anyone else have scale issues???

Jenn09870

I have a digital scale that puts out some crazy readings sometimes. My husband figured out that you can more it around the room on the tile and get different readings. I had always used mine in the same spot.
The past couple days it has been throwing out numbers way off- for example I know I didn't lose 13lbs over night- no way! :noway:


It read the wrong number repeatedly then I left and came back in about 10 Minutes, tried again and it looked correct.
I just use mine to make sure I am staying on track, I really use my Dr's more for the accuracy.
I'm going to try replacing the batteries, it is getting to be a few years old.

danielledimedio1985

thank you everyone!

Judontmesswithme

Hi Danielle,

I am a nurse, and I work in a doctor's office. Unfortunately, many people think that the big clunky weighted scale is outdated and needs to be calibrated. Unfortunately, the digital ones just aren't as accurate. There are many reasons for this: the weighted scales balance weight differently, and they really can't be inaccurate unless they aren't zeroed out. The little simple bathroom scales aren't accurate, and you can tell when you zero it, then step on it, and when you step off, it isn't zeroed anymore. The digital ones are a little better, but there is really no way to calibrate them. The ones at the office have to be calibrated every so often because physicians really need an accurate reading.

That said, when you go to the doctor's, unless you go at exactly the same time of day everyday and you wear exactly the same clothing, it may still be different than what you see at home. You should pick the same time of day (preferably first thing in the morning), and check once every week (not every day), using the same scale. Regardless of what it says, that's really the only way to determine how much you are actually losing.

Here's a link for differences in scales:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/184126-most-accurate-body-weight-scales/

Good luck!

danielledimedio1985

bump

Fat_Lenny

I prefer digital as my old one was really irritating because the red pin wobbled when I tried to take a reading, and I had to calibrate it before every use. I know digitals are not 100% accurate but I really love the German brand Beurer. They make lots of health & well-being related equipment too (available across Europe but not sure about the US. I find this make the most accurate.) I reckon the trick is to find one set of scales you like and stick with it for consistency, as even if you truly weigh 15 lbs more than you think you are, you'd be in blissful ignorance (at least for a while!) It can be disheartening at times, I totally understand that feeling, so I try not to weigh myself often and judge my progress on how my clothes fit and how strong I feel.

cortezpj

bump

NamibianRose

I suspect the analog scale is out of tolerance.

I used to calibrate hundreds of these "doctor" type scales for all of the high schools in the Phoenix area for the schools' wrestling program. What I found is that these scales are typically fairly accurate but are much more prone to drift away from their stated accuracy over time. They rely on cheap internal mechanical parts that wear or break down leading to, in some cases, huge errors in readings. I found some that were off by as much as 25lbs.

In fact the calibration of these types of scales is voided if the scale is moved. That's how easy it is knock these things out of tolerance.

I would go with your digital scale, and rest easy.

YES THIS^^ I use to go to a gym where I would see someone calibrating the scales relatively often, this is very important for those types of scales! I'd toss the weight you got from your parents scale and toss it out the window and never think twice about it LOL

Qatsi

I had to deal with a scale crisis a couple weeks ago that really messed with my mind for a few days:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/646238-my-new-scale-hates-me