Scale Fluctuations - within minutes

doramouse

I weigh myself in the AM, after using the bathroom - and the scale will say one thing. Then I go brush my hair, go back, weigh again and it's different. I might step away, put on lotion, weight myself again - and it's different.
Today in 15 minutes this is what it said in this order -
183.2
184.6
184
183.6
184.2

This is driving me crazy. It's a digital scale and I have it flat on my hardwood floor.
Obviously I need a new scale - but 1 - does anyone else have this happen to them and 2 - what scale should I get that would not do this to me?

cmriverside

Every digital scale I've ever owned has done this. Annoying, huh? I don't think you will fix it with a new scale unless you spend a lot of money on one, and even then I'm not sure you will solve this. Hopefully someone else has a better experience!

cmriverside

Oh, and obviously the 183.2 is the correct weight.

SweetTooth68

I bought a brand new scale and it does this - it's really annoying. I step on 3 times in a row and take the middle weight usually...

bethikabob

lol, yeah it happens to me too. I usually take 2 or 3 and then average

hedleyrocks247

Mine does the exact same thing
I'm TRYING - and believe me it's hard - to weigh myself only once a week and step on the scale, take that number and that's it!!!!!! I've had my scale go 10 pounds either way in a matter of a few minutes! Ridiculous, I know this Can't happen but it plays tricks with your mind!!!! I have wii fit, which weighs you everytime you play (not such a good thing) but I on my weigh in days I pay attention to the number and it seems to be right on with the first number that shows on my scale! I guess sometimes digital isn't always better?!?!?

AdamATGATT

My digital scale has never had this problem. Sometimes I think it doesn't move enough sometimes. Darn thing hates me.

But, anyway, when was the last time you changed the batteries? Also, are you weighing yourself after you breathe in, or breathe out? If you have either heavy or light air in your house that my be throwing off your numbers.

lilsweetslol

i have an expensive digital and it does that, so i weigh three times and take the average.. :flowerforyou:

xaintes

I have a digital scale that gives consistent numbers no matter how many times you step on it - it's a Taylor scale with the jumbo numbers and glow screen. I got it at Target... I think it was $30 or $40.

taiyola

LOL this happens to me everyyy time. I usually jump on and off 3-5 times straight after each other, and which ever reading comes up the most is what I stick with.

bebababy

happen to me this morning!!! it happens all the time and yes it is very annoying! i take the higher of the number to be safe. got on it 3 times this morning- at first i was like cool!! then the disappointment after i brushed and washed my face i was up a pound from the first weigh in and the last weigh in was right in the middle. either way i lost a little weight

Mommy07inlove

I havent had mine do that the way you are explaining it...i did however have it give me an incredibly low number one morning that freaked me out lol...i wanna lose but not 10 pounds from one morning to the next! Other than that one time though its always given me a pretty correct reading...i have a weight watchers scale,i only paid like 15 bucks for it at big lots.

eating4balance

I have an old scale with the little pointer and everything.
It may not be precise (it's 5 pounds off the doctor's), but it is accurate

sheryllh79

I've had this problem too! Was wondering if I was the only one! But I'll usually weigh myself a few times in a row and when I get a number (or close to the same number in ouces) I'll usually take that number....like 293.8 or 293.4 and I'll say it's an even 293...

sassyg

My digital scale does this, it's a Salter one
It's all about how you stand on it, feet in the very middle will give 6kg (12-13lb) less than feet on the very edges, and anything else for inbetween. It's a right PITA, I've pretty much just stopped weighing myself.

anubis609

Generally, weight can fluctuate within minutes following any activity. As you use your muscles more, they become primed with fluid to get ready for more use, i.e. brushing your hair, putting on lotion, folding clothes, showering, etc... so it won't ever stay solid at a number. Usually the very first weigh-in, after using the facilities, first thing in the morning should be the one to use, as it is usually the lowest weight of the day. Constantly checking the scale WILL make anyone go crazy, as increased numbers become discouraging to most people.

That said, there are times my digital scale will jump from 0.4 - 1.2 pounds within seconds, then stabilize at some point...probably after 3x of double and triple checking it. Whichever number comes out most consistently within that period of time is the one I would use.

webbstace

All the digitals that I have had vary a bit even if I weigh in three times in a row. Taking an average of three weigh-in's back to back is probably your best bet. But, I must ask, why are you weighing in so frequently?

cmriverside

But, anyway, when was the last time you changed the batteries? Also, are you weighing yourself after you breathe in, or breathe out? If you have either heavy or light air in your house that my be throwing off your numbers.

bwah ha ha....I this.

Don't know if it's real or not, but I know in Scuba diving as we use the air in the tanks we weigh less at the end of the dive. But it's enough air for an hour and only adds up to four pounds.

kaylenlawrence

Friday I weighed at the gym..
and within 3 minutes i weighed 177.5 then 183 then 180 then i weighed when i got home and it said 179.6 then 181
it is ANNOYING to the say the least
so I guess that is a sign that it doesnt really matter how much I weigh

janesmith1

Happens to me every single day with this darn digital Tanita scale. And I have changed the %^$^( batteries! Grrr, I don't know how much I weigh thx to my scale.

Painten

Just weigh yourself once a day and you wont have to worry about it. Every few minutes is a little ott.

absolament

My scale does the same. Could it be the Earth's gravitational shift? I don't "check-in" until the weight holds fairly steady for a week. And even then, I estimate somewhere in the middle of the readings.

suzooz

Scales can be extremely fickle! I don't think I gained 4 pounds from eating a single donut!

But this is why I weigh myself at least daily -- but record it only once a week. I figure not only does my weight fluctuate daily, but the scale can have some differences, too.

FearAnLoathing

mine does the same,now i just weigh myself once and thats it.

doramouse

It's good to know that I'm not the only one. That makes me feel a little better and yes - it's super annoying!
I am weighing myself so many times in the AM as I am trying to see if the scale will give me one weight a couple times in a row.
I'm not weighing myself all day

Valtishia

I only really ever have this problem when I haven't changed the battery in a while.

Mads1997

Mine use to do this I also have hardwoood floors. I found if I moved it around slightly it would weigh different. Now it stays in the one spot and it weighs correctly no matter how many times I step on and off in a row.

jbug100

The scale was more important to me at the beginning of this journey. It marked progress, and it's good at that. Now that I am where I want to be, I am trying to back off of the scale and measure wellness in other more fun and satisfying ways. The number jumps will make you crazy! I am learning that the scale is ONE tool and ONE measure. There are so many others that are important and better for your soul. I'll admit I have curiosity about scales that measure body fat. I think now that would mean more to me than an absolute number. Anyone have any experience with a scale like that? Is it accurate with body fat measurement?

Crystals422

It happens to me as well . I take the one I get the most after 3 or 4 readings. Sometimes if I think it is to low I will have my 2 yr old get on the scale and if his weight is the same I know I really did loose something.

annacataldo

I started using my bosses scale since I didn't have one and hers was perfect everytime, so when I went to buy one I tried to find the exact same one. They didn't have it. I got one based on similiar things...that one, if I stepped on it differently it'd give different readings...I took it back! I had paid $18 for that one. I got one instead that was 27 (or 26, can't remember which), at walmart, by health o meter. Its just a piece of glass so u can see the floor under it, with 2bars on both sides so u can clearly see where ur feet should go. Its the exact same everytime. I did it 10x n a row and no change. I just bought it a few days ago, so chances r ur walmart will have same one. When u first get a scale, tesst it..stand in different positions, multiple times and if it fluctuates by how u stand even a lil, take it back..its a lil bit of hassle but worth it!

TAWoody

My digital Taylor has always done it. Sometimes it gets stuck on the exact same weight as the previous day so I grab something heavy and hop on and let it do it's thing, then weigh myself. A little annoying but I guess that's how they work. Mine is only off maybe 1-3 pounds at a time.