Another unreasonable Training Log request

Hi Ron,
The list of complicated, expensive graphing features requested doesn't seem quite long enough, so I though I'd add one.

Basically, it's a request to graph weight using exponentially smoothed moving averages. It can be an invaluable tool for people who are slaves to the scale, and make the scale useful to those who don't trust it. The method also has pretty good appeal to those of us with an analytical, empirical bent due to it's moderately high nerd factor. The one I use was created by the founder of AutoDesk.

The following is from a recent thread regarding weight and the scale and contains the rationale for the use of this method:

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The little daily or even weekly changes that signify a trend usually aren't noticable using a mirror. The scale can be useful for actually measuring trends and spotting them before they're visible in the mirror so you can take action before you've gained or lost too much too soon.

I weigh myself daily BUT I don't pay attention to daily changes. I get on the scale every morning after I get up but before I eat, put the weight into a spreadsheet that then calculates the average of the last 20 days which is my adjusted "real" weight. Do this for a few weeks and the little daily differences based on what you ate or drank the night before are accounted for and averaged out. It's a very reliable way to analyze trends. It's called exponentially smoothed moving averages.

If you're interested, the spreadsheet I use can be found here. I also recommend the on-line book "The Hacker's Diet" that the spreadsheet accompanies. If you like The Triathlete's Bible, you'll love this book.
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