Doctors scale?!

groovyfirechick
groovyfirechick Posts: 188
edited December 17 in Health and Weight Loss
I went to the doctor today and my weight was 188 lbs....my home scale has been telling me I'm 195 for the last 2 weeks despite my calorie counting and exercising. I have a digital scale and pulled the batteries to reset it but it's still reading 195. I'm getting frustrated because I though I wasn't losing weight. Who do I believe?

Replies

  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Check a third scale.

    Maybe at a gym, or at a friend's house.
  • silkandsugar
    silkandsugar Posts: 125
    Ehhh I wouldn't worry too much about it. My weight differs on all scales... by like 2-3 kgs which is quite a lot!
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    Check a third scale, as someone else suggested. I tend to go on a pharmacy scale or two, then check against my own scale, wearing the same clothes, and within a reasonable timeframe.
  • danahake
    danahake Posts: 64 Member
    Did you go to a diet dr or a reg dr? I weigh in at a diet clinic there scale is awesome it calculates water, bmi, weight, fat percentage etc. I am so gonna look for a scale like that. There scale always weighs me one lb less than mine and I have a cheap digital from walmart.
  • bluemorpho1247
    bluemorpho1247 Posts: 300 Member
    Always keep to one scale. As long as u keep track of losses and gains, the actual number shouldnt matter toooo much :)
  • crystallayne
    crystallayne Posts: 109 Member
    Personally I would go by the doctors scale for two reasons, first losing weight motivates me to keep going. So even if its false I would still do better. Second the doctors scale has to be calibrated frequently because they prescribe meds based on weight, so it really needs to be accurate. I like the idea of checking another scale though to be sure.
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,728 Member
    I don't know what the answer is, but I'm going to start going to your doctor. My doctor's scales are always about 4 pounds heavier than my home scales...
  • alcon79
    alcon79 Posts: 193 Member
    I hate getting on the scale at my doctors. My appointments are always in the winter so I'm usually in boots and a sweater....and they don't even ask you to take your shoes off! At least take a couple pounds off when you write it down so I feel like it's somewhat accurate....grrrrr.
  • groovyfirechick
    groovyfirechick Posts: 188
    I went to my reg doctor for my checkup. I couldn't imagine I wasn't losing any weight! I changed my weight loss on MFP to reflect the doctor's weight and will be buying a new scale this weekend! It's kinda old so I figured it may not be accurate. I feel better about myself now. :)
  • SammyKatt
    SammyKatt Posts: 363 Member
    Why don't you test yours to see how off it is? Take same hand weight and weigh them. My scale says the same thing my doctors does and it weighs the weights at the right weight. But the scale in the Gym where I work is off by about 3.5 pounds.



    Silkandsugar - I would SERIOUSLY kill to have your body!
  • lmarshel
    lmarshel Posts: 674 Member
    Personally I would go by the doctors scale for two reasons, first losing weight motivates me to keep going. So even if its false I would still do better. Second the doctors scale has to be calibrated frequently because they prescribe meds based on weight, so it really needs to be accurate. I like the idea of checking another scale though to be sure.

    Yes, the doctor's scale is probably accurate. I would suggest a new set of batteries for your home scale and possibly a new scale. I am sometimes off 3-4 pounds from the doctor's scale, but mostly because I'm clothed at the doctor 's office and at home not so much. ;) But that means I weigh MORE at the doctor's office than I do at home. If you check a 3rd scale and still get an odd reading, I would start shopping for a new scale.
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Use the scale that you've been using. Even if it's not accurate per say it is consistent.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    My home scale is not even consistent -- so I go to the student gym to weigh myself.
  • iwantahealthierme13
    iwantahealthierme13 Posts: 337 Member
    I went to the doctor's today and I weighed 185.5 (with clothes on, without shoes) on their scale and 188 on mine.

    The nurse also told me I was 5'4" when I'm really at least 5'5", lol. I'm almost 30 but I know I'm not shrinking YET! :P
  • Bikini_Bound150
    Bikini_Bound150 Posts: 461 Member
    I weigh in at work on my bosses REALLY fancy, expensive scale. I went to the doctor on Friday and it said I gained 5lbs! I claim bs! Maybe it's because of the time of day. We all fluctuate during the day so try going to the doc in the morning. That's what I'm going to start doing.
  • now_or_never12
    now_or_never12 Posts: 849 Member
    I would go with whatever scale you normally use to track your weight. Different scales can show different weights even under the same conditions.

    If you want to test your scale for accuracy get something that you know the weight of (a hand weight, unopened bag of potatoes, rice etc) and put that on the scale. If it reads properly than your scale is accurate.

    Yes, the doctors scale can be accurate but are you going to go to the doctors every week to weigh in? If not and your scale reads higher for some reason than you will get discouraged seeing that weight.
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