Weighing yourself

[Miranda&James 8]

Ok, I've recently been trying to lose weight and have thusfar been pretty succesful in my attempts, maybe even more succesful than I should be. When I told James how much I lost he didn't think it was right (too much weight in too short a time period). I kind of thought the same thing but hey, it's exciting to see the scale go down a bunch. My question is this, do you guys think it's possible for a scale to show a number that is too low? I weigh myself in the morning (I read this was best) without clothes to interfere. I know that the scale could be too high because of food in your stomach, etc, but it doesn't seem likely that it's too low unless maybe you're severely dehydrated and will balloon up the second you have some water (which I don't think I am). What do you guys think?

[jordanianprincess 0]

In the beginning of a diet you tend lost alot of water weight. That could be why the scale is showing such a high loss. If you resume your normal eating habits the water weight will come right back on.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Yes, it is possible for a scale to show too low--there are several factors affecting the accuracy.

One of these is the condition of the spring (the one under where you stand on the scale). You need to check the scale with something of absolutely-known weight (such as three unopened bags of rice).

Edited October 3, 2006 by CherryXS

[Lou Lou 1]

As long as you keep weighing at the same time, in the same conditions, it's pretty likely that your scale will show an accurate weight loss, but not neccesarily an accurate weight. I focus on the amount I am losing/have lost, rather than what I actually weigh. And even more important I focus on what size I am. Measurements are far more accurate than any scale to track your progress, especially if you exercise.

[rclouse 0]

In the beginning of a diet you tend lost alot of water weight. That could be why the scale is showing such a high loss. If you resume your normal eating habits the water weight will come right back on.

Yup, that's right.

If you have successfully begun a calorie deficit diet (burning more calories than you consume) your body will first use calories that are stored in your muscles before going to the calories in the fat. Those calories are in solution, so when they're used you lose water weight and thus you quickly lose 4-5 pounds the first week. That's how all those "lose 5 pounds in just one week" diets work: they basically dehydrate you, but as soon as you go back on your normal diet it all comes back.

Record your weight each day and look for cheanges week by week. That is the true measure of whether you're gaining, losing, or staying the same.

[Miranda&James 8]

As long as you keep weighing at the same time, in the same conditions, it's pretty likely that your scale will show an accurate weight loss, but not neccesarily an accurate weight. I focus on the amount I am losing/have lost, rather than what I actually weigh. And even more important I focus on what size I am. Measurements are far more accurate than any scale to track your progress, especially if you exercise.

Yeah, I used the same scale at the same time of day. I know the actual weight might not be that important so I too focus on the amount lost, not the number.

About the water weight thing, I did lapse for a week or so and ate way too many bad foods, but I didn't really gain much weight back at all (maybe a couple of pounds) and those have disappeared pretty quickly. I know in the long run things will even out though, I was just curious!

Oh, and I've been doing this for a couple months, so it's not like I'm only in the first week and so far a steady weight loss has happened, just more than I'd expect! I do know though that the heavier you are the more you will lose at first when you reduce calories since your BMR is higher with higher weights.

Edited October 3, 2006 by JamesMiranda