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traineo Community / Diet Plans / Reliable Home Scale
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K M
Fitness Guru
Posts: 392
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Oct 2006 17:06


Previously I had a 25 home scale from Sears. It worked great...

That is until, my potty training 2 year old wee'd all over it and fried the electronics.

So I went out and bought a fancy schmancy scale for $80 @ Bed,Bath& Beyond.. and I get a different ready each time I step on the thing. I can weight 3 times consecutively immediately after each other and get a range of 5 pounds.

It really sux to have an inconsistent scale.

Which reliable brand do you use?
Brandon Wood
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 160
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Oct 2006 17:39


I just bought a new scale from Costco (not sure of the exact brand). It seems to be pretty consistent, but I weight in around 4 pounds more than I did on my old scale


James Denham
traineo Regular
Posts: 60
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Oct 2006 22:30 - Edited by: logicslayer


This is the scale I have. And it is deadly accurate everytime I step on it. I got it from Walmart.
Michael Rowley
traineo Newbie
Posts: 7
Post History
 # Posted: 21 Oct 2006 17:34


I have a Taylor Scale. The weight is accurate, but I don't get the % of Body Fat. I weigh myself at the end of the day and my fat is 21%, go to bed, wake up, step on the scale and my fat is 23%.
Nikki Moris
traineo Newbie
Posts: 17
Post History
 # Posted: 22 Oct 2006 03:30


I gave up on trying to get a really reliable home scale and use the dead-on accurate one at my gym! It's given my friends and extra reason to push me to get to the gym! Plus, it means I don't go psycho and wegh myself 14 time sin a day after each glass of water, meal, bowel movement and so on.

I am tempted by James scale though, but do I have the self control?
James Denham
traineo Regular
Posts: 60
Post History
 # Posted: 22 Oct 2006 04:28


It's great it even tells you when your putting too much pressure to one side. I catch myself checking my wieght frequently but It gives me more motivation. I wiegh in every morning though.
NYCinephile .
Fitness Guru
Posts: 328
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2006 13:37


Have you taken a look at Consumer Reports's ratings of scales?

I can e-mail you the article if you can't access the link.
Ashley L
traineo Regular
Posts: 41
Post History
 # Posted: 27 Oct 2006 07:26


I like the girl who said she weighs herself at the gym! I weigh myself at work, (It's a height/weight room, like in a clinic and we have AN AWESOME scale that's accountable with every tenth of a pound.) I do have a home scale that I jump on in the morning, but I only use my work one for my EVERY FRIDAY weigh-in. I know it's accurate and doesn't fluctuate.
K M
Fitness Guru
Posts: 392
Post History
 # Posted: 30 Oct 2006 05:51


NY, please send me the article please... I will message you.
Kristina Kaschke
traineo Newbie
Posts: 2
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 # Posted: 4 Nov 2006 18:08


Can you send me the article too? Thanks!


Snakeophelia S
traineo Regular
Posts: 35
Post History
 # Posted: 4 Nov 2006 18:41


I'd like to receive the article as well. I'd really like to get an inexpensive basic but reliable scale for home. There is one at the gym at my office, but I rarely get the chance to go by there early in the day.
Joe Briefcase
traineo Regular
Posts: 49
Post History
 # Posted: 4 Nov 2006 20:15


My take has been that all scales are different. I tend to be about 3lbs heavier at the super duper high tech monster at my gym than I am on my home scale. And when I had a physical 2 weeks ago my doctor saw me at almost 10 over on his old fashhioned medical office scale.

I think the important thing is not weight anyway, but relative progress against your own measurements. So even if it's way off, continuing to see the same scale each day should pretty much represent your progress. If it is wrong by 5 one month, it's probably (more or less) wrong by pretty much the same 5 the next month. Not important... but how far you've come is.

I weigh first thing in the morning every day. I don't see much fluctuation. But there is often a big difference if I happen to get curious in the afternoon, no doubt part of why I get very different readings at the doctor or the gym. I consider that morning weigh in the real one, because that's what all my progress is based on, whether the number is the most accurate or not.
Shiny Penny
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 95
Post History
 # Posted: 4 Nov 2006 23:18


Quoting: Blueline
So I went out and bought a fancy schmancy scale for $80 @ Bed,Bath& Beyond.. and I get a different ready each time I step on the thing. I can weight 3 times consecutively immediately after each other and get a range of 5 pounds.

It really sux to have an inconsistent scale.


KM, it's very possible your previous scale had built-in repeatability. See this for more info:

"I've got a low-end digital scale and in an attempt to fake quality,
the manufacturer has built in artificial repeatability. If a
subsequent weighing is within about 2 lbs. of the preceding weighing
then the previously reported weight is re-displayed -- regardless of
how much time has passed. So a person loosing a steady .1 lbs a week
will show the same weight for 14 days and then suddenly loose two
pounds. I find that in order to get an accurate re-measure I have to
step on the scale holding a weight between each actual measurement.
Just a word of warning about using repeatability as an indicator of
quality." -- Ryan Brase


Scott L
traineo Newbie
Posts: 9
Post History
 # Posted: 5 Nov 2006 18:05


If you are serious about health and fitness the BC 533 does it all. I got it not to long ago and it does what it says. Check it out
NYCinephile .
Fitness Guru
Posts: 328
Post History
 # Posted: 6 Nov 2006 13:18


@all-
I'm happy to forward copies of the article. Feel free to contact me directly at nycinephiles(at)gmail(dot)com.

-David
Nathan P.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 498
Post History
 # Posted: 6 Nov 2006 15:35


Nat, You mentoined repeatabilit, and i tetsted my sclae like that, and jjust to test it I weighed myself before my workout, then came home weighed myself again (without tricking the scale) and it read the same, then I just put one foot on the scale and it read some 80 some lbs. then i got back on the scale and it read that I lost .2 lbs during my workout, so maybe my $30 scale has that, thanks for the heads up.
Shiny Penny
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 95
Post History
 # Posted: 6 Nov 2006 15:50


Quoting: PozzSka


Nat, You mentoined repeatabilit, and i tetsted my sclae like that, and jjust to test it I weighed myself before my workout, then came home weighed myself again (without tricking the scale) and it read the same, then I just put one foot on the scale and it read some 80 some lbs. then i got back on the scale and it read that I lost .2 lbs during my workout, so maybe my $30 scale has that, thanks for the heads up.


I was both surprised and annoyed to realize that scale manufacturers were trying to game us that way. I'd rather have a scale that fluctuates slightly, but which doesn't lie to me, than one that's "rock-solid" only due to its programming. My Tanita BC553 tends to vary by 0.2 lbs when I do my weekly weigh-ins. I think this probably falls with the acceptable rate of error, so I just weigh myself three times and write down whatever weight comes up two times out of three (it never gives me three different measurements during my three weigh-ins - just two).
Brian Wahl
traineo Newbie
Posts: 25
Post History
 # Posted: 6 Nov 2006 18:49


I use a Tanita scale. It measures weight in 0.2 increments, and is very accurate - or at least it gives the same measurement if you weigh multiple times. I'm not sure of the exact model - its one of the lower-end tanita scales. It definitely was not very expensive.

It also measures body-fat within in 0.5% increments. The measurement varies greatly with your level of hydration (more hydrated = less body-fat % on the scale), and I'm not sure how accurate it is, but the weight measurement is right on.

I'd recommend using calipers for body-fat measurement.
Nathan P.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 498
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2006 16:08


The other thing i've noticed with mine (does bodyfat % too) is that it sais that my feet should be damp when I measure body fat...if they're dry, my BF% really high, if they are slightly damp it's a little less, and if they are wet, it's really really low, like 9 % and i knowmy BF% isn't 9 or I would have a 6 pack. I'm going to buy a set of calipers, anywhere carry them on a regular basis? GNC? Target? i don't know where?
Jeremiah Utecht
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 190
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2006 20:00


I am 353 lbs (now) down from an all time peak of 375 lbs. so the number of scales that go that high are few and far between. I settled in on a mechanical scale from Sam's Club. I use it every morning. Is it accurate? I have no idea actually but it doesn't matter as long as I am able to chart my progress.
Brian Wahl
traineo Newbie
Posts: 25
Post History
 # Posted: 8 Nov 2006 08:01


Quoting: PozzSka
I'm going to buy a set of calipers, anywhere carry them on a regular basis?


I ordered a set from www.bodybuilding.com. Here's the link to the product.
Jamie Thingelstad
traineo Newbie
Posts: 11
Post History
 # Posted: 13 Dec 2006 13:50


Quoting: slaffer
If you are serious about health and fitness the BC 533 does it all. I got it not to long ago and it does what it says.


We are on our 3rd Tanita scale, currently we have a BC534 and I've been happy with it and all other Tanita scales.

On body fat, I don't trust scales for independent measurements but from my experience they are good for relative measurements as long as you use them in the same way. Same time of day. Same condition, etc. The manuals for the scale will recommend that.
Jennifer Lee
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 162
Post History
 # Posted: 14 Dec 2006 05:47 - Edited by: jently22


Hi Guys -

Not sure if you guys saw, but the traineo store actually carries a traineo branded Tanita BC550. Check out the details at: traineo Tanita BC550

I have this one and absolutely love it. It's simple to use and has all the features that I could possibly need, perhaps a few more - weight, body fat, bone mass, etc... Best part is, it's programmable so I can use it with my boyfriend and not have to "re-enter" our personal profile in each time.
Itadaki Mouse
Fitness Guru
Posts: 814
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Dec 2006 23:55


I love my Tanita scale too. They have been in the scale business for quite a long time, and also produce industrial grade devices. I forget my model, but it does bioelectic impedance body fat measurements.

Everything works perfectly, except that you have to measure your body fat consistently at the same time of day, under the same conditions (esp. conditions related to your body's hydration levels) to get consistent readings. Early evenings works best for me, but my morning readings are a full 2-3% more. I've compared with my gym's fat caliper measurements, and the evening readings are reliable.

In relation to NYCinephile's post about Consumer Reports -- check with your local library. Most state library systems give you access to Consumer Reports via a special access code they associate with your library card. New Jersey Camden, for example, I can positively vouch for.
kathleen h
traineo Newbie
Posts: 2
Post History
 # Posted: 26 Dec 2006 00:29


I have a weight/bodyfat scale from Health-o-Meter and it seems to be quite accurate weight-wise, but I don't know about the body-fat thing. I've heard you have to use calipers to get an accurate reading there. But this is my scale if you're interested.
NYCinephile .
Fitness Guru
Posts: 328
Post History
 # Posted: 27 Dec 2006 16:25


I'm happy to e-mail the Consumer Reports article to anyone who's comfortable sharing their e-mail address. Contact me via Traineo messaging or my gmail address.
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