Are the scales lying?

jjdiggy
jjdiggy Posts: 172
in Health and Weight Loss
Weighed myself at the beginning of last week (week beginning 7th) and weighed 13st 10lbs (started at 15st 8lbs 2 months ago).

Weighed myself the other day on a friends scales at her house and was 13st 8lbs. (which I was proud about because I felt as though my really intense workouts paid off).

Out of curiosity today I went to my local Boots store and tried out the scales machine which measures height, body fat, and weight. It said I was 13st 11lbs. Have my scales been wrong all this time, or could these scales be wrong? I haven't been eating badly, and I've been exercising every day too, by doing high intensity cardio. I was thinking it could be muscle because I've recently started using weights again, but surely in around 4 days my muscle can't add 3lbs to my weight...especially so quick? Only today (before I went to the store) did I see that I HAVE actually lost weight, and my waist is starting to get thinner, but yet I still have big thighs and belly but I am still 3st away from GP's recommended weight. But as soon as it said I was 13st 11lbs I got extremely angry at myself because I felt like a failure - but I'm not giving up.

When I dieted last year also, I never weighed myself on my scales at home, simply because I didn't have any, so I would use the ones in Boots every two weeks, and I trusted them. But now they're saying I weigh more than my home ones..and a friends.

Anybody know what might be the issue?

Replies

  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Scales are all slightly different. Use the same one all the time or you'll drive yourself crazy.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    :heart: Weight – So many things can affect weight, because of this it shouldn’t be the only way you track your progress. Things to keep in mind:
    :drinker: Always use the same scale – Different scales can show different weights. You will get the most accurate number for tracking when using the same scale.
    :drinker: Don’t move the scale – Carpet, uneven flooring, different types of flooring…can all affect the weight on the scale. So when you weigh, you want it to be approximately the same spot for the most accurate number for tracking.
    :drinker: 3500 calories – To gain 1lb of fat you need to be over maintenance by 3500 calories.
    :drinker: Muscle Repair – Muscles will hold onto water to repair, because of this it is not uncommon to see a gain for a little while after a workout. This weight comes right back off when they are done repairing.
    :drinker: Sodium – Can cause you to retain water. This can also be amplified if you don’t drink enough to flush it out of your system. This is also another reason for temporary weight gain.
    :drinker: Water – Not drinking enough water can actually cause you to retain water. Recommended amount is 8 cups or 64oz. I drink 64 oz to 128 oz of water a day. It doesn’t have to be plain water either. I like to flavor mine with crystal light or tea.
    :drinker: Time of day – Your weight can fluctuate throughout the day. So for the most accurate tracking, you want to weigh at around the same time.
    :drinker: Frequency – This is up to you, but if small fluctuations bother you than only weigh once a week or less.
    :drinker: Lightest Weight – Will be naked, first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom
    :drinker: Multiple times a Day – Don’t Do It. As I said before, your weight will fluctuate throughout the day. What you eat, what you’re wearing, ect will all affect weight.
    :drinker: Clothes – If you weigh with clothing on, keep in mind that the scale will show your weight plus the weight of your clothes. (Jeans are heavy)
    :drinker: TOM - A lot of women will retain water around their TOM, but its just temporary and will go away.

    This is a chart I made last year (using my own weigh ins) that shows day to day fluctuations. Notice how the overall trend is down:
    29l0bqr.jpg

    Measurements are better for tracking progress.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    If you weigh yourself on 10 different scales you'll get 10 different weights...

    Use the same scales, same time of day, wearing or not wearing the same thing!
  • jjdiggy
    jjdiggy Posts: 172
    If you weigh yourself on 10 different scales you'll get 10 different weights...

    Use the same scales, same time of day, wearing or not wearing the same thing!

    Very true. But which one do I trust now as a 'beginning weight' so to speak. The weight that I now work onward from, the one which is higher on a different scale, or the one which is lower and on my own scales which I've been weighing myself on since a few months ago...?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    If you weigh yourself on 10 different scales you'll get 10 different weights...

    Use the same scales, same time of day, wearing or not wearing the same thing!

    Very true. But which one do I trust now as a 'beginning weight' so to speak. The weight that I now work onward from, the one which is higher on a different scale, or the one which is lower and on my own scales which I've been weighing myself on since a few months ago...?

    Use the scales you've always used at home....

Categories