Can the scale give you a false low reading?

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  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    After a heavy workout once you have depleted your glycogen from your muscles and if you havent had anything in your system...maybe!

    My body fluctuates up to 5lbs a day.

    Measure yourself and hide the scale except once a month.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Yes, if you're really dehydrated.
    For example, if it was a hot summer day, you sweated a lot but didn't drink much water, the day after you might see a lower number on the scale.
  • emeralds5668
    emeralds5668 Posts: 28
    While this is true that you do lose water through sweat, IME it's rarely significant, especially considering you retain water due to the muscle stimulation. I frequently weight more after a workout than I do before.

    Curious to see what others have to say about this.



    I actually stopped weighing myself after my workout because I weigh more.

    I just try to keep it to once a week, same time in morning BEFORE breakfast, and totally naked. Then my weight will be as low as possible! lmao. Call me crazy, but it make me feel better ;)


    [/quote]


    lol I do the same...but I weigh every morning
  • Nicola0000
    Nicola0000 Posts: 531 Member
    it can do as you can lose water. If you weigh yourself before and after a heavy workout, then the scale can change from loss of water through sweat. But this would only be water, not fat, so it would go back up again when hydrated.

    While this is true that you do lose water through sweat, IME it's rarely significant, especially considering you retain water due to the muscle stimulation. I frequently weight more after a workout than I do before.

    Curious to see what others have to say about this.

    My scales show a loss of about 3lb after Ive had a heavy horse riding lesson. Wish it was that easy!!
  • annie7hudds
    annie7hudds Posts: 199 Member
    IMO the real scale is the mirror. The scale can drive one crazy. I learned that when i first began dieting and exercising.

    :Like this !!
  • KristalDawnO
    KristalDawnO Posts: 154 Member
    Dehydration maybe.
  • peachNpunkin
    peachNpunkin Posts: 1,010 Member
    it can do as you can lose water. If you weigh yourself before and after a heavy workout, then the scale can change from loss of water through sweat. But this would only be water, not fat, so it would go back up again when hydrated.

    While this is true that you do lose water through sweat, IME it's rarely significant, especially considering you retain water due to the muscle stimulation. I frequently weight more after a workout than I do before.

    Curious to see what others have to say about this.

    I too gain after a workout.

    In all reality the best time to weigh is first thing when you wake up, after you void and before you drink anything. That is the best wt to go with.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    A scale cannot say you have less actual mass than you do. What is more likely is that the higher weight is due to actual fluid/stomach contents etc.

    If you are really truly 50kg of body mass for example a scale could not say you are 48kg. But it could say you are 51-52 if you are retaining fluids etc.

    Not sure that reads very clearly!
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    it can do as you can lose water. If you weigh yourself before and after a heavy workout, then the scale can change from loss of water through sweat. But this would only be water, not fat, so it would go back up again when hydrated.

    While this is true that you do lose water through sweat, IME it's rarely significant, especially considering you retain water due to the muscle stimulation. I frequently weight more after a workout than I do before.

    Curious to see what others have to say about this.

    I usually weigh about the same after a work out as well. I know in the past I have had days where I have gained 3 pounds overnight due to water retention from working out.

    My guess is that it is a legitimate reading, assuming you weigh in at the same time, in the same situation.
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    IMO the real scale is the mirror. The scale can drive one crazy. I learned that when i first began dieting and exercising.

    :Like this !!

    Agreed, I rarely weigh myself. I focus more on measurements, how my clothes fit and how I look in the mirror. I'm working on getting a 6 pack, not weighing nothing!
  • methodless
    methodless Posts: 62
    While this is true that you do lose water through sweat, IME it's rarely significant, especially considering you retain water due to the muscle stimulation. I frequently weight more after a workout than I do before.

    Curious to see what others have to say about this.

    My experience is the exact opposite. My weight at the end of the day after a workout with a meal still "in the system" and about 3/4 of a litre of water consumed during is usually 1 full pound (sometimes as many as 2) lower than my weight on a completely empty stomach

    That having been said, I've been going low carb, and because of my daily routine, my water retention level may be fluctuating just that much.
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