What you have to remember is that numbers can and do lie. This is why smart scales were invented. And the number on your scale is especially dubious. Yes, it can tell you what you weigh, but there is so much more information to be had. And that is why smart scales are an essential piece of technology that we should all have at home. It is just basic.
The reality? Your old scale is plain stupid.
So what is a smart scale exactly? There are a many different kinds, but the bottom line is that all smart scales measure more than weight and most connect with your phone via Bluetooth to help you assess and track information. The best also have ways to keep you motivated—and less susceptible to breakroom doughnuts.
These scales give you a clearer picture of your overall health, instead of just a stark look at one single number. Are you bloated? On the right path? Gaining muscle. Your smart scale can tell you.
Let’s take a look at five of our favorites.
Sure, this scale ($149.95) tells you your weight (to within 0.2 of a pound), but it also gives you a comprehensive picture of your health, including fat mass, muscle mass, water weight, standing heart rate and even bone mass.
If your goal is to lose or gain weight, you can use the Health Mate app to track your progress and be inspired by encouraging tips. Moreover, the app tracks with other leading fitness apps, making a healthy day easier than ever.
Another useful feature—at least for new parents—is the baby weighing mode, which allows babies to be weighed while held by their parents. What sleep-deprived person, after all, has the energy to mess with math? Let Withings do it for you.
Tracking steps is, for many, the foundation of good health. And this scale ($49.95) gives Fitbit users an easy way to track their body mass index and weight right on the Fitbit app.
The result is that, with a quick swipe of your phone, the Fitbit app can tell you how much you moved, how you slept, what you weigh and your BMI. That makes it easier than ever to chart your progress—and stay motivated.
Garmin has always appealed to athletes—and this scale ($149.99) does not disappoint. Like the Fitbit, it seems like a natural choice for someone who has a Garmin fitness tracker or smart watch.
The Garmin app tracks weight, sleep, calories, activity—and allows you to measure progress toward goals. In addition, Garmin’s online fitness community puts you in touch with other enthusiasts, providing you with even more fuel to power your health goals.
This scale ($55) measures body fat percentage, muscle percentage, body mass index, basal metabolic rate (the calories you burn at rest) and visceral fat (the kind that leads to insulin resistance). It connects with your phone via the JAXJOX app, with the goal of keeping you inspired all day long to make healthy choices.
As great as all that is, it’s not the coolest thing about JAXJOX. That title goes to the JAXJOX KettlebellConnect, a kettlebell that can switch from 12 to 42 pounds in seconds. It also connects with the app, allowing you to track your weight and your workout in one place.
Like other smart scales, Eufy ($49.99) fills you in on your weight, body fat, water, muscle mass, bone mass, body mass index, basal metabolic rate and more. Like other scales, it also connect with an app.
But where the Eufy really shines is its ease of use and low price point for what you get. Users report that it’s simple to switch between family members and the app shows info clearly in an easy-to-read format.
Bonus: The Scale that Hides Your Weight
The Shapa smart scale ($99 plus monthly or yearly subscription) is sort of like your grandmother. She’ll never say an unkind word about you. By that, we mean that Shapa doesn’t actually tell you your weight. Instead, it gives you a color. Green means you’re holding steady. Gray, on the other hand, means you’re sliding a bit. Blue means you’re killing it.
If this sounds silly to you, then stick with the five options above. But there are people out there who avoid scales like the plague due to that icky jolt you get when you don’t like the number. And that’s a shame because research proves that the simple act of stepping on a scale frequently leads to weight loss.
In fact, a 2018 study by the American Health Association concluded that participants who weighed themselves six to seven times a week had significant weight loss (1.7 percent) in 12 months.
Scales, Weight Loss and Your Metabolism
Most of us know all too well how difficult it can be to lose weight. At Metabolism Today, it’s our goal to help you in this quest in any way we can. Check out why sleep is so important, how to avoid metabolic syndrome and how to improve your metabolism.
Above all, try to remember to enjoy the journey. Eat good food, spend time with friends, enjoy being active, get enough sleep and keep on walking by those doughnuts.
