Bathroom scales are a funny thing
OAS5
Posts: 376 Member
I have used the same bathroom scale throughout my weight loss journey. Its an "eat smart" scale, glass top. I used it from a starting point of 273.6 pounds to now 199 with a goal of 185. You almost develop a bond with your scale when losing that much weight. Anyway over the last 3 weeks I have been confused, it has been showing a little higher of a fluctuation. I then decided to move it over a few inches and I was getting a different reading. That is when I decided to change out the batteries and back to normal. Consistent and where I was before getting strange readings.
If I were to buy a new scale, what are the most accurate scales that aren't too expensive, lets say less than 50 bucks tops.
If I were to buy a new scale, what are the most accurate scales that aren't too expensive, lets say less than 50 bucks tops.
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Replies
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Not exactly what you're looking for, because it's $80, but the Tanita HD-351 would definitely solve your accuracy issues. Dead-on accurate to within .2 of a pound, from any angle or placement on any surface. Very consistent readings. Very durable and solid. A good long-term investment for the ongoing dieter/maintainer, imho.3
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About a year ago, my scale started only measuring in 0.2lbs increments. I’ve even changed the batteries since then, but it still does it. Even though it is digital, it sometimes seems to get “stuck” on a number, so I will hold a bunch of clothes or towels when I step on to “reset” it if I get the exact same number 3 days in a row. At my current weight, a +/- quarter pound error isn’t a huge deal to me, but I will probably want a better scale when I get out of the 200s.1
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This will probably be disagree-fodder, but I'll say it anyway: I wouldn't bother with a different scale, personally. Sure, put it in the same spot every time, keep the batteries at an adequate level . . . but it's the long term (multi-week) trend that matters, really. A weight-trending app might help with that (Happy Scale for iOS, Libra for Android, Trendweight with a free Fitbit account (don't need a device), Weightgrapher, others . . . you can even set up an averaging spreadsheet of your own, if you like that sort of thing).
Scale weight is going to be weird all on its own over days to small numbers of weeks. I grant that a wonky scale is going to aggravate that even more, but I think there's value in trusting the process a little more, considering other yardsticks besides, and worrying about minor changes on the scale (or lack thereof) a little less.
I know, easy for me to say in year 4+ of maintenance. But mine went from 130-point-something to 128-point-something when I moved it around this morning, so I'm not just making things up when I say it can be useful to be sanguine about it.
Just my opinion, and all that sort of thing.
Best wishe for continued success - you are doing great!10 -
Followed op and excellent advice. But not sure about need for new scale given that new batteries and original position resolved the issue?9
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We bought a more accurate scale but it weighs me two lbs heavier- definitely going to throw off my happy scale trend!
Bothers me even though I know nothing about my body changed 🤪3 -
quemalosuerte wrote: »... it is digital, it sometimes seems to get “stuck” on a number, so I will hold a bunch of clothes or towels when I step on to “reset” it if I get the exact same number 3 days in a row."
Mine does stuff like this, too. When it does it on the same morning -- like refusing to recognize that that enormous poop must have weighed something! -- I figure it's the scale's way of telling me to go away and stop obsessing. If I stay away for 24 hours, it usually forgives me and moves. If it doesn't, I grab a bag of kitty litter and let it change what it thinks I weigh. Then I get on it and it's forced to be accurate again.3 -
Yeah I'm not sure what I'll do about the scale. I just put batteries in this morning and it seemed like it was back to normal. I'm gonna check it today and going forward just to see if it's still behaving normal.
Maybe it's been lying this whole time and I'm really still 273.6 pounds? Ha ha, just kidding. 🤣
Thanks for the replies, appreciate them all.6 -
I put the scales in the bathroom because I have tiles in there, and can line up the scales with a particular set of tiles to make sure they're always in the same spot. If I didn't have tiles, I'd probably put down duct tape to mark the spot.
I typically weigh myself several times and take an average just in case the scales are lying. I find it's not just a case of making sure they're in the same place, I need to make sure I stand perfectly in the same place and with the same posture to be sure of a consistent result.
My scales are also messing with me - they stopped syncing a few months ago when I had to reset the wifi connection for reasons, and never got round to resyncing it. If I lose weight, they don't tell my apps, which is fine, I expect that given I haven't sorted out that connectivity - but curiously, if I have a bad day, my weight seems to magically pull through.
Far be it from me to suggest that my magic scales have developed sentience, hate me, and are only sending through weight gain readings...2 -
Question for yeah, are those scales with the little weight things on them in the doctors office more or less accurate than digital scale that we use?0
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