Weighing scales.

[becky3344]

Hi.

I've always used analog scales all my life. Today arrived some digital scales; ACTIVE ERA MODEL -BS-03 which i decided to buy. As i read good customer reviews on it, and someone said Slimming World uses Active Era scales to weigh members on.

I stepped on them, and i was unpleasantly surprised that they read different to the analog scales.

The difference between them was 1 and half lbs.

The digital reading being the heaviest.

I'm reluctantly thinking the digital scales might be the most accurate?

I read recently that analog scales loose their accuracy over time. And mine have been in the bathroom many years.

Should i recycle the analog scales, and stick only to the digital ones? Or is it worth keeping them. I'm thinking it's probably not.

Any thoughts, on this matter would be welcomed.

And what scales do you use, and do you have a preference and why?

I always liked analog, seemed less likely to break down, and you don't have to worry about more things going wrong as with digital scales i thought.

Any thoughts please share.

Becky

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

All scales will weigh slightly differently, Becky, whether they're analogue, or digital. 1.5lbs is actually a very tiny difference, when I changed mine, there was a 7lb difference!

I suspect your old scales are past their best, making it a pointless exercise to recycle, or save. I've had my digital scales for over 3 years now and apart from 1 new battery, they've been great and are much more accurate than my old analogue scales. However, in the end, the choice is yours

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to moreless]

Thanks moreless for your thoughts. 7lbs difference is huge isn't it, half a stone!

Maybe i'll keep hold of them a bit longer.

Would you never go back to analogue again, after using digital scales?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to becky3344]

I would always stick to digital now, it's more precise

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to moreless]

Yes i can see they look more precise and so much easier to read looking down. How do you know they are more accurate?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to becky3344]

Here's how I see it, Becky, is half a pound here or there going to make any difference at all? It's just a number. The most important things are your health and well-being

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to moreless]

Yes i see that's how you see numbers, i am aware though that my health and well-being is most important. I don't want to be get ill from over doing it.

As i said they aren't just numbers to me, maybe to you, they just show me how i'm doing and if i need to adjust my food intake. I weigh myself once a week, so i think i'm doing alright.

But thanks for your concern. I understand it can be a dangerous past time being obsessed with weight and what you do to get to where you want to go, and how it can affect you for the worse; with disorders.

[docmar 1st 7lbs]

I had the same problm too becky3344 but my new digital scales weighed 2kg heavier! I weighed myself on my old analogue scales alongside the digital ones for several months to make sure the difference was consistent. I was weighed in hospital fairly recently (obviously fully clothed, unlike at home ) and came up about the same as my digital scales. So I know my 'actual' weight is probably a little lower than I'm recording

But all I'm doing really is recording a weight loss (or gain or STS) to track what's happening to my weight so overall I'm not too bothered about a few pounds difference. Otherwise you'd need to have the scales calibrated if you want them totally accurate. I suspect this will cost more than the scales are worth. Personally I'll basically go for when I feel fit and healthy at a particular weight i.e. non-scale indications. As moreless says, it's your choice what you do with the data! (or scales!)

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to docmar]

Hi docmar. Glad i'm not the only one with this situation.

So have you come to the conclusion your digital scales read higher than your true weight? Or are you still confused, and don't really know which scales if any are really accurate.

Yes i'm looking and am recording a weight loss or gain or STS too, like most of us i guess.

At the moment a few pounds means alot to me.. I'm not used to reducing calories, i was going to say dieting, then changed my mind.

I wouldn't even know who you need to ask who could calibrate bathroom scales. Yes it wouldn't be worth it, for the cost of the scales.

Weighing for me is a good indication of my weeks eating and exercise, so it's helpful to know and see if there is a slowing down or gaining, or losing of course. And then being able to try and adjust my eating to fit into what i think is right.

Thanks for your message.

[docmar 1st 7lbs in reply to becky3344]

I'd like to think that the digital scales are reading very slightly high, but probably not enough for me to get conniptions over it. However, my "true" weight really only matters if I want to classify my BMI as overweight/obese/normal, where a couple of pounds might tip me into a different category.

At the moment there's no problem with that happening so I'll wait until it's close. I guess if my scales are reading a bit high it will just delay any reclassification by a little while.

since moving permanently to digital scales readings I just 'reset' my weight and look at the weight loss/gain/STS.

[SewMore Restart August 2024]

I agree, the weight tracking is most relevant “to the week before” rather than to your absolute weight. Which certainly changes based on time of day etc.

I recommend weighing-in at same time on same day in same room on same (digital or analog) scales. Perhaps the analog ones mechanics have slowly worn out over time?

Don’t forget to also measure yourself with a tape measure to track those inch losses too.

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to SewMore]

Hi Sarah.

Yes i agree, i've been weighing myself on the same day of the week at around about the same time, in the same spot with the same amount of clothes on.

How do you know if your analogue scales aren't calibrating good enough anymore? I don't know.

Yes i do measure around my belly at the same time of weighing. It's a good indication to how much fat i'm losing around my middle.

I hope your journey is going well.

[SewMore Restart August 2024 in reply to becky3344]

Perhaps try a mini experiment. Like maybe try to weigh you plus a (full) kilo bag of flour on it??? Plus one of sugar—- or hold it in each hand. Then you can see if scales are going up and down as you would expect?

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to SewMore]

That's a great idea. I just tried it. Interesting results. .Weighed myself with less clothes on and reading from A (Analogue) and D (Digital); A was 1 lb heavier, but i soon noticed by weighing myself in different areas of various hard floors, the reading changed quite abit on the D, and not on the A scales.

Difference ranging from 1lb to 1.5lbs on D scales moving it around on different hard floors. No difference on A scales reading moving it around on different floors.

Weighed me with flour on scales, difference between A and D was reading 1lbs 6ozs more on D scales.

Just sugar and me difference was 1lb 15ozs with D scales heavier than A scales.

For both me and flour and sugar the difference was 3 lbs 6ozs heavier on D scales than A scales which i think is alot.

So interesting little test, is slightly making me feel the Analogue scales stay the same reading where ever you put them on a hard floor. But the Digital scales, don't keep a same reading when i weigh myself on different hard floors.

So on my weigh day i will weigh myself using both scales out of interest and monitor the varying readings. I weighed my cat for the first time. 7 lbs.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to becky3344]

It seems to me you're giving yourself far too much extra angst about this. Just ditch the old scales and work from the new ones. You are the same person whatever scales you're standing on and your way forward will be the same, too

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to BridgeGirl]

Why are you giving me a hard time, am i annoying you?

I thought this is a friendly place where people can share there thoughts without being criticized.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to becky3344]

I didn't intend to upset you. I just think, as I say, that your aim is to develop a healthy diet and lose weight along the way, and that doesn't depend on your scales. You'll know when you're making progress in so many ways.

Good luck

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thanks. Sorry for over reacting. I'm going though peri-menopause, and it's affecting me in various ways i'm not used to. Reading your reply again it doesn't seem that bad.

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs in reply to becky3344]

Becky, I don’t think BridgeGirl was giving you a hard time, just sound advice - i.e. don’t worry so much about the difference between one set of scales or the other, Just track how much you lose from one week to the next. Weight can go up and down during the day by far more than that amount anyway. Just choose which scale and then continue on it for consistency. Hopefully over time, losing weight and inches, that possible 1lb difference will seem insignificant.

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to PandQs]

Yes, i track what i eat with loseit.com. I decided to weigh myself on both scales each week, and record the analogue reading. I weighed myself saturday, slightly disappointed, weighed myself this morning, and it's gone down a 1.7 lbs. As i feel lighter i thought i would try it. I'm just getting used to this weighing lark, and understanding about weight loss. and feeling like we are all in together trying to lose weight.

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs in reply to becky3344]

Well you’ve lost 7lbs - to me saying half a stone sounds even more I guess a lot of the battle is in our heads, looking impatiently for results that prove we’ve achieved. I’ve had times where I’ve stayed the same weight, and that’s when the “nsv” non scale victories become important- a waistband feeling looser, someone noticing the change, not getting puffed out going upstairs etc. Keep going :))

[SewMore Restart August 2024 in reply to becky3344]

Hi Becky,

Your experiments sounded fun! I hope that on both scales a pound of flour was a pound? Pick a scales and a location and you will be fine. I always do it naked on a bathroom floor. Ahem. Weigh myself that is.

You will also be able to quantify loss with the tape measure. But a pair of jeans is also fine as a guide. They will get looser!

Cheers,

Sarah

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to SewMore]

No i used sainsburys wholemeal bread mix flour packet weighing 500grams,

You made me laugh.

Yeah i use the tape measure around my belly once a week. Yes i find its a good indication how much im losing of belly/menopause fat/ and water initially. it's gone down quite a bit, which is great to see. agreed if i can get into a smaller pair of jeans i usually know somethings working. And your belt going up a notch another good tell tell sign.

[cheritorrox in reply to becky3344]

Mine's more like 7 kilos!!

[cheritorrox in reply to SewMore]

shouldn't have either of those in the house!

[SewMore Restart August 2024 in reply to cheritorrox]

Aha, you mean flour and sugar? Or scales and tape measure? A liter of water, but not sure about weight of measuring jug....

[cheritorrox in reply to SewMore]

the flour & sugar! (Mind you their OK if unopened I guess!!)

[S11m]

I use SECA analogue scales - the same as most doctor surgery scales... so they should last forever.

The weight they record does depend slightly on where I stand on them.

[becky3344 2 stone in reply to S11m]

Interesting, thanks for replying. I looked on Ebay at them, they do look robust and sturdy. Good if GP's use them on their patients in their rooms. Good indication?! Thanks.

[9stoneandcounting]

I use these ones. I find I get really consistent measurements (doesn’t change at all depending on the location of my bathroom floor and I get virtually no fluctuation beyond the normal monthly up and down. Plus they always seem to give the same result as my GPS scales.

amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00JGT...

[cheritorrox]

Of course we could all really confuse ourselves by getting ones which say they measure body fat, water etc - but lots of people say they're notoriously unreliable so don't take that as advice!