accurate scale

T1mH
T1mH Posts: 568 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Where do I get a good accurate scale? I've tried a couple of the 30-50 dollar ones and I've been unimpressed with their accuracy. Where can I find an accurate scale?

I usually only weigh myself at one of the 2 gyms I go to. 1 has a digital scale, the other a old school beam scale like a doctors office would have. They both seem to be accurate to each other.
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Replies

  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    How do you know the ones you've tried weren't accurate?

    I need to get a new scale, mine can never decide what I weigh as it changes every time I step on it. I am considering bringing a h small weight (8lbs) to the store with me to test out for accuracy when I go buy one.
  • firkiefunk
    firkiefunk Posts: 10 Member
    digital works the best i found
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    Every digital one I've tried, even the one at my gym that I mostly trust will give 2 different readings back to back. I'm leaning towards a beam style scale like doctor's offices use.
  • melbatoast917
    melbatoast917 Posts: 370 Member
    Big fan of my Biggest Loser scale. It is digital and recalibrates every time.
  • hen1946
    hen1946 Posts: 60 Member
    I have one with the arm where you move the weight. I have owned it for about 25 years it always seems to record similar weight to doctors office. I dont remember what I paid for it but I consider it to have been a worthwile investment.
  • happythermia
    happythermia Posts: 374
    Sometimes it isn't even the scale - you could have uneven floors! I live in an older house and my floors are all wonky. I don't know how accurate my scale is, and I don't really mind...just as long as the # goes down
  • tidesong
    tidesong Posts: 451 Member
    This is the one I picked up for myself after reading tons of reviews on dozens of different scales. For me, it is consistent. I can step on it 5 times in a row, and it'll be exactly the same. Walk away, come back a couple minutes later, and it's still the same. I recommend it. And it comes with a measuring tape for taking..uh..measurements. (No, I don't work for the company, have no vested interest in the company, etc. Just a happy customer.)

    http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Digital-Bathroom-Technology/dp/B001KXZ808/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1330811565&sr=1-1

    If you can't get the link to work, search for "EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale w/ Extra Large Backlit 3.5" Display and "Step-On" Technology".
  • BlackTimber
    BlackTimber Posts: 230 Member
    Every digital one I've tried, even the one at my gym that I mostly trust will give 2 different readings back to back. I'm leaning towards a beam style scale like doctor's offices use.

    I know how you feel, but don't get too hooked up by the exact numbers. As long as the variation is less than 1.0 pound it doesn't matter much. A tape measure a mirror and a photograph is a better method.
  • mfp_1
    mfp_1 Posts: 516 Member
    My experience with digital scales is:
    * they all give small variations.
    * small variations are insignificant to me
    * they all vary badly when the battery is running down
    * they all vary badly when not on a flat surface

    The above applies to cheap ones as well as expensive ones.
    Q1. How old are the batteries?
    Q2. What surface is the scale on?
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Note that apparently some digital scales will actually have a 'fake accuracy' - if they register a similar, but slightly different weight to the last one, they just show the last weight as they presume it's the same person.
    This makes them look more accurate, but they may not be.

    While I do like my accuracy, it's always the over-all trend to worry about.

    I suspect the weight of big gym scales helps - and that they don't generally let you work it out to quite such high precision anyway.
  • ButterflyJourney
    ButterflyJourney Posts: 46 Member
    I have been using a weight watchers digital scale. I weigh the same whether I weigh in on a scale (balanced weekly) at a Weight Watchers meeting or the doctor's. All scales weighing me in the same. The one I use is the Weight Watchers Glass Memory Precision Scale. Model WW43D about $50 at Bed, Bath & Beyond. (Amazon also sells it).
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    I've been using two standard old type scale for many years...they always give me the same results (0.5 lbs close) ...and the same when I go to the doc.

    I wanted to get some digital scale the other day...I saw many demo at the store...So I tried one. I was 20 lbs heavier on it?????????
    Told myself..oh well,broken....Tried the other one, 10 lbs over etc....They were ALL giving me different weights and all were wrong and by far..... not by 1-2 lbs.....I don't understand!
  • Code7526
    Code7526 Posts: 52
    A more accurate way to workout if you are loosing fat is to measure your waist with a tape measure. Muscles weigh more than fat so if you are exercising and building muscle, a scale is not very accurate way to workout if you lost fat.
  • ButterflyJourney
    ButterflyJourney Posts: 46 Member
    Tidesong: Does this measure in tenths too? 151.1, 151.3, etc. or is it just the number 151; 152; 153?
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    A more accurate way to workout if you are loosing fat is to measure your waist with a tape measure. Muscles weigh more than fat so if you are exercising and building muscle, a scale is not very accurate way to workout if you lost fat.

    For sure.... Mirror and a measuring tape is the best....a scale doesn't count the bones,muscles etc.... So it's not accurate for that point...You can gain 2 pounds but lose 4 inches waist....it's non-sense!

    BUT.... weight is still weight ,,,I would say to check every 2-3 weeks...not more than that.
  • now_or_never12
    now_or_never12 Posts: 849 Member
    The scales at the gym can read two different readings because they are used so much. THe more a scale is moved, used, etc affects it's readings.

    Any scale will be accurate. Digital ones would be less accurate when the battery needs to be changed. I love my Health o meter scale... cost me $17.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    I haven't ever found an accurate one. The ones in doctor's offices where you move the weights always record my weight at least 6 pounds higher than it actually is, sometimes more.

    I have a WW digital scale. It works better than a standard scale but I've seen weirdness with it too. I have to weigh something with a significantly different weight in between every time I weigh myself, or half the time the scale will just keep spitting the exact same weight back at me for 6 weeks in a row.

    If I weigh a 20 pound item, and then weigh again the scale weight changes. I just try to use it as a guide. Like someone else said, what really matters is if it's going downward.

    edited because I can't spell this morning.
  • fg8585
    fg8585 Posts: 110 Member
    Every digital one I've tried, even the one at my gym that I mostly trust will give 2 different readings back to back. I'm leaning towards a beam style scale like doctor's offices use.
    Been using a walmart scale that probably became crappy cause I used to accidentally step on it. Found out a couple days ago it's highly inaccurate.

    Heard that the beam style scale is more accurate than even digital scales. quite a small investment though.
  • mfp_1
    mfp_1 Posts: 516 Member
    geebusuk wrote:
    ... some digital scales will actually have a 'fake accuracy' - if they register a similar, but slightly different weight to the last one, they just show the last weight as they presume it's the same person.

    That's weird, I haven't heard of that.

    I have heard of scales that remember average (median) weight for the day.
    For example, step on it naked in the morning and the display might say 50 kg.
    In the evening with clothes after a heavy meal it might say 52 kg.
    It remembers your average weight for that day as 51 kg.
    You can get it to shows the trend of daily averages on a graph over the last 30 days.
    As long as your weight is within 3 kg of the last time, it'll assume you're the same person.
    The scale can be used by several people, each with their own trend graphs.
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    I'm looking for a beam scale. Like the doctor's office uses. You can zero them and then place a known weight on it. If it's accurate it should be accurate across the range. They start at about $150 (with shipping) on Amazon.

    I know muscle pound for pound is smaller than fat. I know I can gain muscle and lose fat staying the same weight. I've still got 25 lbs to lose before I'll focus on building muscle. At that point I wold expect to see weight gain.

    I want to more accurately track my weight. I'm tired of people telling me I should only weigh weekly or monthly or not at all. You do it your way I'm going to do it mine. My way requires micro-management. I don't freak out when I gain a lb but I want to know when and why I do. I'm not going to get discouraged over the fluctuations. For others I understand they can't deal with that and just want the scale to be a trending tool.
  • tidesong
    tidesong Posts: 451 Member
    Tidesong: Does this measure in tenths too? 151.1, 151.3, etc. or is it just the number 151; 152; 153?

    It measures in increments of 0.2 lb. 151, 151.2, 151.4, etc.
  • roundtherink
    roundtherink Posts: 61
    Tidesong- thanks for the recommendation. I need a new one, and I think I'm going to order this one. Looks good!
  • runmybunsoff
    runmybunsoff Posts: 224 Member
    Scales drive me crazy and I felt the same way you did, OP :( so I kind of stopped using mine. I only weigh in when I visit my relative every few weeks or so because they have a medical scale and it's sadly the only device I can trust. :indifferent: Probably not the best thing to be doing but, it helps me stay away from the bad chatter in my brain, lol! I hope you find the right scale for you though! I am kind of curious in the Aria scale by that company that makes FitBits...anyone have any input on these?
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    A couple of things on this topic.

    1. There is no such thing as an accurate scale.
    2. Stop weighing yourself on different scales. Only weigh yourself on 1 scale in the same situation everytime.
    3. It doesn't matter at all because it's relative. Even if your scale if off by 10 lbs., it doesn't matter because it's a relative measurement. You're just looking for downward progression. What you want is a csale that is consistently inaccurate so that your measurement is accurate.
    4. I don't know about you, but every doctor I have been to, their scales are way off.

    Good luck. I'm not sure why you are so concerned with accuracy. Like I said, it's relative. It doesn't matter.
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    A couple of things on this topic.

    1. There is no such thing as an accurate scale.
    2. Stop weighing yourself on different scales. Only weigh yourself on 1 scale in the same situation everytime.
    3. It doesn't matter at all because it's relative. Even if your scale if off by 10 lbs., it doesn't matter because it's a relative measurement. You're just looking for downward progression. What you want is a csale that is consistently inaccurate so that your measurement is accurate.
    4. I don't know about you, but every doctor I have been to, their scales are way off.

    Good luck. I'm not sure why you are so concerned with accuracy. Like I said, it's relative. It doesn't matter.
    I don't believe this. There are scales that are accurate and consistent.

    If I put a known weight on the scale like a milk jug of water then it will weigh a certain amount. If the scale agrees with the known weight then I know it is accurate at least for that weight. Could it be off at a higher weight? Possibly I'd give you that but that's why I've decided on a beam scale because if it's properly zeroed and accurate at a given weight it should be accurate (enough) for my weight. It definitely should be consistent.
  • patricknh
    patricknh Posts: 1 Member
    If you have an accurate weighted dumbbell then use that to calibrate. I have a 50 lbs blowflex dumbbell that I use to calibrate scales. Take any heavy object to a commercial scale to obtain the exact weight so you can use this as a reference point. For example, if I weigh the dumbbell on the scale a few times and every time it shows 51.5 lbs on the display then I know I have to subtract 1.5 lbs from my total weight. Consistency, when you have an accurate weight object as a reference point, is more important.

    There are several other variables that can throw off measurements in my opinion, like floor surface, temperature of the surface (especially when the floor reacts to temperature differences), if you have a large scale then feet placement could make a difference etc. Dropped scales and low battery voltage also can give you an inaccurate weight measurement.

    All these principles are taken inconsideration with a solidly build and calibrated doctor's office balance beam scale.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    A couple of things on this topic.

    1. There is no such thing as an accurate scale.
    2. Stop weighing yourself on different scales. Only weigh yourself on 1 scale in the same situation everytime.
    3. It doesn't matter at all because it's relative. Even if your scale if off by 10 lbs., it doesn't matter because it's a relative measurement. You're just looking for downward progression. What you want is a csale that is consistently inaccurate so that your measurement is accurate.
    4. I don't know about you, but every doctor I have been to, their scales are way off.

    Good luck. I'm not sure why you are so concerned with accuracy. Like I said, it's relative. It doesn't matter.
    I don't believe this. There are scales that are accurate and consistent.

    If I put a known weight on the scale like a milk jug of water then it will weigh a certain amount. If the scale agrees with the known weight then I know it is accurate at least for that weight. Could it be off at a higher weight? Possibly I'd give you that but that's why I've decided on a beam scale because if it's properly zeroed and accurate at a given weight it should be accurate (enough) for my weight. It definitely should be consistent.

    I don't see the point. It's seems like wasted effort to me. Your weight fluctuates radically within 5lbs anyway. I just keep mine in the bathroom. I weigh every morning naked after I pee. That's it. I don't care what any other scale says. My official weight is what my scale says. And my official logged weight is every Friday morning.
  • mfp_1
    mfp_1 Posts: 516 Member
    tidesong wrote:
    It measures in increments of 0.2 lb.

    Yes, scales are designed in metric.
    The basic increment for that chip is 100 g.
    The nearest to 100 grams is 0.2 lb.
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    I don't see the point. It's seems like wasted effort to me. Your weight fluctuates radically within 5lbs anyway. I just keep mine in the bathroom. I weigh every morning naked after I pee. That's it. I don't care what any other scale says. My official weight is what my scale says. And my official logged weight is every Friday morning.
    You weigh every day and you don't see the point in accuracy? By your logic it would be wasted effort to weigh every day.

    Is accuracy AND consistency to much to ask?
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I don't see the point. It's seems like wasted effort to me. Your weight fluctuates radically within 5lbs anyway. I just keep mine in the bathroom. I weigh every morning naked after I pee. That's it. I don't care what any other scale says. My official weight is what my scale says. And my official logged weight is every Friday morning.
    You weigh every day and you don't see the point in accuracy? By your logic it would be wasted effort to weigh every day.

    Is accuracy AND consistency to much to ask?

    I don't think you understand. It's a relative measure. So, it doesn't matter if YOUR scale is accurate against all other scales in the world. It only matters that you use the same one for your weight. Accuracy is not important at all. That is why doctors don't bother with it. They don't care. They just watch for trends. They don't even care what's in your pockets or if your shoes are on or off.

    Look, I don't care what you want to do. It's fine. But, I'm just trying to help you understand that it doesn't matter. But, if you don't want to believe that, then it's fine. Go find an accurate scale and be happy with your decision. But, I think it's wasted effort and money. That's all.

    BTW, I don't weigh everyday for accuracy, I weigh everyday to watch my slow downward trend. I think what you are losing sight of is the fact that it is accurate for me. I don't care how it compares to my scale at work, at a gym, or at my doctors office. If my doctors office says I'm 10 lbs heavier, I know a lot of people get upset, but I don't care. I don't go by that. I go by my scale only. My scale is my reality. Does that make sense? It is accurate for me. It doesn't have to be accurate to some NASA weight and standards measure. it's not important because it's relative to me.

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