Picking your spicy collective brains...

Hello all,

Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.

The problem is fluctuating weight.

According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a
person up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning
at 297lbs. This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle
change at weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the
same reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.

How I've been dealing with this so far is to weigh myself five times
then take an average.

Now, for the next part... my weight seems to be fluctuating on a daily
basis and I'm not certain why this is. I weigh myself almost daily and
the funny thing about it is sometimes I see too much weight loss and
gain happening within a 24 hour period.

Like, I go to bed at one weight and wake up ten pounds lighter. A day
or two after that I seem to have put the ten pounds back on. I wonder
if this is even physically possible, or am I simply relying on a scale
that isn't able to weigh someone at my weight correctly.

Second theory given that the scale might be accurate - could this be due
to water retention or my body going into famine mode?

I was in the hospital for three days to have some tests done and while
there chose the diet or vegetarian menus. After I returned home I was
surprised and pleased to find I'd apparently lost 8 lbs. Two days after
returning home I'd put the weight back on even though my diet didn't
change radically.

My main question is how to avoid fluctuating weight and promote steady
weight loss? I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

*for kg's divide by 2.2

eleya
370/336/short term goal - 299, long term goal - 175

"eleya" <ask@me.com> wrote in message news:esjcb5$lh0$1@aioe.org...
> Hello all,
>
> Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
> weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.
>
> The problem is fluctuating weight.
>
> According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a person
> up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning at 297lbs.
> This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle change at
> weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the same
> reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.
>
> How I've been dealing with this so far is to weigh myself five times then
> take an average.

I looked around for a scale that would give accurate results and so far, at
least when ive been using it, it appears to give accurate and consistant
results.

I use Tanita HD-372 which will go upto 400 pound. They are digital and you
must touch the scale with your foot to activate it, then step on,wait a few
seconds then off and the reading stays on screen for a few seconds so you
dont have to try and look whilst you are on the scale.

I use them on a wooden hard surface in the same place every time and use the
same spot on the wall to look at and try to keep my posture similar each
time..

http://www.tanita.co.uk/index.cfm?pa...ubcategoryID=6

"eleya" <ask@me.com> wrote in message news:esjcb5$lh0$1@aioe.org...
> Hello all,
>
> Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
> weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.
>
> The problem is fluctuating weight.
>
> According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a person
> up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning at 297lbs.
> This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle change at
> weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the same
> reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.
>
> How I've been dealing with this so far is to weigh myself five times then
> take an average.
>
> Now, for the next part... my weight seems to be fluctuating on a daily
> basis and I'm not certain why this is. I weigh myself almost daily and
> the funny thing about it is sometimes I see too much weight loss and gain
> happening within a 24 hour period.
>
> Like, I go to bed at one weight and wake up ten pounds lighter. A day or
> two after that I seem to have put the ten pounds back on. I wonder if
> this is even physically possible, or am I simply relying on a scale that
> isn't able to weigh someone at my weight correctly.
>
> Second theory given that the scale might be accurate - could this be due
> to water retention or my body going into famine mode?
>
> I was in the hospital for three days to have some tests done and while
> there chose the diet or vegetarian menus. After I returned home I was
> surprised and pleased to find I'd apparently lost 8 lbs. Two days after
> returning home I'd put the weight back on even though my diet didn't
> change radically.
>
> My main question is how to avoid fluctuating weight and promote steady
> weight loss? I feel like I'm doing something wrong.
>
> *for kg's divide by 2.2
>
> eleya
> 370/336/short term goal - 299, long term goal - 175

Well, at your weight, large fluctuation in water weight is very possible,
since water is stored in fat. However, with a scale that already gives
fluctuating numbers, a 10lb difference from night to morning is not going to
be very telling, because you just don't know. What you need is an accurate
scale. I currently weigh 127. My weight can have daily fluctuations of
about 5 lbs or so. That's around 3% of my total bodyweight. 3% of your
bodyweight is at least 10 lbs, so I can see water fluctuations of at least
that much very possible. Things that will cause differences in water
retention is hydration level, salt intake, carb intake and alcohol intake,
as well as exercise.

eleya <ask@me.com> wrote:
><snip>
> My main question is how to avoid fluctuating weight and promote steady
> weight loss? I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

You really have no way to track how you're doing so there's no way for you
to know if you should change what you're doing or not. Averaging 5
inaccurate numbers isn't going to make the result more accurate. You could
just as easily be doing everything right as wrong.

I would strongly suggest you either buy a more accurate scale or arrange to
weigh yourself at your doctor's office or somewhere that has an accurate
scale. Another method would be to go by measurements rather than scale
weight.
--
Jeri
"Change is inevitable, except from vending machines."

In article <esjcb5$lh0$1@aioe.org>, eleya <ask@me.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
> weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.
>
> The problem is fluctuating weight.
>
> According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a
> person up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning
> at 297lbs. This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle
> change at weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the
> same reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.
>
>

Many of us weigh daily, but only record a once-a-week number. For
instance, I weigh myself every morning before my shower. I record my
Monday morning number.

Weighing myself more than once a day would indicate I'm obsessing over
something the scale isn't going to give me.

Try stepping away from the scale for a week. Then try weighing only once
a day, at the same time every day, wearing the same thing or weighing
naked, and recording that number as your weight for that week. Don't get
back on the scale to see if the number is different. Don't get back on
the scale after every meal. Don't get back on the scale after you go to
the bathroom. Just step away from the scale. Okay--run away from the
scale.

Try to find other ways to check your progress--take and record
measurments. Use the fit of your clothing. Take pictures.

Find the way that works for you and your peace-of-mind, and stick with
it.

Good luck,

Amy

--
Check it out!
http://www.tcfitnesschallenge.com/index.html

Jas0n wrote:
> "eleya" <ask@me.com> wrote in message news:esjcb5$lh0$1@aioe.org...
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
>> weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.
>>
>> The problem is fluctuating weight.
>>
>> According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a person
>> up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning at 297lbs.
>> This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle change at
>> weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the same
>> reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.
>>
>> How I've been dealing with this so far is to weigh myself five times then
>> take an average.
>
> I looked around for a scale that would give accurate results and so far, at
> least when ive been using it, it appears to give accurate and consistant
> results.
>
> I use Tanita HD-372 which will go upto 400 pound. They are digital and you
> must touch the scale with your foot to activate it, then step on,wait a few
> seconds then off and the reading stays on screen for a few seconds so you
> dont have to try and look whilst you are on the scale.


That sounds quite a lot like the one I have, from Soehnle. It's
supposed to weigh up to 396lbs and works exactly like yours does.
However, when I read the manual more closely it revealed it can only be
expected to weigh accurately starting at 297lbs. I paid quite a bit for
this scale and I wish that little tidbit would've been on the outside of
the box.


> I use them on a wooden hard surface in the same place every time and use the
> same spot on the wall to look at and try to keep my posture similar each
> time..


Me too. Except I use mine on tile.

determined wrote:
> "eleya" <ask@me.com> wrote in message news:esjcb5$lh0$1@aioe.org...
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
>> weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.
>>
>> The problem is fluctuating weight.
>>
>> According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a person
>> up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning at 297lbs.
>> This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle change at
>> weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the same
>> reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.
>>
>> How I've been dealing with this so far is to weigh myself five times then
>> take an average.
>>
>> Now, for the next part... my weight seems to be fluctuating on a daily
>> basis and I'm not certain why this is. I weigh myself almost daily and
>> the funny thing about it is sometimes I see too much weight loss and gain
>> happening within a 24 hour period.
>>
>> Like, I go to bed at one weight and wake up ten pounds lighter. A day or
>> two after that I seem to have put the ten pounds back on. I wonder if
>> this is even physically possible, or am I simply relying on a scale that
>> isn't able to weigh someone at my weight correctly.
>>
>> Second theory given that the scale might be accurate - could this be due
>> to water retention or my body going into famine mode?
>>
>> I was in the hospital for three days to have some tests done and while
>> there chose the diet or vegetarian menus. After I returned home I was
>> surprised and pleased to find I'd apparently lost 8 lbs. Two days after
>> returning home I'd put the weight back on even though my diet didn't
>> change radically.
>>
>> My main question is how to avoid fluctuating weight and promote steady
>> weight loss? I feel like I'm doing something wrong.
>>
>> *for kg's divide by 2.2
>>
>> eleya
>> 370/336/short term goal - 299, long term goal - 175
>
> Well, at your weight, large fluctuation in water weight is very possible,
> since water is stored in fat. However, with a scale that already gives
> fluctuating numbers, a 10lb difference from night to morning is not going to
> be very telling, because you just don't know. What you need is an accurate
> scale.


Yes, therein lies the rub.

Problem is, there are no accurate scales available to me locally. Our
hospital doesn't even have one which I found quite a surprise.
Apparently there aren't any overweight people in Europe, or overweight
people in Europe never have the need to go to the hospital, or the real
weight of the obese in hospitals is such a non-issue no one thought to
look into a scale that could accurately weigh them.

It's funny because unfortunately when I go out in public I find firm
evidence I'm not the only one of my size.


> I currently weigh 127. My weight can have daily fluctuations of
> about 5 lbs or so. That's around 3% of my total bodyweight. 3% of your
> bodyweight is at least 10 lbs, so I can see water fluctuations of at least
> that much very possible. Things that will cause differences in water
> retention is hydration level, salt intake, carb intake and alcohol intake,
> as well as exercise.


Good info, thank you.

Jeri wrote:
> eleya <ask@me.com> wrote:
>> <snip>
>> My main question is how to avoid fluctuating weight and promote steady
>> weight loss? I feel like I'm doing something wrong.
>
> You really have no way to track how you're doing so there's no way for you
> to know if you should change what you're doing or not. Averaging 5
> inaccurate numbers isn't going to make the result more accurate. You could
> just as easily be doing everything right as wrong.
>
> I would strongly suggest you either buy a more accurate scale or arrange to
> weigh yourself at your doctor's office or somewhere that has an accurate
> scale. Another method would be to go by measurements rather than scale
> weight.


There are no accurate scales available to me that aren't *as* accurate
as the scale I'm already using.

The measurement suggestion is a good one, though. Can't go wrong with that.

A Ross wrote:
> In article <esjcb5$lh0$1@aioe.org>, eleya <ask@me.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Occasional poster here again, still trying to find my way to a healthy
>> weight. Now it seems I've hit a sticky spot and need some advice.
>>
>> The problem is fluctuating weight.
>>
>> According to instructions my bathroom scale can technically weigh a
>> person up to 396lbs*, but it claims to weigh most accurately beginning
>> at 297lbs. This has been a problem for me because I began my lifestyle
>> change at weighing in at 370lbs. So when I weigh myself I never get the
>> same reading twice but one which varies within a 10 lb range.
>>
>>
>
> Many of us weigh daily, but only record a once-a-week number. For
> instance, I weigh myself every morning before my shower. I record my
> Monday morning number.
>
> Weighing myself more than once a day would indicate I'm obsessing over
> something the scale isn't going to give me.
>
> Try stepping away from the scale for a week.


I've done that.


> Then try weighing only once
> a day, at the same time every day, wearing the same thing or weighing
> naked, and recording that number as your weight for that week.


Done that too.


> Don't get
> back on the scale to see if the number is different.


Generally the first time I step on the scale I'll get a weight of
(random number) 330lbs. When I step on the second time approximately
two minutes later I get a number of 321lbs. Third time (2 mins. later)
323lbs. Fourth time 327lbs. Fifth 325lbs.

It all fits within a 10lb range, which lets me know my real weight is
anywhere from 330-320lbs. Therefore getting back on the scale is not an
act of obsession, it's fact-gathering until I get down to a weight where
the scale can weigh me and I only have to do it once.


> Don't get back on
> the scale after every meal. Don't get back on the scale after you go to
> the bathroom. Just step away from the scale. Okay--run away from the
> scale.


0_0


> Try to find other ways to check your progress--take and record
> measurments. Use the fit of your clothing. Take pictures.


Doing it already.


> Find the way that works for you and your peace-of-mind, and stick with
> it.
>
> Good luck,


Thank you!