Scale variations?

Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200

"RT" wrote in message
...
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog
scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?


All measuring devices are relative, and have some degree of error. Use
either one to track your progress, but use a mirror to see if you're at
goal.

There's a fair amount to go before I'll be happy with the mirror (if ever)
so I need something incremental to help out in the meantime. I get to use a
3rd scale this Friday when we have our contest weigh in, so I'll just
average the 3 out and use the relative on the digital from now on. According
to the Tanita, my BMI is 27, which gives me one more thing to work on ;-)


"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
om...
"RT" wrote in message
...
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and
it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog
scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love
the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?


All measuring devices are relative, and have some degree of error. Use
either one to track your progress, but use a mirror to see if you're at
goal.

"RT" wrote in message
...
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog
scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200

Hey you've just been given a present; take it and be grateful. :-)
Seriously what I think matters is first that you use a consistent scale,
second that you're happy with how you look and third your body fat
%..Absolute weight is not so important IMO.

JC Der Koenig wrote:

"RT" wrote:

Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new
scale and it shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset
the analog scale with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical
position as the Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of
course I love the lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?


All measuring devices are relative, and have some degree of error. Use
either one to track your progress, but use a mirror to see if you're at
goal.

what he said.

but i would also add that i have a tanita (not the same model as the OP,
i don't have the one that measures bodyfat) and it gives me the same
weight that my doctor's scale gives me. i think that the brand is
generally reliable.

"RT" wrote:

Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200

Take the change. Just focus on the progress on a single scale. You
consume more than 3-4 lbs a day, so 2 lbs variances ain't important in
the scheme of things.

I bought a tanita digital when I started Atkins to track (my old scale
didn't go high enough). It calibrates to 0 at startup wut inaccuracies
are going to be there. I would bet that the age of the mechanisms
increases inaccuracies.

DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email)
350/299/Apr-299/200
Atkins since Jan 12, 2004
OWL-50 carbs/day (CCLL=?)

Scales are rated by a percentage. A scale that is within 1% can be 3 pounds
off at 301.

The relative readings should be OK. Compare it to the scale at your
doctor's office to find out how accurate it is.

Doctors scales are pricey.

Cubit
308/255/165

"RT" wrote in message
...
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog
scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200

I don't like disappointing surprises when weighing in at the doctor's
office, so I calibrated my scale right after weighing myself with my
doctor's scale. I avoided doing anything which could affect my weight in
between (eating, drinking, bathroom, changing clothing, sweat, etc.). Error
due to non-linearity of my scale would then occur at weights above or below
mine. My scale is now accurate at my weight.

Any scale should be good enough to show weight changes from last time that
particular scale was used. Once your true weight is known, a "fudge factor"
can be added or subtracted from your scale's indicated weight.

"RT" wrote in message
...
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog
scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200

I tried out several digital bathroom scales at the local mall, and
found that the $40 to $50 scales were not very accurate. All of them
seemed to indicate a slightly different weight when I stepped on and
off of them repeatedly. They varied a lot between each other, and the
indicated weight varied a lot depending upon how my weight was
centered on the platform. I took home the Homedics SC-403, for $50,
which seemed the best. But I ended up returning it after two weeks
for all of the above reasons. Plus it consistently weighed about 2
pounds too heavy, and the factory said there was no solution to that.

Then I ordered a Soehnle model Zeta from Amazon.com for $99 and it is
great! As near as I can tell, it reads well within 1/2 pound, or
better, of my true weight, and it reads the same every time. In 15
successive weighings it reads exactly the same, to 1/10 of a pound, no
matter vary the distribution of my weight on the platform. Even
standing on one edge of the platform on one foot, it reads exactly the
same. The display is large enough to read in the morning without my
glasses, the platform and base are glass, and the scale looks good. A
nice bonus is that it will weight light objects with great accuracy.
A carefully measured gallon of water in a plastic milk jug indicates
8.4 pounds, which is exactly correct. This is kind of nice if you
ever need the weight of a box for shipping, or to weigh any other
light object. This scale costs twice as much, but it sure seems to be
a fine piece of German engineering for home use.

John

"RT" wrote in message . ..
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200

"John" wrote in message
om...
I tried out several digital bathroom scales at the local mall, and
found that the $40 to $50 scales were not very accurate. All of them
seemed to indicate a slightly different weight when I stepped on and
off of them repeatedly. They varied a lot between each other, and the
indicated weight varied a lot depending upon how my weight was
centered on the platform. I took home the Homedics SC-403, for $50,
which seemed the best. But I ended up returning it after two weeks
for all of the above reasons. Plus it consistently weighed about 2
pounds too heavy, and the factory said there was no solution to that.

Then I ordered a Soehnle model Zeta from Amazon.com for $99 and it is
great! As near as I can tell, it reads well within 1/2 pound, or
better, of my true weight, and it reads the same every time. In 15
successive weighings it reads exactly the same, to 1/10 of a pound, no
matter vary the distribution of my weight on the platform. Even
standing on one edge of the platform on one foot, it reads exactly the
same. The display is large enough to read in the morning without my
glasses, the platform and base are glass, and the scale looks good. A
nice bonus is that it will weight light objects with great accuracy.
A carefully measured gallon of water in a plastic milk jug indicates
8.4 pounds, which is exactly correct. This is kind of nice if you
ever need the weight of a box for shipping, or to weigh any other
light object. This scale costs twice as much, but it sure seems to be
a fine piece of German engineering for home use.

That's a good looking scale, and according to the manufacturer it is
accurate to 0.1 lbs (50 g). Good report too...perhaps you could post a
review on the Amazon site. Here's a link: to the scale on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...astasoftwar-20

BTW - the Tanita scales mentioned in the original post were recently rated
well by Consumer Reports for their scale accuracy and repeatability (less so
for the body fat interpretations).

GG


John

"RT" wrote in message
. ..
Well I finally went and got a spiffy Tanita today, to retire my aging
analog
scale. Well, imagine my surprise when I jumped up on the new scale and
it
shows me at approx 3lbs less than the analog scale. I reset the analog
scale
with the dial and tried it again (in the same physical position as the
Tanita, etc) and the difference is still about 2lbs. Of course I love
the
lower figure, but I want to be accurate :-)

Any opinions on how trustworthy either scale/method is?

Richard
247/218 or 215/200