Which scale to use?!

SkinnyMsFitness
SkinnyMsFitness Posts: 389 Member
in Motivation and Support
I want/need opinions please.

I have a cheapo scale and so does my boyfriend. I'm assuming my doctor's scale is the most efficient.

Since June 2012, I have gone off my bf's scale. Today: bf's scale = 174, my scale = 170 and the dr's scale always reads smack dab in the middle = 172.

I've been logging my weight here according to the bf's scale...which is rightfully 2 lbs higher than the dr's. May seem like common sense, but I'm torn, which should I go with?

I've been using mine at my house more frequently lately and still logging according to the bf's scale, but I know that one's 2 lbs too low...or 4 lbs according to the bf's. Are you following me? lol

Thanks for any thoughts!!

Replies

  • agenteff
    agenteff Posts: 21 Member
    Yes, I know what you mean.
    When are you usually weighing yourself?

    I know I fluctuate during the day, but I always weigh myself first thing in the morning. Nude. Lol! If I weigh myself at the end of the day, I'm usually 2lbs heavier, but it will go away in the morning PLUS some.

    In MY opinion, I think the 2lb fluctuation in any of these is fine and you should choose what number YOU feel is right. With that said, Weight is just a number to me, and I know I want to lose 40lbs, but if I'm around the weight I want to be, and like how I look if your weight scales both fluctuate 2lbs...then who cares. I do understand the need to know...
  • SkinnyMsFitness
    SkinnyMsFitness Posts: 389 Member
    Yes, I know what you mean.
    When are you usually weighing yourself?

    I know I fluctuate during the day, but I always weigh myself first thing in the morning. Nude. Lol! If I weigh myself at the end of the day, I'm usually 2lbs heavier, but it will go away in the morning PLUS some.

    In MY opinion, I think the 2lb fluctuation in any of these is fine and you should choose what number YOU feel is right. With that said, Weight is just a number to me, and I know I want to lose 40lbs, but if I'm around the weight I want to be, and like how I look if your weight scales both fluctuate 2lbs...then who cares. I do understand the need to know...

    Thanks for your thoughts. I've been weighing myself about 4 hours after I wake up. I know not necessarily ideal, but that's what works for me with timing and everything. I know we fluctuate throughout the day, I'm not meaning that. If I were to set all 3 scales beside me and jump on each one, they'd read 170, 172, 174. lol
  • IsMollyReallyHungry
    IsMollyReallyHungry Posts: 15,385 Member
    It really does not matter which scale you use as long as you stick to one scale. That is my 2 cents. :flowerforyou:
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    What's important is relative change (how much did you lose?), not your actual weight (what the scale reads). If you know your scale always reads 4 lbs. lower than your boyfriend's, then add 4 lbs. to weights you measure with your scale. That will produce consistent readings.

    As you lose weight, the difference will probably decrease--more likely, your scale weighs 3% under his, or whatever the correct percent is. So the absolute difference will get smaller.

    Again, though, weight isn't really what you want to focus on--it's fitness and how you look. We use weight because it's easy to measure. If you feel good with how you look, you're strong and energetic, your arteries and heart are in good shape, and your blood pressure isn't too high, what does it matter if the scale says 138 or 142? (Just picking two numbers on either side of the goal in your ticker.) My own goal is a first-order goal: I picked a number in the healthy range for my height and build. When I get close to it, I'll decide what to do based on my fitness and body fat percentage, not my scale weight.

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