Bathroom scales - evil

Interalia
Interalia Posts: 18
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I've decided that my bathroom scale is possessed by a bitter, menopausal poltergeist. This morning I stood on scale and it was up a pound from yesterday... muttered darkly :grumble: and brushed my teeth. Stood on it again (3 minutes later), now I'm TWO pounds heavier than yesterday!! :angry: Showered, dried my hair, stood on scale again ... I have put on half a pound in the shower! :mad: Suffice to say that I am not taking anything on board, or ...er... the opposite, during this entire period of time. So I have entered the first (note, lowest) weight on my daily record.. and suddenly have something to put on my Christmas list. I know it is lame to blame the scale, but ... seriously... So, does anyone have a good suggestion for a reliable, digital bathroom scale (preferably with other options, like BMI or progress calculation)?
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Replies

  • dcrandall
    dcrandall Posts: 6 Member
    My scale is just as evil as yours!! I too would like to find a reliable scale...Ive found that if I step on my scale a different way each time I get a different read!! Go figure...
  • sarahwright01
    sarahwright01 Posts: 229 Member
    Honestly, i use my wii fit. It seems pretty accurate, as long as you keep the batteries fresh!
  • brittanydaniel79
    brittanydaniel79 Posts: 226
    I just ordered this from walmart for $35.

    Healthometer Glass Body Fat Scale with BMI, Bone Mass and Hydration Level

    It hasn't gotten to me yet, but I'm very excited about it. You may want to check walmart.com or some other retailer and look at your options. This worked with my budget.
  • bethm1210
    bethm1210 Posts: 66 Member
    I bought an EatSmart digital scale through Amazon about the same time I started MFP. I've found it to be pretty accurate, and it's reasonably priced.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KXZ808/ref=oss_product
  • untamedheart
    untamedheart Posts: 27
    The same thing happened to my boyfriend! He weighed himself, took a shower and then weighed himself again and was over a pound heavier, then he got dressed a weighed himself and he was 2 pounds lighter! That's what I get for buying a cheap scale at Walmart!
  • kate205gti
    kate205gti Posts: 84 Member
    ive got the Salter 9122, gives you weight, body fat %, water, body muscle % and BMI and you can store up to 10 profiles into it :)

    http://www.buyaparcel.com/pageview.php?page=show_product&ecommerce_stockcode=9122SV3R

    I got it for £18 on ebay - very impressed with it
  • Manda1987
    Manda1987 Posts: 207
    It's a good thing you posted this! I was frustrated because I'd gained a few pounds since weighing myself on my Wii Fit. Turns out it was just because my bathroom scale is determined to weigh me in at 250 no matter what weight I am!
  • flynabster
    flynabster Posts: 87
    I hate my bathroom scale too.....it can vary by two pounds up and down.....ugh....
    I've decided to just weigh on the balance scale at the gym.....

    But get this....weighed at the gym this week at 190....
    Weighed at the doctor's office same day and it said 186....and both were balance scales.....

    I gained a pound and a half....ugh....
  • Interalia
    Interalia Posts: 18
    I hate my bathroom scale too.....it can vary by two pounds up and down.....ugh....
    I've decided to just weigh on the balance scale at the gym.....

    But get this....weighed at the gym this week at 190....
    Weighed at the doctor's office same day and it said 186....and both were balance scales.....

    I gained a pound and a half....ugh....
  • Interalia
    Interalia Posts: 18
    Thanks to all for the suggestions for good scales, will definitely pursue all. For Flynabster ... ignore the heavier reading, it's clearly wrong :wink:
  • kewkdb
    kewkdb Posts: 207 Member
    I've decided that my bathroom scale is possessed by a bitter, menopausal poltergeist. This morning I stood on scale and it was up a pound from yesterday... muttered darkly :grumble: and brushed my teeth. Stood on it again (3 minutes later), now I'm TWO pounds heavier than yesterday!! :angry: Showered, dried my hair, stood on scale again ... I have put on half a pound in the shower! :mad: Suffice to say that I am not taking anything on board, or ...er... the opposite, during this entire period of time. So I have entered the first (note, lowest) weight on my daily record.. and suddenly have something to put on my Christmas list. I know it is lame to blame the scale, but ... seriously... So, does anyone have a good suggestion for a reliable, digital bathroom scale (preferably with other options, like BMI or progress calculation)?

    Toothpaste adding a pound? Nah musta been a fluke or glitch. Did you towel dry or blow dry your hair? If towel dry I can totally see it adding weight.

    Really the only scale I trust 100% is the scale at my doctors. Because of the inaccuracies of regular scales I just use that as a basic baseline measurement week to week.
  • masanz1
    masanz1 Posts: 65 Member
    My scale is dead on if I step on it at 2 separate times. It is made by Taylor. However I have had scales give me varying readings. The only will reason however I use a scale is to make sure I am heading the right direction. As long as the +/- range is going downward you shouldnt be concerned.
  • Sweet13_Princess
    Sweet13_Princess Posts: 1,207 Member
    Sarah - Do you have problems with the Wii fit disconnecting during golf? I've been having this problem every time I use it... and sometimes with other games where the remote swings around a lot.

    Shannon
  • _ken
    _ken Posts: 6
    I having the same problem. My scale is so erratic! I weigh two pounds heavier one day and three less the next! Annoys me to no end.
  • lmalaschak
    lmalaschak Posts: 346 Member
    Our scale varies depending where on the floor you place it. I have been known to step off it, move it over a foot, and step back on. Lame? Probably...
  • xXHeatherRaeXx
    xXHeatherRaeXx Posts: 175 Member
    I've named my scales El Diablo. I feel your pain.
  • TJMcQN
    TJMcQN Posts: 19 Member
    Great suggestions! I'm curious though. How does a scale measure some of the things like BMI, body fat, hydration etc?
  • ginncjb
    ginncjb Posts: 44 Member
    I just ordered this from walmart for $35.

    Healthometer Glass Body Fat Scale with BMI, Bone Mass and Hydration Level

    It hasn't gotten to me yet, but I'm very excited about it. You may want to check walmart.com or some other retailer and look at your options. This worked with my budget.

    My Healthometer Digital Scale doesnt have the extra features, but matches my doctor's scale exactly.
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    I bought an EatSmart digital scale through Amazon about the same time I started MFP. I've found it to be pretty accurate, and it's reasonably priced.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KXZ808/ref=oss_product

    haha i was thinking of buying the eatsmart off of amazon today. i ordered the eatsmart food scale a couple of hours ago :)
  • kristine321
    kristine321 Posts: 13
    HATE the bathroom scales too! I bit the bullet this week though, and finally ordered a set of Dr. scales from the hospital's DME! I have been so frustrated with the digital scales, that I just couldn't take it anymore! I know that the Dr. scales are much more accurate, and can easily be calibrated.
  • anulle2009
    anulle2009 Posts: 580 Member
    AGREED!!!!
  • Spamee
    Spamee Posts: 148 Member
    ha ha I went up 2# from yesterday...dh went up 1#...
    I hate my evil scale too.
    But our dog is always loosing weight on the scale (we are trying to get a few #s on the skinny dog)
  • twilightsm
    twilightsm Posts: 41 Member
    lol I never weigh myself after a shower! I have about four feet of hair and gain about 5lbs more when it is wet!
  • mutzzy
    mutzzy Posts: 23
    Consider it a game. My scale consists of which spot on the bathroom floor gives me the lowest number. I HATE all the fluctuations from night to morning, morning before peeing, morning after shower and morning after I eat. It really is crazy.

    Thanks for the suggestions. It may be time to look into a new scale....
  • BellydanceBliss
    BellydanceBliss Posts: 330
    I agree the scale is the devil. Monday this week after a 30 year addiction with this as the last remnant from my eating disorder years ago, I beat it. I weighed and measured and put the scale away in the bathroom. I have been so happy this week as a result. You simply cannot weigh everyday...Once a week. If you are on your period you plenty of potassium rich foods, avocados, potatoes baked plain, and bananas and make sure you get some extra protein. It took me years to figure this out. I am not saying gorge yourself I am saying one extra potassium and protein rich food a day will help in cravings and you will just feel better.
  • InTenn
    InTenn Posts: 99
    Great suggestions! I'm curious though. How does a scale measure some of the things like BMI, body fat, hydration etc?
    My understanding is that it passes a very slight electrical current through your feet and somehow measures the resistance and from there, calculates the water, fat, bone, muscle. Apparently someone developed some mathematical algorithms to do that with reasonable accuracy. I find on mine, however, that I get a better reading just after a shower. Maybe my feet are damp and it makes a better circuit.

    The technology is discussed in some of the ads. Seems legit.

    BMI is measurable because those scales actually ask your height. Obviously it knows your weight. :noway: It saves that in memory.
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    Couple of items of note, bathroom scales are not accurate on carpet (actually no digital scale is really). The location on the floor needs to be level, it really depends on that seriously, so if where it sits isn't level and isn't exactly the same place every time you will get a different weight. Many scales have the sensor on one side not both, so if you stand heavy on the sensor side you will get a different weight so try to stand the same each time with your weight well balanced. A bad battery will get you erratic readings (this one happened to me).
    When you shower you hydrate more than your hair, you hydrate your whole body, so weighing right after a shower will also weigh all the moisture still cliinging to you, that's why they say for body lotion to work it needs to be applied either in the shower right after you turn it off or within 3 minutes of leaving the shower. So yep, you will weigh more after a shower.

    BTW - I am a biologist and deal with balances very frequently so I am very familiar with their behavior.
  • CrazyDaisysMommy
    CrazyDaisysMommy Posts: 472
    Yes, and exorcism is in order. I eventually stopped recording my weight on here because I'd step on my scale and it would say that I've gained 6 pounds. Completely devastated, I logged it on MFP. Two days later, I lost 8 pounds. I didn't want to log it because I didn't want people to think that I've had an amazing weightloss when the only thing going on is that the bathroom floor is uneven. So back to the tape measure. It's the only thing I can trust.
  • Michele7091
    Michele7091 Posts: 256 Member
    This is why I only weigh once a week. The first thing I would do is stop weighing yourself so much. It KILLS me not to step on it every day but I fight that urge. And once I do weigh I will move it a bit and weight one more time just to make sure I am getting the same reading but after that I'm done. I step off and don't step back on for another week.

    I bought my scale at WalMart and I don't remember what brand it is off the top of my head but it saves the weight of two people. Before you step on it tells you want you weighed last week and then resets to zero for you to step on and weigh again. Then it'll tell you what your gain or loss is. I like it and so far I think its pretty accurate.

    But I do tend to agree that all scales are the devil!! :devil:
  • kyle4jem
    kyle4jem Posts: 1,400 Member
    I have digital scales and they are spot on. (I've tested them with free weights.:happy: )

    Weight does fluctuate from day to day (and sometimes from hour to hour) - that's life! :ohwell:

    Weighing once a week (or even every 2 weeks or monthly), at the same time on the same set of scales under the same circumstances is the best way to record your weight when on a weightloss program.

    I do weigh myself every morning, but I don't beat myself up if the scales move up or down, but I'm a bloke and don't have hormonal and water retention issues to deal with! :happy:

    I still only record my weight weekly although as I had a bit of a blip recently I did enter a mid-week weigh in (an then deleted the record) so that my next drop/gain will be recorded correctly.
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