Crazy scales are killing my motivation!

jenran90
jenran90 Posts: 11
in Motivation and Support
Please help! I don't use scales alot maybe once every couple of weeks to keep up my progress on myfitnesspal. But so many scales have been telling me different numbers =(. Just for fun yesterday I tried out this little check up station at walmart. It takes your vision, bp, weight & bmi then sends you an email. It told me I was 334 lbs & I was soo happy! But i had trouble with that in the past. I had been using a scale telling me that I was 334 lbs but was told if I'd really lost that much weight I'd be able to feel it. So I got a new scale & it said 381 lbs ='(. I didn't believe the number yesterday even though I really wanted to. I checked my scale this morning & it said 382 lbs. I have no clue what to do. Please help me.

Replies

  • jenran90
    jenran90 Posts: 11
    I mean....you'd hope the ones that are meant for helping the public would be correct right?!?!?!?! :indifferent: :frown:
  • zahid222
    zahid222 Posts: 233 Member
    Scales vary , so it is best to use the same scale to see progress. Good Luck!
  • fungaaron9880
    fungaaron9880 Posts: 111
    keep things consistant :D same scale, same day, same time, same atttire.. or lack of attire to get a better count :D
  • Ow3593
    Ow3593 Posts: 21 Member
    It shouldn't be about losing weight, you should really consider relying on body fat percentage rather than a scale but even that is not a measure of good health. If you really must rely on seeing progress i suggest you use a body fat percentage and it should be checked once a week with a caliper. The scale doesn't take into account how much water and food is in out body so a scale will usually give us different results day by day.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    Ya I use an old school scale not the digital kind. The digital ones seem to give me different weigh in numbers every time.
    Also make sure you put your scale on the flattest part of your floor. Un level floors will give you a different reading than a flat floor.
    Maybe invest in an old school scale this way you can calibrate it to 0 if it gets uncalibrated from using it.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Use one scale, and make sure the variables remain constant. Keep the scale in one place, and weigh at the same time of day in the same clothes (or lack of clothes). Preferably first thing in the morning after relieving yourself.

    Edit: Also, track your progress through measurements, how clothes fit, and progress photos, as well as fitness goals. I know when I could finally run one full mile without stopping, I was so happy I didn't care what the scale said!
  • jenran90
    jenran90 Posts: 11
    Thank you all for your help. I've been exercising every morning, I miss it because now I have to wait for a little spot on my leg to heal. I don't think that's helping my motivation either.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    Use one scale, and make sure the variables remain constant. Keep the scale in one place, and weigh at the same time of day in the same clothes (or lack of clothes). Preferably first thing in the morning after relieving yourself.

    Edit: Also, track your progress through measurements, how clothes fit, and progress photos, as well as fitness goals. I know when I could finally run one full mile without stopping, I was so happy I didn't care what the scale said!
  • SpecialSundae
    SpecialSundae Posts: 795 Member
    I'm going to say something and I hope very much that you won't find it harsh, but your motivation needs to come from within you. If you let other things be your excuse for losing motivation then you'll always find an excuse to give up.

    If the scales go up, see it as more of a reason to work hard at losing those lbs/kgs/inches/BF% points.

    That said, scales can be quite seriously inaccurate at times.
  • jenran90
    jenran90 Posts: 11
    It always does for me come from within. This is the first time something like this has happened for me. I guess it just got frustrating as hell more than making me lose motivation but it still sucks.
  • jenran90
    jenran90 Posts: 11
    Also, I feel bad for other people using those scales & thinking that they are losing weight & aren't really dieting & exercising.

Categories