor they're on, and other minor factors like that. I try to make sure mine is level and stable but I don't really sweat it and I wouldn't sweat a 1lb skew personally.0
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For the purpose of tracking your weight loss journey, any scale is going to show your actual progress. If a person starts weighing on scale A, and scale A says they've lost 20 lbs, they've lost 20 lbs. It serves no purpose to get on scale B and have it say they only lost 18 *because it's not the same scale*.2
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Trust no scale.1
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If its just a few lbs., I just pick the one that gives me the lowest reading, haha! Shouldn't really matter though as long as you pick one and stick with it. They're all a little different!0
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If you want to test your scale take something that you know is a certain weight (such as 2 10lb dumbbells. Put them on the scales to check their accuracy.
Be sure the scale is on a hard surface not a rug (unless it's a flat rug like a berber or commercial type carpet)
But do use the same scale every time. Weigh yourself at the same time of day wearing the same clothes. I choose to weigh myself first thing in the morning when I get up, after I go to the bathroom, before I eat or drink anything, and wearing my underwear. That's the closest I can get to doing apples to apples weight comparisons.1 -
Pick one scale to weigh on and stick to that one.0
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Noelishere wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
Good! I answered your question about the scale too.Noelishere wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
I know my weight changes every day I was actually asking a question about the scale, not the fact that weight fluctuates.
No you didn’t.
Yes, she did. She said it was irrelevant. And she's right.4 -
They're both wrong. and it doesn't matter. Just pick one and use it daily or weekly . track the trend and don't stress about the small stuff.
HINT: It's all small stuff5 -
as above- test the scale with a "given" weighted object, then use in the same spot at the same time with the same clothing (or none)- even moving it will change the calibration slightly.0
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Those scales have an 1-2% error margin & variability.
Interesting read.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3890563/A study of 37 dial-type bathroom scales in British clinics reported inaccuracies of more than 1% compared with a calibrated electronic scale, suggesting that digital scales may be more accurate [122 -
Those scales have an 1-2% error margin & variability.
Interesting read.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3890563/A study of 37 dial-type bathroom scales in British clinics reported inaccuracies of more than 1% compared with a calibrated electronic scale, suggesting that digital scales may be more accurate [12
Oh I definitely prefer digital for both my bathroom scale and my food scale. I had a cheap dial scale in the kitchen for a short while and it was a huge hassle to get a precise reading.0 -
Scotty2HotPie wrote: »lol at worrying about a 1 lb difference.... Now the scale at my doctor's office is about 5lbs heavy. But they won't listen to me.
Wouldn't they be surprised if we showed up at their office, right after getting up, peeing, and buck naked so we can show them how much we truly weigh? I never trust those doctor's scales.
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Scotty2HotPie wrote: »lol at worrying about a 1 lb difference.... Now the scale at my doctor's office is about 5lbs heavy. But they won't listen to me.
Wouldn't they be surprised if we showed up at their office, right after getting up, peeing, and buck naked so we can show them how much we truly weigh? I never trust those doctor's scales.
Drives me crazy getting weighed in jeans & winter boots (but just to be clear, it's better than the alternative
)! 3 -
Noelishere wrote: »My normal digital (newer) scale I’ve been using for a year is reading a pound lighter than another older digital scale in the house
How do I know which is my true weight?
I ate kind of bad yesterday so I wanted to double check on a different scale. I know a lb isn’t “a big deal” but I like to keep track to see what foods work well with me each day and which don’t
It doesn't matter, truly. Weight isn't a truly objective measure, it's a function of gravity - you weigh more at sea level than you do at 12,000 feet*; you'd weigh 16% of what you do now on the moon; you'd weigh less than half of what you do now on Mars and you'd nearly triple in weight if you were on Jupiter. You weigh more standing on an outcropping on heavy rock than on a sand dune*. All this aside from the fact that your weight fluctuates by the hour depending on how much you are eating and drinking and sweating and using the bathroom.
Which scale do you use? Weigh yourself on each 5-6 times to make sure that both of them are consistent in their readings - you want to make sure that one isn't disagreeing because it's more variable. If you find one of them is more variable than the other, try moving it - if the floor isn't exactly level that can introduce variation.
If they stay consistent and give you the same reading each time, then pick the one that inspires you the most. I had the same issue, with 2 digital scales that disagreed by about a pound. I preferred the one that rated me higher, because I found it more motivating. My husband likes to be flattered and he picked the scale that gives the lower reading. As long as the numbers keep going down, it doesn't really matter what the number is!
*not by very much, obviously, but it illustrates the point2 -
I have two different digital bathroom scales in my two bathrooms. The older one consistently reads about 1-1.5 lbs higher than the newer one. I weigh daily, but I don't concern myself too much with which scale I use on any given day, as the point is just to keep an eye on my trending weight and fluctuations, not my exact weight on any given day. Both scales are also moved every week at some point when the bathroom floors are cleaned, and moving them causes calibration issues. I've accepted that neither scale is "right" but both are equally useful in monitoring my weight range and fluctuations.1
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Actually, your scale will also show a different weight if you move it to a different location. So just pick one, continue to use it, and make sure it stays there or you always place it back at the exact same location (I use a tile in my kitchen as orientation)2
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I have two different scales. One consistently puts me about 1lb or so higher than the other. I got rid of that scale and use the kinder, gentler scale.
What matters most to me is that I weigh daily and consistently first thing in the AM after I pee. I log the weight in Libra (a weight trending app) and move on with my day. This helps me watch the trend of my weight loss (more important) than my weight at any particular date and time (less important).1 -
I don't think that your absolute weight within a few pounds really matters, but rather your weight variances. Pick one, stick with it, and note the changes over a period of time, that is what is important.2
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Noelishere wrote: »My normal digital (newer) scale I’ve been using for a year is reading a pound lighter than another older digital scale in the house
How do I know which is my true weight?
I ate kind of bad yesterday so I wanted to double check on a different scale. I know a lb isn’t “a big deal” but I like to keep track to see what foods work well with me each day and which don’t
You don't have a "true weight"...body weight isn't a static number and fluctuates all of the time. Just pick a scale and use one...weigh in at the same time of day under the same conditions and look at the trend over time, not the particular number.1 -
Noelishere wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Irrelevant. Your weight is a range, and it goes up and down from day to day. Use one scale and stick to that.
I know my weight changes every day I was actually asking a question about the scale, not the fact that weight fluctuates.
Well, then you would know that it doesn't matter and that you don't have a "true weight"3
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