After being 340 lbs for a while, now the scales are telling me I am done to 326-330. I think maybe fear of food getting stuck is making me avoid certain foods (eg my previous habit of buying a whole chicken and eating the whole lot in one sitting). But when I get on the scales, the reading varies a bit. I bought some new scales Weightwatchers brand, that go up to 400 lbs - so I am not too heavy for the scales. They are guaranteed for 10 years and have carpet feet (and anyway, on a flat kitchen floor, I weight the same on them). My problem is that there is such a range of results. And when I get on, it takes a while to find the right result. It goes, 330, 324, 328, 326, 329, 325, and then sticks on a result.

Is it harder for bigger people to get an accurate reading? You have to stand more still than smaller people, don't you? I find it inconvenient that the scales indicate such a range.

Being still is important--does your scale record the weight?--I find trying to look down at the results can skew them--mine records so that I just look at after I weigh.

I found that the electronic scales were too variable for my taste and eventually purchased a health-o-meter which also goes up to 400 pounds. It has a very large viewing area which is easy to read and if the indicator migrates from the "0" base, there is a a knob to easily zero it out. I purchased it online. A bit procey, but I have now had it for many years and it is almost exactly equal to my physicians scale.

Congrats on the recent weight loss!

I have not had this problem. My scale says the same thing no matter how I move, or where I stand.

It was pricey, but it was well worth the $$ spent. It's a Terraillon. I've had it for a number of years, and it weighs me exactly one pound lighter than my surgeon's scale, each and every time I go in. That's consistency!

Also eating salty foods makes you retain lots of water. I ate a big bowl of popcorn and added a TON of salt and went up 4 pounds. Next day back down.

The accuracy doen't matter anyway. We just need to know our progress. If you weigh once a week and try to do it first thing in the morning, you will have more consistent results!! Hugs!!!

Standing super still is important with digital scales. I'll take my digital one over the old fashioned scales any day.

It's true that scales don't have to be super-accurate, as long as they reliably give you a picture of the downward (or, eek!--upward!) trend. Mine's a pound off from my doctor's---but it's consistently a pound off.

You should not get a different reading every time you step on the scale. Of course, today's weight might be different from tomorrow's. But your weight right now should register the same as your weight 30 seconds ago. If it does not, I would return the scale and pick one that is consistent and reliable.

ETA: Donna Jo--your new picture is fabulous!

It seems like my scale changes everyday up 2 lbs down 3 lbs. It just depends on what I eat the night before. My scale is off 3 lbs from what the doctors scale says but when I weigh there I have clothes and shoes on so I know there will be a difference. Purchasing a good scale is so worth it.

Robertsgal68@yahoo.com