whats with all the weight scales giving me different results?

[jjyiz28]

i try a scale in the main gym area, and it reads 174lbs, then i go over to the mens room right after and there is another scale there but it reads me as 171. i try different scales from different gyms, and doctor offices, and they all give me different weights, and i know i don't fluctuate my weight like crazy like that. my parents has this digital scale that they bought for $80, seems pretty high scale, and it reads me as 167 when 2 hours ago i weighted myself at my gym and it read 173.

anyways, is the digital scale more accurate?? the other scales are the ones that you move the weight, by 50lbs on then use the smaller slider, of course these are not the same type of scales that boxing professionals use where they use real weights, etc...

 

[hjo3]

Everyone knows all scales are perfectly calibrated at all times. The only possible answer is that your mass is changing between weighings. I propose we seek a government grant to investigate the matter. This could revolutionize the field of physics as we know it.

 

[jjyiz28]

my question remains, is the digital scale my parents bought more accurate than the slider scales in teh gym??

 

[hjo3]

There's no way to know unless you use both scales to measure something of a known weight. (Or, preferably, several things of different verified weights.)

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
i try a scale in the main gym area, and it reads 174lbs, then i go over to the mens room right after and there is another scale there but it reads me as 171. i try different scales from different gyms, and doctor offices, and they all give me different weights, and i know i don't fluctuate my weight like crazy like that. my parents has this digital scale that they bought for $80, seems pretty high scale, and it reads me as 167 when 2 hours ago i weighted myself at my gym and it read 173.

anyways, is the digital scale more accurate?? the other scales are the ones that you move the weight, by 50lbs on then use the smaller slider, of course these are not the same type of scales that boxing professionals use where they use real weights, etc...

:roll:

Using different devices that are calibrated differently will yield different results. Duh...

It's not rocket science. Your parent's scale isn't any more accurate than the other scales are. If you want consistancy just use one scale. It might not be 100% accurate but it will be consistent.

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
my question remains, is the digital scale my parents bought more accurate than the slider scales in teh gym??

A digital scale still relies on mechanical components.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
my question remains, is the digital scale my parents bought more accurate than the slider scales in teh gym??

A CHEAP digital scale still relies on CHEAP components.

FIXED

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
my question remains, is the digital scale my parents bought more accurate than the slider scales in teh gym??

A CHEAP digital scale still relies on CHEAP components.

FIXED

That's true for almost any product.

 

[moshquerade]

the scale always reads higher at the doctor's office.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
the scale always reads higher at the doctor's office.

Hit(nail,head);

 

[MixMasterTang]

What is your obsession with weighing yourself at every scale you see? You should just choose one scale and use it all of the time to track any weight loss or weight gain.

 

[xtknight]

Your weight can vary if you take it at different times as well, due to water I believe. The most obvious explanation for that much variation is lack of proper calibration on some of the weight scales.

 

[jjyiz28]

i just want to know my true weight thats all. i've been eating better, running, and lifting, while decreasing cigareetes, and using the same scale at my gym, i've gone down from around 188 to 174. my strength increased slightly during that time, so i know it was mostly if not all fat. plus my jeans that were tight on my waist before, fit like a charm.

just want to know my true weight.

 

[Alone]

Next time you're at the gym, grab one of the weights and toss it on there and see if it weighs out properly.

 

[gordita]

Originally posted by: Alone
Next time you're at the gym, grab one of the weights and toss it on there and see if it weighs out properly.

hahaha.....just saw this today morning at the gym...
it was a really skinny woman doing this and the whole thing just loooked so funny....bcoz she had a 5lb dumbbell and after weighing one, she put the other one on the scale implying one weighed heavier than the other

no offense to anyone..

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Alone
Next time you're at the gym, grab one of the weights and toss it on there and see if it weighs out properly.

that doesn't quite work because dumbells, or those plates differ in weight by up to 5lbs. even the ones that are the same brand and model.

 

[mercanucaribe]

The scales with the sliding weights should be more accurate.

 

[Jeff7]

Alright, you've got weights of 174, 171, 167, and 173. Average is 171.25.
The farthest off from that are 174 and 167, a difference of 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively.
Now those scales probably have a range of up to at least 300lbs. The higher the range, the more expensive the components have to be to maintain accuracy.

Look at shipping scales on eBay. Plenty of them are accurate to at least 0.5oz, if not better. Look at their price versus their maximum range - 36lbs, 50lbs, 5lbs. Not very much capacity, but they still cost $15 or more. With only a ~40lb capacity, they can afford to have decent accuracy. Pay the same amount for a scale that can handle 300lbs, and you're sacrificing accuracy for capacity.

You see this too with commercial versus consumer-grade appliances. Something commercial grade is made to tighter tolerances, and is made to work for a long time. Tighter tolerances mean that manufacturing the parts will be more expensive. Consumer grade things have lighter tolerances, are cheaper to make, and won't last as long. The reasons for this are twofold: 1) Commercial things get used continuously. A coffee shop will be making coffee nonstop, versus a household one that gets used once a day. The commercial appliance must be able to withstand this. 2) Profits - if a manufacturer wants to land a contract to sell 10,000 units to another business, they'd better be good, otherwise the manufacturer loses out on profit from 10,000 units. That's a big problem. If the consumer grade product fails, the manufacturer gets one pissed off customer. Loss of sales: 1 unit.

So, with your scale: cost, accuracy, capacity - reduce one, and something else will have to suffer for it.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
my question remains, is the digital scale my parents bought more accurate than the slider scales in teh gym??

The "slider" scales I've seen at gyms usually have a "last calibrated on... " sticker on them.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28
i just want to know my true weight thats all. i've been eating better, running, and lifting, while decreasing cigareetes, and using the same scale at my gym, i've gone down from around 188 to 174. my strength increased slightly during that time, so i know it was mostly if not all fat. plus my jeans that were tight on my waist before, fit like a charm.

just want to know my true weight.

You don't really care what your true weight is. You care how you're progressing. So just use the same scale, at the same time of the day (preferably once you wake up, after using the bathroom) to track your weight loss/gain.

 

[RossGr]

Looks like you weigh 170 +/- 3

I don't think most scales are much better then about 5% any way. You get the best results if you can get a calibration at or near the weight you will be measuring.

 

[jiggahertz]

Also, BF % is a better indicator than weight.

 

[DrPizza]

Don't forget, Earth's gravitational field varies, depending on the location. Also, since F=Gmm/r^2, when you're on an upper floor, you're farther from the center of the earth, and thus, weigh less.

 

[xgsound]

The only way to determine scale accuracy is to apply real (expensive) test weights. If the scale has been tested there should be an inspection sticker that shows the date tested. Personnel scales should work to within 1/2 pound at 50% capacity, and 1 pound at capacity. Smaller graduations than this are mostly wishful thinking below the $300 mark, even when new.

It is uncommon for anyone to test personnel scales unless they are used for offical events or there is some legal requirement.

The old style beam scales with sliding weights are surprisingly accurate as long as the beam slots aren't worn deeply.

To plot your progress, pick one scale and it will show how you're doing, even if the actual weight shown is a little incorrect. Try at the same time of day if you can because body weight changes up to 2 pounds thru the day.

My favorite cartoon on the subject of weight is one stewardess (old cartoon) saying to the other, "Don't get on that (scale) , it makes you cry."

Jim

 

[mugs]

I think the slider scale at the gym should be more accurate if it is calibrated properly. I wouldn't assume your parents' scale is more accurate.

Who really cares though? Your weight is just a number. Look in the mirror. That's what people see, not a number.