Sudden weight gain confusion

A few thoughts:

* Women gain water weight monthly; having that coincide with another
reason for water gain (or scale oddness) may cause the drastic
numbers.

* Size doesn't always predict water gain from glycogen, as glycogen is
more affected by muscle mass, liver size, and depletion.

* This is why I don't trust electronic or spring-based scales ;-)

* I can bounce many pounds per day from water retention changes.
That's why I graph my weight daily and only worry about the long
term trends.

To calibrate a scale:

Weigh both one and two known weights on the scale, verify they give
the proper numbers.

Weigh yourself with and without a known weight, verify that the
difference is correct.

Ignoramus19234 wrote:
In a matter of 2-3 days, I gained about 4 lbs. (my middle number in
my
sig is the average of the last 7 measurements and is slow to reflect
such changes). In the last 3 weeks or so, my wife gained about,
drumroll, 13-15 lbs.

We both were quite upset at this development and are now walking to
train together (5 miles per day), I am trying to be more mindful
about
what I eat, etc. (I will become stricter if this issue does not get
resolved).

I am somewhat incredulous about this, as, first, my wife is
relatively
small and her gain would be more apparent than it is. Second, we did
not do anything special to gain so much weight, although everything
is
possible. It's not like she or I were binging on ice cream or cakes.

There is a hypothesis that the scale is bad, but, on the other hand,
if the scale was the culprit, how come it shows only 4-5 lbs gain for
me and whole 15 lbs gain for her. Besides, I replaced a battery in
the
scale.

At walmart yesterday, I experimented with several analog scales that
they had for sale, again getting inconsistent numbers (these analog
scales are junk), but mostly lower than what my home scale showed.

We also have an analog scale at home, also complete trash (I use it
mostly to weigh heavy things that I sell on ebay), it shows a smaller
weight gain for me (1-2 lbs, which could be understandable). We'll
see
if you wife's weight change is really 15 lbs or not, tonight.

It is also quite possible that our weight gains are real.

I am curious if anyone has any experience with that stuff or any
suggestions on how to check scales.

I have some weights on my barbell that I could try to weigh on the
scale. The barbell is approximately my body weight.

Could be that the strain guage has gone bad or an environmental change
has occurred. Has the scale been moved to a colder or warmer location
as temperature can affect the accuracy of the strain gauge?

Ignoramus19234 wrote:
:: In a matter of 2-3 days, I gained about 4 lbs. (my middle number in
:: my sig is the average of the last 7 measurements and is slow to
:: reflect such changes). In the last 3 weeks or so, my wife gained
:: about, drumroll, 13-15 lbs.

How do you know the analog scales are trash and the digital one isn't? The
display of a number is not really what counts.

I would weigh one or some of the plates you have on your barbell and not try
to put the entire barbell on the scale.

Could some of your weight gain be water weight? The change for you could
indeed be water weight under the right conditions, but 15 lbs in 3 weeks
seems like a lot of weight gain to me. So your numbers don't bother me but
those of your wife seem really strange. Do her clothes fit tighter? She
certainly should notice that amount of weight gain in how her clothes fit.

"Ignoramus19234" wrote in message
...
In a matter of 2-3 days, I gained about 4 lbs. (my middle number in my
sig is the average of the last 7 measurements and is slow to reflect
such changes). In the last 3 weeks or so, my wife gained about,
drumroll, 13-15 lbs.

Has she gone up a pant size or 2? Also, a 15 lb gain on a smaller frame
in a short time would be hard not to notice.


We both were quite upset at this development and are now walking to
train together (5 miles per day), I am trying to be more mindful about
what I eat, etc. (I will become stricter if this issue does not get
resolved).

I am somewhat incredulous about this, as, first, my wife is relatively
small and her gain would be more apparent than it is. Second, we did
not do anything special to gain so much weight, although everything is
possible. It's not like she or I were binging on ice cream or cakes.

Higher salt intake by adding a new food?


There is a hypothesis that the scale is bad, but, on the other hand,
if the scale was the culprit, how come it shows only 4-5 lbs gain for
me and whole 15 lbs gain for her. Besides, I replaced a battery in the
scale.

We had a digital scale about 2 years ago that suddenly would not read the
same measurement. Each time I went on it (within seconds of each other), the
scale was either down 5lbs, or up 5lbs. An analog scale seems more accurate
to me. It could still be out by 2 lbs, but it is usually consistent over all
ranges.


At walmart yesterday, I experimented with several analog scales that
they had for sale, again getting inconsistent numbers (these analog
scales are junk), but mostly lower than what my home scale showed.

When I bought our new digital, I weighed at work first on a beam scale,
and then bought the one that read closest to that one.


We also have an analog scale at home, also complete trash (I use it
mostly to weigh heavy things that I sell on ebay), it shows a smaller
weight gain for me (1-2 lbs, which could be understandable). We'll see
if you wife's weight change is really 15 lbs or not, tonight.

It is also quite possible that our weight gains are real.

You would be able to see a 15lb gain on your wife if it is true.


I am curious if anyone has any experience with that stuff or any
suggestions on how to check scales.

I have some weights on my barbell that I could try to weigh on the
scale. The barbell is approximately my body weight.

Yep, I could believe 5 lbs, but not 15.

It sounds like the scale is way off. I don't know what would be a good
purchase on a new one. They all seem cheaply built so as not to last more
than a couple of years. I am reluctant myself to spend alot of money for a
new one, and the beam type seems to big for our bathroom. Hehe. What to do.




--
223/174.1/180

On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:50:08 GMT, Perdu
wrote:

On 30 Mar 2005 16:44:21 GMT, Ignoramus19234
said :

In a matter of 2-3 days, I gained about 4 lbs. (my middle number in my
sig is the average of the last 7 measurements and is slow to reflect
such changes). In the last 3 weeks or so, my wife gained about,
drumroll, 13-15 lbs.

We both were quite upset at this development and are now walking to
train together (5 miles per day), I am trying to be more mindful about
what I eat, etc. (I will become stricter if this issue does not get
resolved).

I am somewhat incredulous about this, as, first, my wife is relatively
small and her gain would be more apparent than it is. Second, we did
not do anything special to gain so much weight, although everything is
possible. It's not like she or I were binging on ice cream or cakes.

There is a hypothesis that the scale is bad, but, on the other hand,
if the scale was the culprit, how come it shows only 4-5 lbs gain for
me and whole 15 lbs gain for her. Besides, I replaced a battery in the
scale.

At walmart yesterday, I experimented with several analog scales that
they had for sale, again getting inconsistent numbers (these analog
scales are junk), but mostly lower than what my home scale showed.

We also have an analog scale at home, also complete trash (I use it
mostly to weigh heavy things that I sell on ebay), it shows a smaller
weight gain for me (1-2 lbs, which could be understandable). We'll see
if you wife's weight change is really 15 lbs or not, tonight.

It is also quite possible that our weight gains are real.

I am curious if anyone has any experience with that stuff or any
suggestions on how to check scales.

I have some weights on my barbell that I could try to weigh on the
scale. The barbell is approximately my body weight.

I'd calibrate it. If you have access to a Doctor's office, it is likely
they will let you in quickly for a minute, to get your weight on their
professional unit, then walk out and weigh yourself immediately on your
unit. This is how I calibrated my new Tanita.

As for the weigh gain, it is very possible and frustrating. I had dealt
with a sudden gain of 3 to 4 lbs over a couple of days, doing nothing
different.

However, I did not indeed write down every ounce of water, bite of food
and so on. Nor did I monitor my level of activity exactly.

It is a good idea never to lose control. Do the Fitday thing. (I'm
guilty. Things are going well and I've slacked on using it.) But it is a
pain. I'm trying to develop a lifestyle where monitoring is a secondary
thing and does not take over my life. And life - is a bitch

Perdu

I'm trying not to do the Fitday/program thing. Instead, I'm trying to
simply eat less. I used to count calories all the time, and it's not easy
to do. You have to have multiple scales, be highly diligent, avoid going
out, etc. I'm trying to eat less (and drink less beer -- my major
downfall).

--
Bob in CT

Quoting Ignoramus19234:
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:13:39 -0500, Roger Zoul wrote:

Do her clothes fit tighter? She certainly should
notice that amount of weight gain in how her clothes fit.

She says that they are tighter, but she is still wearing the same
clothes. Her gain is over 10% of her body weight 3 weeks ago, she
would need to switch to the next size.

For a relatively small woman, 15 pounds weight gain (fat or water) is
going to be a change of at least one full clothing size, more likely
two.

"Tom G" wrote in message
news:LuB2e.856327$6l.18126@pd7tw2no...

Yep, I could believe 5 lbs, but not 15.

It sounds like the scale is way off. I don't know what would be a good
purchase on a new one. They all seem cheaply built so as not to last more
than a couple of years. I am reluctant myself to spend alot of money for a
new one, and the beam type seems to big for our bathroom. Hehe. What to
do.


I've owned a Tanita brand scale (with the body fat function) for the last 3
or 4 years and it's been very reliable. It's accurate to within 0.2 lbs,
and if I step off and step back on, I get the exact same reading nearly
every time.

This morning, for an experiment, I first weighed myself twice, getting the
same reading both times. I then drank a large glass of water (approximately
12 oz). When I stepped back on, my weight had gone up by 0.8 lbs.

Here's a Tanita model with body fat functions that is similar to the one I
use:

http://tinyurl.com/49swe

The Soehnle brand scales look pretty cool too. Supposedly they're accurate
to 0.1 lbs, and I really like their high tech look (though they are somewhat
more expensive).

http://tinyurl.com/3t6kt

--
GG
http://www.WeightWare.com
Your Weight and Health Diary




--
223/174.1/180

On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:19:49 -0800, GaryG wrote:

"Tom G" wrote in message
news:LuB2e.856327$6l.18126@pd7tw2no...

Yep, I could believe 5 lbs, but not 15.

It sounds like the scale is way off. I don't know what would be a
good
purchase on a new one. They all seem cheaply built so as not to last
more
than a couple of years. I am reluctant myself to spend alot of money
for a
new one, and the beam type seems to big for our bathroom. Hehe. What to
do.


I've owned a Tanita brand scale (with the body fat function) for the
last 3
or 4 years and it's been very reliable. It's accurate to within 0.2 lbs,
and if I step off and step back on, I get the exact same reading nearly
every time.

0.2? Mine only reads in 0.5 increments. (Not that I care -- my weight
can easily vary by 1-2 pounds per day.)

This morning, for an experiment, I first weighed myself twice, getting
the
same reading both times. I then drank a large glass of water
(approximately
12 oz). When I stepped back on, my weight had gone up by 0.8 lbs.

Here's a Tanita model with body fat functions that is similar to the one
I
use:

http://tinyurl.com/49swe

The Soehnle brand scales look pretty cool too. Supposedly they're
accurate
to 0.1 lbs, and I really like their high tech look (though they are
somewhat
more expensive).

http://tinyurl.com/3t6kt




--
Bob in CT

"GaryG" writes:
and if I step off and step back on, I get the exact same reading
nearly every time.

Note that many digital scales do that on purpose - they don't actually
re-weigh you, they just report the old numbers. They look really
reliable that way. Marketing :-P

Try holding a 4oz cup of water when you get on the second time, and
see if it shows you've gained 1/4 lb.