If you are starting a weight loss journey, you’ll need to monitor your weight to stay on track. To do that, you usually need a weight scale. Weight scales are not cheap, so if you don’t want to buy one, there are other ways to weigh yourself for free.
Here’s how you can weigh yourself without a scale:
- Perform a water displacement test.
- Use weights and a seesaw.
- Estimate your weight.
- Weigh yourself for free.
Keep reading to learn more in detail about weighing yourself without a scale. This post will discuss ways to estimate your weight, weigh yourself for free, and alternatives to measuring yourself so you can keep track of your health and your weight loss progress.
1. Perform a Water Displacement Test
To complete a water displacement test at home, you will need a few common household items:
- Bathtub/large container
- Marker
- Measuring tape
- Ruler
- Water
- Calculator
Water displacement is based on Archimedes’ principle, which says that the density of an object is equal to the mass divided by the object’s volume. Using this information and the items listed above, you can calculate your body weight.
The first step of a water displacement test is to measure the dimensions of your bathtub, specifically the surface area. Then, fill the bathtub with water until almost full.
Mark the line of where the water reaches.
The next step is to submerge yourself entirely below the water. Then, mark the top of the waterline using a marker. It may not be easy to perform this underwater, so try to get someone to help you in the process.
Mark where the water level was before you got in and while you were submerged in the water. After that, use a ruler to find the vertical difference between the two marks.
It would be best if you got the volume displaced to calculate your weight. To do this, you must multiply the surface area of your tub by the vertical distance between the two watermarks.
For example, if the surface area of your bathtub is 10,000 square cm (1,550 square in), and the vertical distance between the marks is 9 cm (3.5 in), the volume of water displaced is 90,000 ml (3,043 oz) of water. 1 ml (0.03 oz) of water equals 1 g (0.002 lb.).
Therefore 90 kg (198 lb.) of water was displaced, equivalent to your weight.
2. Use Weights and a Seesaw
Another way that you can measure your body weight without a scale is by using weights, levers, and a fulcrum.
If you want to use this method for calculating your weight, you will need water containers or anything else whose weight you can determine. You will also require a seesaw or similar object to use as a fulcrum.
First, sit at the end of your seesaw. Then, have someone else place your weights on the other seat at the opposite end of the seesaw.
Keep adding weights until you are lifted off the floor and evenly balanced with the weights opposite you. You may need to use small containers to balance yourself with the weights successfully.
Then, all you have to do is calculate the weights you used on the seesaw. If you put 7 20-pound (9-kilogram) paint cans on the seesaw, that means your weight would be 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms) as 7 × 20 = 140.
If this, or the other method, seems like a lot of work, there are some quick ways that you can estimate your weight. Keep reading as I share more on how you can weigh yourself without a scale.
3. Estimate Your Weight
One quick way to estimate your weight without a scale is by using the median weight for your height and gender. According to Dummies, this is how to find your median weight for sex.
The median weight for males is 106 lbs (48 kg) if you’re 5’ (1.5 m) tall.
Add 6 lbs (2.7 kg) for every inch that you’re over 5’ (1.5 m) and reduce 6 lbs (2.7 kg) for every inch you’re below 5’ (1.5 m).
For example, if you’re 5’ 6” (1.7 m), your median weight is 142 lbs (64 kg).
For females, the median weight is 100 lbs (47.6 kg) for a 5’ (1.5 m) woman. The median weight increases by 5 lbs (2.3 kg) per inch in height over 5’ (1.5 m) and reduce 5 lbs (2.3 kg) per inch if they are under 5’ (1.5 m).
So a woman who’s 6’ (1.8 m) tall has a median weight of 160 lbs (72.6 kg).
Now, if you’re slightly overweight, you can then estimate how much you weigh by measuring the amount of fat you have on your body. While this doesn’t exactly tell you how much you weigh, you can get a quick estimate of your size.
Let’s take a look at how you can do this now.
Other Ways To Measure Yourself
Weighing yourself is not always the best way of keeping track of your weight loss journey, because when you work out consistently, you may put on muscle while losing fat. That is why I have put together some other valuable ways to measure yourself.
You can measure yourself in a couple of ways to get an insight into your weight loss and body size, so you can determine if you are considered a healthy weight.
Use Calipers to Measure Your Body Fat
You can use a calipers test to see your body fat percentage, which uses calipers to measure the thickness of your skin on different parts of your body. Then using varied formulas, you can use these measurements to calculate your body fat percentage.
There are various formulas you can use that will provide similar results, so this might give you the impression that a calipers test is not accurate in measuring your body fat. Instead, a calipers test is better for indicating your body fat.
Body Mass Index Tells You How Much Fat You Have
One way that you can check if you are a healthy weight is by using the Body Mass Index (BMI). To get your BMI score, you first measure your height and your weight. Then, take your weight and divide it by your height squared to get your BMI score.
A BMI score above 25 is considered overweight, while at the same time, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. A score below 18.5 is deemed to be underweight.
Use a Measuring Tape
Another way to measure yourself is to break out a measuring tape and examine your dimensions. There are a few key points to remember when you measure yourself.
The first thing you need to remember is to measure yourself in the same place every time.
You should also measure yourself at the same time of day and ideally on the same day of each week. Try to measure areas of your body that will change in size, such as your waist or your thighs.
4. Weigh Yourself for Free
There are many ways to weigh yourself without spending money. One way is to visit a pharmacy, as they often have BMI machines that you can use. These machines measure your height and weight to provide you with your BMI or body mass index, as it is also known.
Another way that you can weigh yourself for free is by visiting fitness centers. Some fitness centers are affordable or even free, and they often contain weighing scales inside that you can use.
You can also use the weighing scales in veterinary offices or pet stores as long as they are in a public area and you have the owner’s permission. Optionally, you can weigh yourself for free at large department stores.
Department stores sell weight scales, and they will have floor models out that you can try out for free.
If you are still in school, you can use the nurse’s office to check out your weight for free. Nurses’ offices usually contain weighing scales. Colleges also have free weight scales you can use. Go to the nurse’s offices or student health center and use their weighing scales.
Or, why not visit a hospital or clinic? These places typically have weighing scales in the waiting rooms, so you likely won’t have to make an appointment to use the scales.
Lastly, if your local grocery store has a weight scale, you could use that. This last suggestion is not free, but it is affordable at roughly 25 cents.
Final Thoughts
Embarking on a weight loss journey is a big commitment. However, seeing how your body changes physically can take months, which can be demotivating.
You can stay motivated by weighing yourself. This way, you can see for yourself that your hard work is paying off. You don’t even need to buy a scale to weigh yourself, as there are DIY options and various locations that allow you to weigh yourself for free.
Additional Resources
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NAME | DESCRIPTION |
#1
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#3
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