Broken Scale?

agralston
agralston Posts: 31
edited September 19 in Motivation and Support
So tell me if you think my scale is broken.

I bought a cheap $20 scale from target to track my progress. I check it once a week. This morning I step on the scale, and it reads 174lbs, which means I've gained 4lbs since starting this diet. Not convinced this was true, I tried it again, this time it reads 162.5lbs. I tried 2 more times and got differant results each time. So either the scale doesnt work or the calories I burned in between readings caused me to lose 11.5lbs! :laugh:

Replies

  • agralston
    agralston Posts: 31
    So tell me if you think my scale is broken.

    I bought a cheap $20 scale from target to track my progress. I check it once a week. This morning I step on the scale, and it reads 174lbs, which means I've gained 4lbs since starting this diet. Not convinced this was true, I tried it again, this time it reads 162.5lbs. I tried 2 more times and got differant results each time. So either the scale doesnt work or the calories I burned in between readings caused me to lose 11.5lbs! :laugh:
  • cnolovechild
    cnolovechild Posts: 179
    You may need to check that it's on a hard enough and level enough surface. Also some scales you have to step on them in a specific place for an even reading.
  • tilly6277
    tilly6277 Posts: 202
    My scale is of the same cheap 20 dollar varity with the same unpredictable results. I am thinking of getting something better but am scared that it will give my an accurate reading and I will find out I have not lost as much as I think I have! :sad:
  • artschoolgirl
    artschoolgirl Posts: 598 Member
    WOW! Same thing has happened to me!! I bought a $20 scale & this past week I went without weighing myself & on Tuesday when I stepped on it said that I had gained 4 lbs!! I cried and cried because I had worked & ate better than ever! Then the next morning it said i lost 3 of those pounds...hmmm... conspiracy!!! :smile:
  • banks1850
    banks1850 Posts: 3,475 Member
    you should probably use a scale that is certified periodically, you can usually find one in any gym, or your doctor's office. If you don't belong to a gym, then there are ones that are relatively accurate, but they will be expensive. I would NOT trust a 20$ scale for any type of accuracy within a pound or two. You may get lucky with one, but generally they aren't all that accurate. Tanita makes some good scales. this one is a good scale, little pricey at 70 bucks, but they are a good quality scale so...

    http://www.thecompetitiveedge.com/shop/item/123-productId.184549426_123-catId.176160793.html
  • hmmmm
    hmmmm Posts: 607 Member
    Mine did that too, then I started getting lots of weird readings and then finally it just errored out every time I stepped on it. My thought was the battery, but the battery cost almost the same as it would have been to replace the scale. So that is what I did, this new scale uses AA batteries and is a $25 dollar healthomatic and so far works great
  • mommyskis
    mommyskis Posts: 277 Member
    We have 2 scales and the cheap old one is way more consistant, although we always have to mentally add 3 to the weight. Our new one works fine for weeks, then suddenly shows you've lost 8-10 lbs for a week. It sure was exciting to see I weighed 123 lbs! Right now we have to add 4 to the weight it reads. I find with 2 scales we at least come close.
  • shkaki
    shkaki Posts: 234 Member
    i think i 've said this before on a scale question, if you're trying to just keep a consistancy, try setting an actual 5 or 10 lb weight on the scale and checking to see what the scale reads out. if you put a 10lb weight on the scale and it reads out 12.5lbs, then take the weight off, and step on to it, whatever it says, subtract the 2.5 lbs that it was off. Almost like an AT-home calibration. I do this at the gym when i weigh in my clients to make sure the gym scale is still accurate.
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