How to get the most accurate scale weight?

thinking_thinly
thinking_thinly Posts: 143 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My scale defies the laws of physics! I will weigh before I eliminate in the morning, and then step back on after.... my weight goes up! Sometimes several ounces, sometimes a pound! it is fustrating as you would think it would go down? How do I know I have the most accurate weight? My scale is in the bathroom on linoleum if that helps.

Replies

  • sathor
    sathor Posts: 202 Member
    Happens to me all the time, or at least it did back when I was in the 220s. Then again, maybe I was ****ting helium. It has been far more stable lately, but that body fat measuring device...well that is a different story.
  • whitesox56
    whitesox56 Posts: 85
    my scale does the same thing. I'll weigh myself, step off and weigh myself again and it's either a pound heavier or a pound lighter. I have to weigh myself a few times before I get the same number to come up twice. Bizarre.
  • tisha_rae
    tisha_rae Posts: 216 Member
    Humm, I'm not sure....when my does that I find it needs new batteries.
    I try to always make sure it is in the exact same place....I always weigh naked, after going to the restroom, right before getting in the shower, only once, and only once a week, otherwise it makes me kind of crazy.

    I put some marks on my floor so I could be sure it was in the same spot.

    Good Luck! :)
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    The scale is not reliable so there really isn't a way to get the most accurate scale weight. Aside from possible hiccups with the scale itself, location, etc - you also are dealing with water retention and muscle gain.

    The most accurate way to track your progress is by recording measurements.
  • cosmic0074
    cosmic0074 Posts: 91 Member
    A little something I learned....if you have a dumbbell, put it on the scale to check for weight accuracy!
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    negativepoop.jpeg
  • thinking_thinly
    thinking_thinly Posts: 143 Member
    I think my scale is voodooed lol. I saw 192.8 this morning but didn't record it as I stepped on again after I eliminated ant was 193.2
  • alifer
    alifer Posts: 387 Member
    My scale has one spot on the floor where it thinks I'm lighter. If I move it from that spot I get all kinds of different numbers. I try to use the same spot everyday.
  • bharriscar
    bharriscar Posts: 91 Member
    Good question, a little meticulousness, but good. Use a good quality scale on a level floor, hold a 4 pound bag of sugar and see if your weight goes up exactly by 4 pounds, what else?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    digital scales are very finicky. a slight change in temperature can change the number. That said, just look for a general trend downwards...it's not linear anyways.
  • thinking_thinly
    thinking_thinly Posts: 143 Member
    I died.... hahah
    negativepoop.jpeg
  • starthru
    starthru Posts: 1 Member
    The problem is that bathroom scales are spring scales so they have "issues" that can effect the results. Age weakens the springs and makes them even more weird. To get a consistent reading, you would need to stand on EXACTLY the same spot with exactly the same pressure on your two feet every single time...it's not humanly possible!
    To avoid the headaches, DON'T weigh yourself too often. Many doctors recommend no more than 2x a week but if you MUST weigh yourself daily to motivate you (Guilty!) do so once per day and keep the time consistent so at least then you have at least 1 common variable! If you ever want to have your "true weight" every day you'd need to get a balance scale like the ones your doctor uses...way too pricey for my wallet! And remember, if you're eating right and exercising, you may have times when the needle won't budge, yet your clothes get looser. Muscle is more dense than fat so it's NOT just the weight that counts! IF you're getting smaller you're getting healthier even if the scale goes up a pound.

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