I was beginning to get discouraged because every time I stepped on the scale it seemed that I gained a pound or two or FOUR!! Not that I had any unrealistic expectations. I would have been happy with a 1/2 a pound per week!! I knew that I was eating healthier, exercising much more regularly and monitoring my calorie intake. Most of the time the calories that I consumed was slightly under the recommended daily calorie intake. (and yes, I know that can possibly slow the metabolism down.) So what the heck was happening!! I finally figured it out! I got on my scale three times back to back and each time I got a different reading. I know that I should get a different reading if I weighed myself at different times of the day, but not in the same minute!! And not a three to four pound difference. That's when I knew that my scale is as old as Methusala and I need a new one!! (whew!!)...Moral to the story: If u haven't used your scale in a month of Sundays, do a "scale inspection" before you lose it (no pun intended) and give up on yourself. Glad I didn't.