Crazy scales acting crazy?
Mary_Anastasia
Posts: 267 Member
Tuesday: scale reads normal, same thing it has read for 3 days, as the number has gradually, slowly gone down over the weeks.. Later that same day find myself in the other bathroom where there is another scale that syncs well with mine. That scale reads the same.
Wednesday: skipped weighing
Thursday: skipped weighing
Friday: scale reads exactly 4lb gain. Cannot believe it so go to other bathrooms scale, That scale reads 5lbs heavier than my scale for a total 9lb gain. In 3 days.
It's now Monday and my scale is still reading the 4lb-in-3-day gain
My mother also tried the scales, and they did the same for her, saying she had an exactly 4lb gain on mine, and a 9lb gain on the other.
Batteries are relatively new. I am relatively bummed
Anyone have similar scale stories?
Wednesday: skipped weighing
Thursday: skipped weighing
Friday: scale reads exactly 4lb gain. Cannot believe it so go to other bathrooms scale, That scale reads 5lbs heavier than my scale for a total 9lb gain. In 3 days.
It's now Monday and my scale is still reading the 4lb-in-3-day gain
My mother also tried the scales, and they did the same for her, saying she had an exactly 4lb gain on mine, and a 9lb gain on the other.Batteries are relatively new. I am relatively bummed
Anyone have similar scale stories? 0
Replies
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Weigh something that you know the weight off (e.g., a 15 pound dumbbell.) If it the dumbbell comes in at 19 pounds on the first scale and 24 on the other, just know to subtract 4 or 9 pounds from whatever weight it gives you. Or look online to see if there is a way to calibrate your scale.3
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I have crazy scale incidents. But they usually involve cookies ...... and wine.17
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I have a fitbit Aria and it does some crazy stuff as well ! Sometime I lose 3 lbs after a weekend of binging and gain 5 lbs after 5 days in a deficit!
Im thinking of ditching the scale completely0 -
I have two digital bathroom scales that are supposed to zero out. They read about 3 pounds differently. I hate getting on the one that reports a higher weight and hope that isn't the correct scale.0
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I assume you've got them on a firm, level surface and that there are no rugs or anything touching the edges?
Also, do you get on and off 2 -3 times to ensure they're consistent?
If all that's OK, it does seem odd.
Checking the weight shown with a known reference is a good idea as above, but it's not easy to get a relevant reference weight! (ideally at the weight range you're reading at)
Otherwise, no idea! I'm not sure I could cope with having two sets of scales though, as long as you have one set that work, I'd go by that set only. They don't need to be accurate either, as long as they're consistent they'll show the trend which is far more important than just a number.
EDIT: Another quick though, I don't suppose you and your mum attended the same party or function recently and consumed something unusual/high sodium? Unlikely I know, but as I say, just a thought.
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Food in transit, water weight, different time of day, different scales, high sodium, cheat meal. The possibilities are endless.
If you have eaten at, or below maintenance for the week then you can't have gained fat.1 -
You might be able to look the owner's manuals up and see if there is a way to calibrate them. I think I will do that with mine!0
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Nothing is wrong with your scales! This is normal. Solution: Weigh yourself once a day on the same scale, at the same time, under the same conditions, preferably after using the bathroom and before you eat or drink anything.3
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Never imagine that you can use one inaccurate bathroom scale to verify another inaccurate bathroom scale.5
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A lot of people describe the whoosh effect where you're weight will fluctuate for a while and then you'll see a rapid drop. I tend to have the same effect where I will even show a gain of a few pounds right before I drop 5-6 lbs rapidly and then level over a few days. You'll see a lot of recommendations to weigh yourself once a week because of the daily fluctuations. You're scale likely has a zero adjustment, check the owners manual. As others have suggested check it against a known weight. If you don't have weights water is about 8.3lbs/gal and filling a five gallon bucket is one way to check.1
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I assume you've got them on a firm, level surface and that there are no rugs or anything touching the edges?
Also, do you get on and off 2 -3 times to ensure they're consistent?
If all that's OK, it does seem odd.
Checking the weight shown with a known reference is a good idea as above, but it's not easy to get a relevant reference weight! (ideally at the weight range you're reading at)
Otherwise, no idea! I'm not sure I could cope with having two sets of scales though, as long as you have one set that work, I'd go by that set only. They don't need to be accurate either, as long as they're consistent they'll show the trend which is far more important than just a number.
EDIT: Another quick though, I don't suppose you and your mum attended the same party or function recently and consumed something unusual/high sodium? Unlikely I know, but as I say, just a thought.
I do check the weight about 4 times if it looks off.
The scales are always on a flat surface without anything near them, and I weight at the same time in the same place.
Getting a reference weight hasn't been working, it won't read my weights, they don't weigh enough
And no we didn't attend the same party LOL But that's an interesting thought0 -
Since it's two different scales, this probably doesn't apply - but, time for new batteries?0
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Well, it's been almost a week. Monday the 4lb gain turned into a 7lb gain (on my scale, I didn't check the other scale), and it stayed that way for every day. Today it has dropped back down to a 4lb gain. I can understand a 4lb gain of water weight or transit etc, but it's been almost a week, and the weight had gone up a whopping 7lbs.
Here's a better timeline, this is all on the same scale, at the same time, under same conditions:
Tuesday: 217.6
Weds: no weigh
Thursday: no weigh
Friday: 221.8
Saturday: 221.8
Sunday: 221.6
Monday: 224.8
Tuesday:224.6
Wednesday: no weigh
Thursday: 221.8
Maybe 4lbs just decided to stick to me suddenly, and the peek-a-boo 3lbs after that was water? I know it's not a lot of weight to be concerned about, but I hadn't been in the 210's for many years and was firmly there 0 -
That's exactly what I do. I missed weighing a couple days but it's always under the same scale, same time of day, under exact same conditions: after bathroom, before shower, before eating.0 -
Stop weighing in on multiple scales throughout the day...stop with the scale obsession...
Body weight isn't static...weight loss isn't a linear function...every scale is going to be calibrated a little differently...when you weigh in multiple times per day, you're also weighing any food or beverage you've ingested...
Weigh yourself once per day at most, at roughly the same time of day, under roughly the same conditions and use one scale. Most people do this first thing in the morning after they've used the restroom and before ingesting foods and they weigh in naked.
What you're doing is madness...1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »Stop weighing in on multiple scales throughout the day...stop with the scale obsession...
Body weight isn't static...weight loss isn't a linear function...every scale is going to be calibrated a little differently...when you weigh in multiple times per day, you're also weighing any food or beverage you've ingested...
Weigh yourself once per day at most, at roughly the same time of day, under roughly the same conditions and use one scale. Most people do this first thing in the morning after they've used the restroom and before ingesting foods and they weigh in naked.
What you're doing is madness...
I'm NOT using multiple scales, IDK why everyone seems to think so- when my scale read so differently than it usually does I checked it against a different scale, ONCE.
Every single time I weigh has been once per day. On the same scale. At the same time. After bathroom. Before showering. Before eating. Unclothed.
So tell me what madness that I'm doing exactly? Please reply.2 -
When I was weighing, I used only my Wii scale. Once a week, First thing on the morning after the bathroom, in my birthday suit
Any other weighing e,g doctor surgery didn't count
Don't drive yourself crazy0 -
Okay, maybe I should rephrase my original post:
Has anyone had a 3-7lb gain in just a few days, which sticks around, on the SAME SCALE they always use, weighing at the SAME TIME they always weigh, under the SAME CONDITIONS they always weigh themselves?
I was just bummed and looking for others' stories, geeze, people.
Is that better?
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As a lady, your weight can sometimes shift over a week if hormones are going crazy. I believe that hormones come into play or water retention or something. I always gain three pounds the week of my period and then it drops off when it's over. I wouldn't be too concerned - weight is a weird thing.1
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So over the past 10 days, the overall change is an increase of 4 lbs.
Have you been tracking everything? Did you go out to eat, to a party, or have a particularly high sodium meal in the past ten days? Where are you in your cycle? Have you changed up your exercise routine? Had any alcoholic beverages in there?
So many things effect scale weight. I find it hard to believe that you've gained 4 lbs of fat in ten days, so relax! Odds are it's mainly water and will come off. My weight has been all over the map in the past two weeks (between having a surgical procedure, getting my period, having a few drinks the other night, pizza with our neighbors last weekend, etc). I've fluctuated between 150.6 and 157.8(!). I know that things will settle down and the differences are not "real" gain. I wouldn't get worried unless and until, you are seeing sustained gain for 4 weeks or more.1 -
Yea. If you've increased your sodium intake, started exercising, going through your TOM then you're going to retain water.2
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Mary_Anastasia wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Stop weighing in on multiple scales throughout the day...stop with the scale obsession...
Body weight isn't static...weight loss isn't a linear function...every scale is going to be calibrated a little differently...when you weigh in multiple times per day, you're also weighing any food or beverage you've ingested...
Weigh yourself once per day at most, at roughly the same time of day, under roughly the same conditions and use one scale. Most people do this first thing in the morning after they've used the restroom and before ingesting foods and they weigh in naked.
What you're doing is madness...
I'm NOT using multiple scales, IDK why everyone seems to think so- when my scale read so differently than it usually does I checked it against a different scale, ONCE.
Every single time I weigh has been once per day. On the same scale. At the same time. After bathroom. Before showering. Before eating. Unclothed.
So tell me what madness that I'm doing exactly? Please reply.
Your OP makes it sound very much like you are weighing in multiple times per day on different scales...it's the way you wrote your OP...people can only go by what they're reading...
Good luck...hope it all works out for you then...0 -
Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the moon, maybe my heart grew 3 sizes with the holidays
I hadn't had particularly high sodium when this happened. Nor any alcohol. No parties, went out to eat twice during this. My hormones may be a little whacky.
I like the idea of a 4-week perspective -> that's really not that long of a time, I just hate that now I'm back to where I was over a month ago. I'll see where I am at the new year, I suppose. And maybe try to find a 5-gallon bucket to fill up and test-weigh...0 -
If you don't already do so, I'd suggest you start using a weight trending app like Happy Scale, Libra or trendweight.com. That way, you can focus on the long term trend of your weight loss rather than weekly fluctuations.1
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Mary_Anastasia wrote: »Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the moon, maybe my heart grew 3 sizes with the holidays
I hadn't had particularly high sodium when this happened. Nor any alcohol. No parties, went out to eat twice during this. My hormones may be a little whacky.
I like the idea of a 4-week perspective -> that's really not that long of a time, I just hate that now I'm back to where I was over a month ago. I'll see where I am at the new year, I suppose. And maybe try to find a 5-gallon bucket to fill up and test-weigh...
Do you usually weigh everyday? Can you perhaps compare data from last month to this month to try and surmise if you are just at a point in your cycle where things get wonky?
Have you been consuming your regular amount of water in the last week or so? Have you upped your exercise? Anything that may be making you retain water is what I'm getting at.
Also, how do you feel? Do you feel bloated or heavy? Are rings that are usually loose suddenly tight?
I have only begun weighing daily in the last two weeks and tracking it in a trending weight app (Happy Scale). Today I am down 1.6 lbs from yesterday. It's the reverse of what you are talking about, but I'm telling you because obviously I didn't lose 1.6 lbs in one day. I was up yesterday .4 lbs from the previous day and now I'm down 1.6 lbs from yesterday. The only thing that makes sense is at some point I was retaining water. And I will say I have felt "heavy" lately and have noticed rings being tighter than usual.0 -
Mary_Anastasia wrote: »Okay, maybe I should rephrase my original post:
Has anyone had a 3-7lb gain in just a few days, which sticks around, on the SAME SCALE they always use, weighing at the SAME TIME they always weigh, under the SAME CONDITIONS they always weigh themselves?
I was just bummed and looking for others' stories, geeze, people.
Is that better?
Yes, this is normal!!0 -
Mary_Anastasia wrote: »Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the moon, maybe my heart grew 3 sizes with the holidays
I hadn't had particularly high sodium when this happened. Nor any alcohol. No parties, went out to eat twice during this. My hormones may be a little whacky.
I like the idea of a 4-week perspective -> that's really not that long of a time, I just hate that now I'm back to where I was over a month ago. I'll see where I am at the new year, I suppose. And maybe try to find a 5-gallon bucket to fill up and test-weigh...
What about the idea of double checking your logging, leaving the scale alone for a while and just going by how your clothes fit? I have 3-5 lbs that just insist on pissing me off lol, so I recently decided that I wasn't going to let what's a small amount in the scheme of things ruin my mornings.
I'd rather feel great at my current weight than be stressed out wondering if I'm a lb or 2 or 3 lighter...
Just a thought.
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Mary_Anastasia wrote: »Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the moon, maybe my heart grew 3 sizes with the holidays
I hadn't had particularly high sodium when this happened. Nor any alcohol. No parties, went out to eat twice during this. My hormones may be a little whacky.
I like the idea of a 4-week perspective -> that's really not that long of a time, I just hate that now I'm back to where I was over a month ago. I'll see where I am at the new year, I suppose. And maybe try to find a 5-gallon bucket to fill up and test-weigh...
Yeah, that's pretty much normal...you need to look at trends over time.0 -
Mary_Anastasia wrote: »Tuesday: scale reads normal, same thing it has read for 3 days, as the number has gradually, slowly gone down over the weeks.. Later that same day find myself in the other bathroom where there is another scale that syncs well with mine. That scale reads the same.
Wednesday: skipped weighing
Thursday: skipped weighing
Friday: scale reads exactly 4lb gain. Cannot believe it so go to other bathrooms scale, That scale reads 5lbs heavier than my scale for a total 9lb gain. In 3 days.
It's now Monday and my scale is still reading the 4lb-in-3-day gain My mother also tried the scales, and they did the same for her, saying she had an exactly 4lb gain on mine, and a 9lb gain on the other.
Batteries are relatively new. I am relatively bummed Anyone have similar scale stories?
It's normal for weight to fluctuate. Try and cut down on sodium and drink lots of water like 1 litre a day0
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