Digital Scale Quandry

[mtbdarby]

I've wanted a digital scale for a while because the cover on my regular scale is all scratched up and it's hard to read. Plus, I just thought it would be more accurate.

So I got my digital scale and immediately gained 5 pounds on the new scale! I tried to take a 5 pound dumbbell and weigh it on each scale to make sure they were both dialed in and on the manual scale it weighs...well, 5 pounds. It won't register on the digital scale. Why??

Is it normal for the descrepancy? Cuz I can think of better ways to put on 5 pounds Of course, I prefer to weigh in on my old scale....

Just curious.

[TsPoet]

The scale probably has a range, most digital scales are only calibrated from x-y, and 10 lbs might not be it.
So, weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the dumbels and see if you gain 10 lbs.
I have a digital scale and I went for my annual physical yesterday - I weighed 7 lbs more at my doctors office. Yuck.

[tulip]

I rarely weigh myself, but I've noticed that when I do, I'm alot lighter first thing (well, second thing) in the morning than in the afternoon. Always schedule doctor appointments first thing in the morning if this is important to you.

Good luck with the scale, Dar.

[GLC1968]

Yes, the 5 lbs is probably too light to register on the digital scale. You could try a heavier weight (if you have one) or, like what was already suggested, get on it yourself with the weight in your hands and then put it down. See if the difference is 5 lbs (and then do it on you old scale, too).

Also, make sure both scales are on hard, level surfaces. It doesn't take much to throw them off a bit!

[Miranda]

On a way to figure out the scale diffs... do you know how much your bike/s weigh? If so, weigh you w/ and w/o the bici known weight and see how it changes.

OK... here's my scale confessions ritual...

Had both my scales over 10yrs. Maybe more like 15yrs???

Weigh immediately after emptying bladder and in the buff.

I put both scales in exactly the same spot on my tiled bathroom floor in the squares. Step on a couple times.

Wiggle on the old manual one. Varies 3#s on wiggle.

Do the digital 1-2 times. Can vary that same 5#s as yours within 30secs of weighing.

I go by the manul one. Even though it's set 5-8#s over zero. Why? Cuz that is what's synched with my gyno doc's scale. I.E. go to doc appt, come home and weigh in exactly same set up etc.--match the doc's read.

Plus, I'm at my gym regularly year round because I teach Spinning. I weigh myself on the same gym scale post Spinning class. Similiar clothes each time etc.

I know all that sounds crazy... but after losing a mass amount of weight... I never want it back on again. If I don't stay on the scale daily, the pounds wham on in a sneaky way.

Soooo... if you decided to keep the scale or not, use the *change* to determine where you are at day to day. Btw, it's this same dumb digital variance thing that stopped me from throwing out my old super beat up manual scale.