For us US folks, what are 'stones' (UK) and how did that ter

1234terri

Hi all of you incredible folks:

I have noticed several of my UK friends here refer to weight in stones. Is there some historical reason/definition why weight we call pounds in the US is called 'stones' 'over there'? Just curious. Usually there's an interesting story behind why these terms are what they are.

...and how much is a stone, anyway?

-Terri O

silvergurl518

i'd love to know that as well even though i could google it, would rather hear it from the horse's mouth. neeeee!

CaptainGordo

Found a great link!

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=stone+measure+of+weight

Should help you find answers about stone unit of weight.

CouleeRunner

One stone is 14 lbs.

But don't take my word for it - I'm from Canada ;p

x4mygirlsx

1 stone is equal to 14lbs. hope that helps. x

wendyannie1976

hey, 1 stone = 14 pounds - pretty certain its from the old pounds shilling and pence era before metric lol

LoveLifeToday

One stone is 14lb, it just helps to create a number that is more manageable. So if you weigh 140lbs, you weigh 10 stone. hope this helps x

Olive32214

Hi There, I'm not from the UK but just across the water - Ireland.
Yes we do refer to weight mostly in Stones and lbs.
14 lbs is a Stone.So if you were lucky enough to be 145 lbs,
over here you are 10 st, 5 lb. Dont know the history but hope
I have helped a bit.

Olive.

twilight_princess

I'm from the UK and don't really know the historical reasoning for using stones but 1 stone is eq. to 14lbs. As you can see from my signiture I use metric rather than imperial measurements but many older people like to use the 'English pounds'. I grew to say I weigh such and such stones and pounds but as I'm training in healthcare everything is changing to the European metric standard.

This didn't really answer your q, sorry.

celewis2011

i like that i weigh 23 stones wow makes me feel lighter already,lol

HMonsterX

It's just what you get used to. While watching the US Biggest Loser i got used to lbs. Then, when watching the Australian version, i got used to Kilos!

espence30

Hi all of you incredible folks:

I have noticed several of my UK friends here refer to weight in stones. Is there some historical reason/definition why weight we call pounds in the US is called 'stones' 'over there'? Just curious. Usually there's an interesting story behind why these terms are what they are.

...and how much is a stone, anyway?

-Terri O

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_(weight)

here is the history

1234terri

really helpful answers!! I agree, less weight in 'stones' is kind of nice.....I wondered if it was some very old form of weighing based on real stones....

Scott613

I found out I weigh 14.5 stone thanks internet

HeidiMightyRawr

1 stone is 14lbs. So me at 145lbs would say I'm 10 stone 5.

Even though I'm from the UK I don't really use this measurement that much though, I don't mention my weight anywhere but here so I've have grown accustomed to just pounds.

I can't get my head off the kilogram mindset for what I lift though, every time I'm at the gym it's in kg so I'm always having to convert when I mention anything on here lol

jayb0ne

A stone is 14lb from the old imperial measures. But before you go calling it 'old weight', pounds are from the imperial system too :laugh:

Stone is only really used for personal weight though. Not generally used for anything else at all.

The current accepted metric measurement system in most of the world is based on multiples of 1000 and has grams and kg but countries hold onto random measurements. I'm UK and I weigh myself in stones and pounds (11 stone 6 lb), although I'm also keenly aware of my weight in pounds (160) since being on MFP. I'd weigh my veg at the supermarket in lbs and grocers usually have the price per lb and the price per kg shown. My dumbbell weights are in kg so I lift 10's or 14's rather than 25's or 35's. In mainland Europe they use kg more than lb for pretty much everything. But then they have half litres rather than pints... But that's another discussion...

Tis an odd discrepancy between countries but then Esperanto didn't take... The Euro seems to be in trouble... Celebrate the differences

Jay

1234terri

Nice comment!!!

-T

A stone is 14lb from the old imperial measures. But before you go calling it 'old weight', pounds are from the imperial system too :laugh:

Stone is only really used for personal weight though. Not generally used for anything else at all.

The current accepted metric measurement system in most of the world is based on multiples of 1000 and has grams and kg but countries hold onto random measurements. I'm UK and I weigh myself in stones and pounds (11 stone 6 lb), although I'm also keenly aware of my weight in pounds (160) since being on MFP. I'd weigh my veg at the supermarket in lbs and grocers usually have the price per lb and the price per kg shown. My dumbbell weights are in kg so I lift 10's or 14's rather than 25's or 35's. In mainland Europe they use kg more than lb for pretty much everything. But then they have half litres rather than pints... But that's another discussion...

Tis an odd discrepancy between countries but then Esperanto didn't take... The Euro seems to be in trouble... Celebrate the differences

Jay

happyheart15

I'm American and watch a lot of British TV, so I'll never forget that a stone is 14 pounds. I also watch Biggest Loser Australia, so it's drilled into my head that a kilogram is 2.2 pounds.