diff --git a/rowers/dataprep.py b/rowers/dataprep.py
index 223ad583..3e8687cf 100644
--- a/rowers/dataprep.py
+++ b/rowers/dataprep.py
@@ -1173,16 +1173,25 @@ def getrowdata_db(id=0,doclean=False,convertnewtons=True):
     return data,row
 
 # Fetch a subset of the data from the DB
-def getsmallrowdata_db(columns,ids=[],doclean=True,workstrokesonly=True,
-                       convertnewtons=False):
+def getsmallrowdata_db(columns,ids=[],doclean=True,workstrokesonly=True):
     prepmultipledata(ids)
     data = read_cols_df_sql(ids,columns)
 
-    if convertnewtons:
-        if 'peakforce' in columns:
-            data['peakforce'] = data['peakforce']*lbstoN
-        if 'averageforce' in columns:
-            data['averageforce'] = data['averageforce']*lbstoN
+    # convert newtons
+    
+    if 'peakforce' in columns:
+        funits = ((w.id,w.forceunit) for Workout.objects.filter(id__in=ids))
+        for id,u in funits:
+            if u=='lbs':
+                mask = data['workoutid']==id
+                data.loc[mask,'peakforce'] = data.loc[mask,'peakforce']*lbstoN
+    if 'averageforce' in columns:
+        funits = ((w.id,w.forceunit) for Workout.objects.filter(id__in=ids))
+        for id,u in funits:
+            if u=='lbs':
+                mask = data['workoutid']==id
+                data.loc[mask,'averageforce'] = data.loc[mask,'averageforce']*lbstoN
+
         
     if doclean:
         data = clean_df_stats(data,ignorehr=True,
@@ -1284,22 +1293,24 @@ def read_cols_df_sql(ids,columns,convertnewtons=True):
 
     df = df.fillna(value=0)
 
-    if convertnewtons:
-        try:
-            df['peakforce'] = df['peakforce']*lbstoN
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-
-        try:
-            df['averageforce'] = df['averageforce']*lbstoN
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
+    if 'peakforce' in columns:
+        funits = ((w.id,w.forceunit) for Workout.objects.filter(id__in=ids))
+        for id,u in funits:
+            if u=='lbs':
+                mask = data['workoutid']==id
+                df.loc[mask,'peakforce'] = data.loc[mask,'peakforce']*lbstoN
+    if 'averageforce' in columns:
+        funits = ((w.id,w.forceunit) for Workout.objects.filter(id__in=ids))
+        for id,u in funits:
+            if u=='lbs':
+                mask = data['workoutid']==id
+                df.loc[mask,'averageforce'] = data.loc[mask,'averageforce']*lbstoN
 
     engine.dispose()
     return df
         
 # Read stroke data from the DB for a Workout ID. Returns a pandas dataframe
-def read_df_sql(id,convertnewtons=True):
+def read_df_sql(id):
     engine = create_engine(database_url, echo=False)
 
     df = pd.read_sql_query(sa.text('SELECT * FROM strokedata WHERE workoutid={id}'.format(
@@ -1307,7 +1318,10 @@ def read_df_sql(id,convertnewtons=True):
 
     engine.dispose()
     df = df.fillna(value=0)
-    if convertnewtons:
+
+    funit = Workout.objects.get(id=id).forceunit
+    
+    if funit=='lbs':
         try:
             df['peakforce'] = df['peakforce']*lbstoN
         except KeyError:
@@ -1322,7 +1336,7 @@ def read_df_sql(id,convertnewtons=True):
 
 # Get the necessary data from the strokedata table in the DB.
 # For the flex plot
-def smalldataprep(therows,xparam,yparam1,yparam2,convertnewtons=True):
+def smalldataprep(therows,xparam,yparam1,yparam2):
     df = pd.DataFrame()
     if yparam2 == 'None':
         yparam2 = 'power'
@@ -1344,6 +1358,17 @@ def smalldataprep(therows,xparam,yparam1,yparam2,convertnewtons=True):
                                     'spm': rowdata['spm'],
             }
             )
+            if workout.forceunit == 'lbs':
+                try:
+                    rowdata['peakforce'] *= lbstoN
+                except KeyError:
+                    pass
+
+                try:
+                    rowdata['averageforce'] *= lbstoN
+                except KeyError:
+                    pass
+                
             df = pd.concat([df,rowdata],ignore_index=True)
         except IOError:
             try:
@@ -1355,20 +1380,20 @@ def smalldataprep(therows,xparam,yparam1,yparam2,convertnewtons=True):
                                         'spm': rowdata['spm'],
                 }
                 )
+                if workout.forceunit == 'lbs':
+                    try:
+                        rowdata['peakforce'] *= lbstoN
+                    except KeyError:
+                        pass
+
+                    try:
+                        rowdata['averageforce'] *= lbstoN
+                    except KeyError:
+                        pass
                 df = pd.concat([df,rowdata],ignore_index=True)
             except IOError:
                 pass
 
-    if convertnewtons:
-        try:
-            df['peakforce'] = df['peakforce']*lbstoN
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-
-        try:
-            df['averageforce'] = df['averageforce']*lbstoN
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
     
     return df