General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Good Scale??? Rss Feed  
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2009-10-29 6:52 PM

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Subject: Good Scale???
I am intending on using a scale to track my weight and in part to make sure my nutrition plan is what I am looking for.  Does anyone know of a good brand for a digital at a cheap price?  I've never owned a scale and don't need body fat % or anything fancy on it.

Thanks in advance. 


2009-10-29 7:07 PM
in reply to: #2487759

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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
Just go to Target or WalMart and get any digital scale. All you need is weight and they are all good. Don't bother with one of those expensive one's with BMI and % body fat features. They are such crap.
2009-10-29 7:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
bryancd - 2009-10-29 7:07 PM Just go to Target or WalMart and get any digital scale. All you need is weight and they are all good. Don't bother with one of those expensive one's with BMI and % body fat features. They are such crap.


X2, Just got married and we registered for the "biggest loser" scale, works great, accurate to .2 lbs.  Keep in mind that not all scales are callibrated 100% correctly, so you may get a 1-2 pound variation between scales (home, gym, friends house, dr), but so long as you are weighing yourself on the same scale, you can monitor your weight correctly!
2009-10-29 7:26 PM
in reply to: #2487759

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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
My scale only goes to half a pound and sometimes I wish it went a bit more like .2 or .1, but as long as you are using the same one for your measurements, you should be good. You do not need to spend a ton on one, that is for sure.
2009-10-30 10:20 AM
in reply to: #2487795

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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
bryancd - 2009-10-29 8:07 PM Just go to Target or WalMart and get any digital scale. All you need is weight and they are all good. Don't bother with one of those expensive one's with BMI and % body fat features. They are such crap.


That's what I'm thinking....I guess it doesn't matter if you're 200 or 201, as long as it's consistent.
2009-10-30 10:29 AM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
bryancd - 2009-10-29 8:07 PM Just go to Target or WalMart and get any digital scale. All you need is weight and they are all good. Don't bother with one of those expensive one's with BMI and % body fat features. They are such crap.


Bryan....i thought the ones that told you % body fat were also a relative thing.  IOW that they might not be your actual bf, but the change will still be pretty close to consistent.  I have a friend who has just gone from 29% to 19% bf according to his scale.  But according to caliper testing has gone from 19% to 9.2%.  So even thought the numbers aren't his actual bf on the scale, the change has been consistent with the change he's seen from having caliper tests done.

The several people i know that use the bf% feature on the scale feel like this has been more telling for them b/c it does not fluctuate nearly as much, assuming you're doing it at the same time each day with similar hydration levels. 


2009-10-30 10:39 AM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
I find the digital scales tend to be amazingly not consistent or accurate.  I go with mechanical scales.  My preference, perhaps they have improved them in the past 5 years, but too many bad experiences to put any money into them. 
2009-10-30 10:42 AM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???

Regarding accuracy, I recently went to Bed Bath and Beyond, laid out 5 different scales on the floor and set a box rated at about 30 pounds on each. The weights varied up to 7 pounds. When using a scale, as most would agree, it's the trend that's important.

2009-10-30 10:43 AM
in reply to: #2487759

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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
Just remember after you get the scale to only use that one scale in the same place at the same time of day for tracking.

If you want stupid accurate get a beam scale and test weights around your body weight. Generally, though, .5-2 pounds off of calibrated weight is irrelevant as long as the scale is consistant.
2009-10-30 11:01 AM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
gopennstate - 2009-10-30 10:29 AM

bryancd - 2009-10-29 8:07 PM Just go to Target or WalMart and get any digital scale. All you need is weight and they are all good. Don't bother with one of those expensive one's with BMI and % body fat features. They are such crap.


Bryan....i thought the ones that told you % body fat were also a relative thing.  IOW that they might not be your actual bf, but the change will still be pretty close to consistent.  I have a friend who has just gone from 29% to 19% bf according to his scale.  But according to caliper testing has gone from 19% to 9.2%.  So even thought the numbers aren't his actual bf on the scale, the change has been consistent with the change he's seen from having caliper tests done.

The several people i know that use the bf% feature on the scale feel like this has been more telling for them b/c it does not fluctuate nearly as much, assuming you're doing it at the same time each day with similar hydration levels. 


I suppose if that is somehow important to someone, they can do the math and all, but to me, I wouldn't pay for soemthing that claims to provide data which is so inaccurate it's laughable!
2009-10-30 11:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
almost any scale will do to telll you your weight. If you want it to be accurate many scales also have a way to zero them to be more accurate. My wife and I do this about every 2 months to our scales to make sure it is still reading like it should. Realistically though the difference has never been more than .5 pounds off. Like others have said to really tell what your weight change is it all comes down to consistancy with the scale. I would also add with the conditions in which you weigh yourself (always do it at the same time of day under the same conditions, I favor in the morning right after I get up and use the restroom but before getting in the shower.)


2009-10-30 11:39 AM
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Subject: RE: Good Scale???
bryancd - 2009-10-30 1:01 PM

I suppose if that is somehow important to someone, they can do the math and all, but to me, I wouldn't pay for soemthing that claims to provide data which is so inaccurate it's laughable!


I would say that it depends on what you want the number for; if you want the number to determine your lean body mass or so that you know your exact BF% then the scale is not the way to go.  However, if someone is looking to monitor body comp changes, as long as the scale is precise then they will be able to do that. 

If someone wants to ensure their scale gives them as precise an answer as possible they should use the scale at the same time everyday and try to keep the conditions as controlled as possible.

Ultimately, if someone is only looking for a trend, precision is important and accuracy is nice but not required.

Shane
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