kes1321
03-19-2006, 02:01 PM
My scales and the scales at the gym used to match up perfectly... Until I dropped below the 200 lb mark last week. When I weight like right on 200 lbs, the one at the gym would always weigh too heavy if I put the bottom weight on 200, and too light if I put the bottom one on 150 and the top one on 50 (which should be 200, right?)... Does this mean it's wrong?
I did my 'official' weigh ins this morning, my scale says I've lost about 2.5 lbs this week, the one at the gym says I'm about the same as last week! Which one do I believe???
My scale is digital... how reliable are they versus the ones with sliding weights at the gym?
I did my 'official' weigh ins this morning, my scale says I've lost about 2.5 lbs this week, the one at the gym says I'm about the same as last week! Which one do I believe???
My scale is digital... how reliable are they versus the ones with sliding weights at the gym?
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kehorner
03-19-2006, 02:12 PM
I agree that scales are stupid. I have a horrible habit of weighing myself every day. So I visited my parents for a week, and over the course of the week their scale said that I lost 2 pounds. I drove back home to my house and weighed myself there, and my scale showed a net gain of 3 pounds for the week. Now, I understand that their scale might not agree with my scale in exact weight, but shouldn't they both agree about whether I'm gaining or losing???? And no, I don't think that I gained 5 pounds on the 1 hour drive back to my house....
kes1321
03-19-2006, 02:19 PM
I agree that scales are stupid. I have a horrible habit of weighing myself every day. So I visited my parents for a week, and over the course of the week their scale said that I lost 2 pounds. I drove back home to my house and weighed myself there, and my scale showed a net gain of 3 pounds for the week. Now, I understand that their scale might not agree with my scale in exact weight, but shouldn't they both agree about whether I'm gaining or losing???? And no, I don't think that I gained 5 pounds on the 1 hour drive back to my house....
Mine USED to agree with eachother perfectly. It's just since I droped below the 200 lbs mark and had to move the big weight on the one at the gym to 150 lbs that they don't anymore...
I'm thinking of just sticking with mine at home, and not using the one at the gym... The whole 200 not equallying 150 + 50 thing bothers me... If I stick with mine it should at least be consistent, right?
Mine USED to agree with eachother perfectly. It's just since I droped below the 200 lbs mark and had to move the big weight on the one at the gym to 150 lbs that they don't anymore...
I'm thinking of just sticking with mine at home, and not using the one at the gym... The whole 200 not equallying 150 + 50 thing bothers me... If I stick with mine it should at least be consistent, right?
Bee21
03-19-2006, 07:07 PM
Pick one scale to stick with...even if it isnt your "true" weight it will be consistent. If that scale goes down then you are losing weight...even if it isnt 100% accurate of your weight...it is still accurate in the sense of gaining/losing weight?
LOL...does that make sense?
LOL...does that make sense?
Lenin
03-19-2006, 09:48 PM
I thought MY gym was the only one with the "missing" 200...actually 199-201 disappears. The 200 pound slid to the left shows I'm lighter than 200 and the 150 with the sider all the way to the right...shows I'm heavier than 200.
ONCE you get your digital calibrated properly, it is as good as the double balance scale. Problem is lots of the newer ones aren't calibratable and if you buy a bad one all you can do is toss it.
IF you have a calibratable scale, a good way to dial it in perfectly is to pile on 100 pounds of weight plates and set the scale to read exactly 100. (You may have to look hard for the calibrating dial...once set, NEVER touch it.
ONCE you get your digital calibrated properly, it is as good as the double balance scale. Problem is lots of the newer ones aren't calibratable and if you buy a bad one all you can do is toss it.
IF you have a calibratable scale, a good way to dial it in perfectly is to pile on 100 pounds of weight plates and set the scale to read exactly 100. (You may have to look hard for the calibrating dial...once set, NEVER touch it.
kes1321
03-19-2006, 10:00 PM
I did something kind of like this a while ago...
I have two 5 lbs weights, and I weighed myself holding those, and not holding them on my digital scale. The difference was almost exactly 10 lbs... Does this mean the scale's calibrated?
I have two 5 lbs weights, and I weighed myself holding those, and not holding them on my digital scale. The difference was almost exactly 10 lbs... Does this mean the scale's calibrated?
Lexi4529
03-19-2006, 10:04 PM
My scales and the scales at the gym used to match up perfectly... Until I dropped below the 200 lb mark last week. When I weight like right on 200 lbs, the one at the gym would always weigh too heavy if I put the bottom weight on 200, and too light if I put the bottom one on 150 and the top one on 50 (which should be 200, right?)... Does this mean it's wrong?
I did my 'official' weigh ins this morning, my scale says I've lost about 2.5 lbs this week, the one at the gym says I'm about the same as last week! Which one do I believe???
My scale is digital... how reliable are they versus the ones with sliding weights at the gym?
Get a five-pound bag of sugar from the grocery store and place it on your scale.
Then you'll see how reliable your scale is.
I did my 'official' weigh ins this morning, my scale says I've lost about 2.5 lbs this week, the one at the gym says I'm about the same as last week! Which one do I believe???
My scale is digital... how reliable are they versus the ones with sliding weights at the gym?
Get a five-pound bag of sugar from the grocery store and place it on your scale.
Then you'll see how reliable your scale is.
kehorner
03-20-2006, 12:32 AM
A five pound weight may not activate a digital scale. My cats walk on the scale all the time and it doesn't turn on. There's some threshold weight that they are set at. Best to go with a heavier weight.
kes1321
03-20-2006, 08:38 AM
A five pound weight may not activate a digital scale. My cats walk on the scale all the time and it doesn't turn on. There's some threshold weight that they are set at. Best to go with a heavier weight.
I found that the 5 lbs don't - but if I weigh myself holding them, then without them, the difference is almost exactly 10 lbs. So I think it's working fine?
I found that the 5 lbs don't - but if I weigh myself holding them, then without them, the difference is almost exactly 10 lbs. So I think it's working fine?
Lenin
03-20-2006, 08:58 AM
No, that 5 pound difference is NOT good enough to calibrate with, even by using the difference. A small error that you can't see in a 5 pounds measurement makes for a HUGE error in 50, or in 200. If the 5 pound measurement is off is off by an invisible 2 ounces, a 200 pound measurement might be off by 80 ounces (40 times as much)...or 5 pounds.
Ideally you want standardizing weights that are close to your actual weight!
If you trust your doctor and he says he's calibrated HIS scale lately, you can use it to compare and set yours.
But remember, even a wonky scale will show if you've lost weight over a week.
Ideally you want standardizing weights that are close to your actual weight!
If you trust your doctor and he says he's calibrated HIS scale lately, you can use it to compare and set yours.
But remember, even a wonky scale will show if you've lost weight over a week.