Healthy Living
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Is your scale lying to you?
user
Ever step on the scale and have a hard time believing its
accuracy? Now, I'm not talking about delusion or denial...but
more about the fact that you honestly can't pinpoint why the scale
is reading a three pound increase in your weight. It
happens...it happens to all of us, and it can be very confusing,
let alone frustrating.
Believe it or not, there are reasons that the scale may be
telling a 'white lie' to you...not intentionally of course, but
many things factor into your weight, besides your caloric
intake. Here is a look at a few magical, or for that matter,
deceptive reasons that the number on your scale can be
misleading:
- Salt Overload and Water Retention:
Eating salty foods causes your body to 1) crave liquids and 2)
retain water. This water retention can add up to numerous
pounds over the course of a couple of days.
- You haven't Pooped: In all seriousness,
if you are constipated or haven't pooped in a day or more, the
weight adds up. Although this may vary by person, you should
aim to go at least 1 time a day, although it is ideal to go once
per meal (3 times a day). Eat lots of fiber to keep things
moving.
- PMS/Menstrual Cycle: For all of those women
out there, PMS can cause your body to retain sodium and water
(Kathy Egan, R.D.). To avoid this, eat potassium-rich
vegetables and fruit(E.g., asparagus, bananas, strawberries
and melon). Potassium can help balance sodium levels in your bloodstream and
allows your system to flush out excess fluid, reducing bloat.
- Delayed Reaction: Weight gain is not
attributed to the weight of your food, it is attributed to the
calories you consume. So, if a couple of days ago you had a
bit extra, you might see a slight delay on the scale. The
calories have to be digested and absorbed to actually gain the
weight. Depending on the type of food you ate, it could take
more or less time to finally show up on the scale.
- Different Time of Day: If you normally
weigh yourself in the morning and then randomly you weigh yourself
at night, you'll probably see a different weight on the
scale. This is often attributed to the liquids and food you
consumed throughout the course of the day that hasn't been expelled
by the digestive tract (urine and/or bowel movement).
- Unbalanced Scale: Every once in awhile,
a scale can become 'unbalanced'. Make sure it is on a level
surface and registers 0 prior to weighing yourself.
Have you had any other reasons you think your scale was
'fibbing'? Do tell!
Relevant Topics:
Related: wellness, weight loss, weight gain, scale accuracy, nutrition, healthy living, diet
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Posted by Lindsay Thu Oct 9, 2008 3:36pm PDT
I'd like to meet the person who can 3 times a day!
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Posted by Chris Thu Oct 9, 2008 3:37pm PDT
I did forget about the difference between the scale being on the carpet vs. hard surface (like tile or hard-wood)
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Posted by 2bad4u Thu Oct 9, 2008 3:38pm PDT
I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF READING AND HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH WEIGHT PROBLEMS. HEY, THEY EVEN HAVE REALITY SHOWS ABOUT IT. IN THIS TIME AND AGE DON'T YOU OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE GET IT BY NOW. PEOPLE THAT ARE OBESE ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF LITTLE BRATS THAT EAT UP A STORM AND THEN BEG FOR SOMEONE TO HELP THEM. I KEEP MY WEIGHT DOWN BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO EAT THE RIGHT FOODS. I STAY AWAY FROM SUGARS AND FATTY FOODS AND FAST FOOD. THERE IS NO SECRET TO IT. EAT RIGHT AND WORK OUT. AND STOP CRYING SO MUCH!
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Posted by Colby Thu Oct 9, 2008 3:39pm PDT
if you were to poop three times a day you must be eating a lot of Taco Bell food. That would hurt!
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Posted by Common sense Thu Oct 9, 2008 3:39pm PDT
I call BS on #4. All the laws of science and the universe say that you can't create matter or energy from nothing. Yes it takes time for the calories to be stored as fat, but the food and the calories contained in it are still in the food and in your body until they are stored, burned as energy, or expelled. So if you have already taken in the food the act of your body storing the calories as fat will not make your weight increase in weight, your body would have to have the capability of creating matter from nothing to do that, and calories can't weigh more than the food they are in, so no you won't gain weight after the calories are absorbed and stored as stated in the article, however the waste that is expelled after your body stores or burns the calories will cause a decrease in weight. Basically what ever you take in will add to your weight, and what ever you expel, burn-up, sweat off, etc. will come of off your weight. To loose weight it really is simple, eat less, and move around more. Best thing is to weigh yourself naked at the same time each day first thing in the morning, after you empty your bladder and colon, and before you eat or drink anything.
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Posted by Common sense Thu Oct 9, 2008 3:45pm PDT
Sorry, I was typing fast and bade a typo in my previous post, the sentance "So if you have already taken in the food the act of your body storing the calories as fat will not make your weight increase in weight" should read "So if you have already taken in the food the act of your body storing the calories as fat will not make your BODY increase in weight"
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Posted by Candy Thu Oct 9, 2008 4:01pm PDT
I don't trust any scales....I used a beam balance scale: 126...I used an old home step on scale: 135...I bought a brand new digital body fat scale 145!!!! NO this can't be right! About 4 months ago at the clinic when I know I was about 12lbs heavier than I am now I read 145...I don't know what numbers to trust. I feel like I weigh 130, but how accurate is guessing? I am 5'3" and I do not look like I weigh in the 140's! When I was skinnier before baby...120...my body fat was 20%...now it is only 23%. How can this be true and give me a weight reading of almost 20lbs heavier than when I was thinner? I just don't get it...
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Posted by ANDRES Thu Oct 9, 2008 4:06pm PDT
WHO CARES JUST DONT GET ON A SCALE AS LONG AS YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF
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Posted by Druburymore Thu Oct 9, 2008 4:12pm PDT
Yes Heavenly, 2 - 3 times daily. Babies, eat, then poop. Dogs, eat then poop. Cats... But people have the ability to "hold it" till convieniant. Remember back in elementary school when you were so uncomfortable?
Its healthier to go, and it should be fast and easy. If you're straining, you need attention.
Remember, Fruit, it makes you poop!
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Posted by Mickey Thu Oct 9, 2008 4:12pm PDT
Forget it! Just enjoy life and your food.
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