My scale is pissing me off.

My scale is on a the hard floor. I stepped on the scale three times: 134.8 lb. One hour later, I stepped on it three times again:127.8 lb.
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Replies

  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Is the floor level? Does the scale need new batteries?
  • Don't fret. Remember that numbers don't make people. The heart and personality is what matters. Once you learn to embrace yourself then everything else will fall into place. Be more proud of your accomplishments. Don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck!
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Have you tried pissing ON your scale?

    Either it's not on a level surface, the batteries are dying, or the scale is bad. Even if it's off, it should be more consistent.
  • MileHighFitness
    MileHighFitness Posts: 2,298 Member
    I HATE my scale. I can weigh my self 5 times in a row and will deviate 2-3 lbs!
  • CountryGirl8542
    CountryGirl8542 Posts: 449 Member
    if I don't put my feet in the exact same spot every time my scale tells me lots of different numbers. Do yourself a favour and ditch the scale... take your measurements and lots of pictures :)
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I HATE my scale. I can weigh my self 5 times in a row and will deviate 2-3 lbs!

    2 lbs variance on a 200 pound weight is +/- 0.5%.

    Exactly how much more accurate than that do people need?
  • kharsa12
    kharsa12 Posts: 2 Member
    The best time to weigh yourself is once a week, first thing in the morning after going to the restroom. That is when the number on the scale will be the most accurate. Throughout the day your weight fluctuates because of what you are eating, what you choose to wear, whether or not you are retaining water (which is ridiculously easy during the day since sodium levels are high in many foods), and also because it takes your body time to digest and expel food you eat. Weighing yourself daily or throughout the day is the LEAST ACCURATE way to see if you are making any progress. Try picking a day to weigh yourself, and be nude or in basic underwear to get the most accurate result. Weight shifts daily anyway depending on what you eat the day before, so try the once-a-week idea and everything will not only be more accurate, but you will feel accomplished. Remember, the number on the scale is NOT as important as inches lost, or the size you wear. Muscle weighs more than fat (volume-wise) so keep your chin up and keep going!
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    The best time to weigh yourself is once a week, first thing in the morning after going to the restroom. That is when the number on the scale will be the most accurate.

    "Most accurate" for what? Your body is relatively dehydrated at that point, and you won't get your "real" weight until you rehydrate.
  • helpfit101
    helpfit101 Posts: 347 Member
    Looks like the feeling is mutual.
  • Spiderkeys
    Spiderkeys Posts: 338 Member
    My scale pisses me off too, if I'm unhappy with my reading, I can just get off it and stand on it again.
  • tilmoph
    tilmoph Posts: 72 Member
    My scale is prone to arguing once in a while.

    Now, normally it's a good little scale, reports accurately, doesn't get huffy and start yelling random numbers, just does it's job And well even; my gram confirmed that my scale and the scale in her doctor's office agree completely.. But some days, it loses it's little scaley mind and decides "screw this crap; you wanna know what you weigh fatty? well you lost 13 lbs in a day, now shut up! oh, calling bull**** ehh? well, how about you gained 6 lbs, how'dya like that?! Yeah, keep stepping, keep staring; now you're down 6, now you're up 4, where does it stop, who cares, and **** you!"

    Usually just walk away, let it calm down, and try again in 5 minutes. By then, it's tantrum is through, and it's back to be it's good ol' reliable self.
  • My scale is prone to arguing once in a while.

    Now, normally it's a good little scale, reports accurately, doesn't get huffy and start yelling random numbers, just does it's job And well even; my gram confirmed that my scale and the scale in her doctor's office agree completely.. But some days, it loses it's little scaley mind and decides "screw this crap; you wanna know what you weigh fatty? well you lost 13 lbs in a day, now shut up! oh, calling bull**** ehh? well, how about you gained 6 lbs, how'dya like that?! Yeah, keep stepping, keep staring; now you're down 6, now you're up 4, where does it stop, who cares, and **** you!"

    Usually just walk away, let it calm down, and try again in 5 minutes. By then, it's tantrum is through, and it's back to be it's good ol' reliable self.

    ^ LOL this.
  • candiceh3
    candiceh3 Posts: 379 Member
    The best time to weigh yourself is once a week, first thing in the morning after going to the restroom. That is when the number on the scale will be the most accurate.

    "Most accurate" for what? Your body is relatively dehydrated at that point, and you won't get your "real" weight until you rehydrate.

    I'm with you. Do we even HAVE an accurate weight?

    Dehydrated or hydrated?
    With a gut full of "bioproduct" or not?
    How much urine?
    How much glycogen in the muscles?

    There is no one number that is right... so ultra precision is unnecessary.
  • maca416
    maca416 Posts: 142 Member
    To get the most accurate reading you can, first thing am after going to the loo is best simply because at that time you have an empty stomach/bladder/bowel so this eliminates these fluctuations.

    Makes sense if you think about it.
  • candiceh3
    candiceh3 Posts: 379 Member
    To get the most accurate reading you can, first thing am after going to the loo is best simply because at that time you have an empty stomach/bladder/bowel so this eliminates these fluctuations.

    Makes sense if you think about it.

    It might reduce volatility, but relative to what? Who is to say that your body post urinating in a dehydrated fasting state is the weight you should be trying to measure in the first place?
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Take its batteries out, that'll teach it!
  • noemibp
    noemibp Posts: 167
    My scale is prone to arguing once in a while.

    Now, normally it's a good little scale, reports accurately, doesn't get huffy and start yelling random numbers, just does it's job And well even; my gram confirmed that my scale and the scale in her doctor's office agree completely.. But some days, it loses it's little scaley mind and decides "screw this crap; you wanna know what you weigh fatty? well you lost 13 lbs in a day, now shut up! oh, calling bull**** ehh? well, how about you gained 6 lbs, how'dya like that?! Yeah, keep stepping, keep staring; now you're down 6, now you're up 4, where does it stop, who cares, and **** you!"

    Usually just walk away, let it calm down, and try again in 5 minutes. By then, it's tantrum is through, and it's back to be it's good ol' reliable self.

    Mine does the same... :/
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
    The best time to weigh yourself is once a week, first thing in the morning after going to the restroom. That is when the number on the scale will be the most accurate.

    "Most accurate" for what? Your body is relatively dehydrated at that point, and you won't get your "real" weight until you rehydrate.

    Yeah, but self delusion is great :smile:
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
    To get the most accurate reading you can, first thing am after going to the loo is best simply because at that time you have an empty stomach/bladder/bowel so this eliminates these fluctuations.

    Makes sense if you think about it.

    It might reduce volatility, but relative to what? Who is to say that your body post urinating in a dehydrated fasting state is the weight you should be trying to measure in the first place?

    Who says it isn't? Also, who says peeing makes you dehydrated? You can pee and still be perfectly hydrated, it's just your kidneys doing their thing removing the (haha) toxins from your body (haha - I hate the t word, but in this context it is accurate).
  • candiceh3
    candiceh3 Posts: 379 Member
    To get the most accurate reading you can, first thing am after going to the loo is best simply because at that time you have an empty stomach/bladder/bowel so this eliminates these fluctuations.

    Makes sense if you think about it.

    It might reduce volatility, but relative to what? Who is to say that your body post urinating in a dehydrated fasting state is the weight you should be trying to measure in the first place?

    Who says it isn't? Also, who says peeing makes you dehydrated? You can pee and still be perfectly hydrated, it's just your kidneys doing their thing removing the (haha) toxins from your body (haha - I hate the t word, but in this context it is accurate).

    read again

    I didn't say peeing makes you dehydrated. Sleeping overnight will do that with our without taking a wizz.
  • biglarrr
    biglarrr Posts: 9 Member
    I totally empathize. Wife and I weigh first thing every morning. Electronic scale is supposed to weigh to Two tenths of a lb. We paid for a premium scale because old scale was fluctuating just like what you're seeing.
    This premium quality scale will fluctuate by nearly a lb. just by stepping off, walking down the hallway, and coming back and weighing again.
    It's pathetic, but we've now gotten in the practice of weighing three times in the morning and taking the average, or if we manage to get two identical weights, using the two that match.
    That's one reason I quit going to WW meetings for a once a week weigh in. You're at the mercy of what the scale says on the one moment in time.
    We weigh daily and chart it, and get a fairly accurate picture of how we're doing during the month.
  • KeViN_v2pt0
    KeViN_v2pt0 Posts: 375 Member
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  • biglarrr
    biglarrr Posts: 9 Member
    I just read some of the other replies, and Y'all are so harsh. So let me just comment on how deliberate I am.
    When we first started having issues with old scale, even though it was on a smooth tile floor, I thought it might be the surface, so I went to HomeDepot and purchased a 24" square hardwood board, and varnished it so that it wouldn't get wet in bathroom where scale is.
    That didn't change the issue, even after changing batteries, so we searched the internet and finally picked a highly rated scale, at a much higher price than we intended to pay. It is closer than old scale, but it's guaranteed to weigh within two tenths, and in the thirty seconds that it takes to walk down the hallway and back, it has given readings that were a lb. or more different.
    It "is" about the numbers. No matter how much you love or don't love yourself, when you start a diet plan, the measure of success is by the numbers.
    The mushy mushy, oh the numbers aren't important rhetoric is for people who are trying to rationalize their failure to lose.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Seems your scale isn't working so well. I'm lucky mine seems totally accurate, I can weigh myself 4 times in a row and I always get the same number.
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
    To get the most accurate reading you can, first thing am after going to the loo is best simply because at that time you have an empty stomach/bladder/bowel so this eliminates these fluctuations.

    Makes sense if you think about it.

    It might reduce volatility, but relative to what? Who is to say that your body post urinating in a dehydrated fasting state is the weight you should be trying to measure in the first place?

    Who says it isn't? Also, who says peeing makes you dehydrated? You can pee and still be perfectly hydrated, it's just your kidneys doing their thing removing the (haha) toxins from your body (haha - I hate the t word, but in this context it is accurate).

    read again

    I didn't say peeing makes you dehydrated. Sleeping overnight will do that with our without taking a wizz.

    Fair enough, and I kind of get what you are saying in terms of "do we actually have an accurate weight". We're going to fluctuate during the day depending on how much we eat, pee, and poo. However, we do have to have some indication of what we weigh, and it seems to me that first thing in the morning is the easiest way to get consistency, even if it isn't our "true weight". Do you have another suggestion? Other than measuring tapes I mean - I don't find them particularly helpful or any more consistent than my scales. If anything I have trouble remembering exactly how far up my thigh I measured etc.

    Edited to fix my spelling - it's gone down hill lately. Grr.
  • Don't fret. Remember that numbers don't make people. The heart and personality is what matters. Once you learn to embrace yourself then everything else will fall into place. Be more proud of your accomplishments. Don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck!
    LOL
  • ihateyoga
    ihateyoga Posts: 111
    Don't fret. Remember that numbers don't make people. The heart and personality is what matters. Once you learn to embrace yourself then everything else will fall into place. Be more proud of your accomplishments. Don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck!
    What? I thought this site was about losing weight.
  • Carol_L
    Carol_L Posts: 296 Member
    It "is" about the numbers. No matter how much you love or don't love yourself, when you start a diet plan, the measure of success is by the numbers.
    The mushy mushy, oh the numbers aren't important rhetoric is for people who are trying to rationalize their failure to lose.

    It might be about the numbers for you, but for me it's about body composition. A scale provides a point in time measurement of the whole package - water, bones, muscle and fat - with no regard to the proportions. There are folks out there who might weigh less than me, but have a higher body fat percentage, but according to your standard (and ones like BMI) I would be the one who is less healthy. So yes, I'm just trying to rationalize my failure to lose - those 10 sizes I've lost are obviously figments of my imagination.
  • Cinflo58
    Cinflo58 Posts: 326 Member
    I'd go with the 127.8
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    Stop stepping on the scale and it will stop making you angry.