The Scale vs. The Mirror

PortiaRuth

I am really struggling with my opinion of my body. One minute, I feel like I am too big, and then the next minute I worry about becoming too skinny. I'm not on any particular diet, but I have been more aware of what I eat; counting calories and exercising (strength and cardio) 3x/week for 3 months now. I am 5'6 and started out at 155lbs; I am now down to 147 with 36-27-41 measurements.

The problem is---I can't settle on a goal weight! When I look in the mirror, part of me thinks I look fine the way I am. But as soon as I see a skinnier girl, I think I should be skinnier. Most people think I already am skinny and I'm crazy to be wanting to lose weight.
I vary between wanting to make my goal weight from 138-145lbs. I guess I just need any kind words of motivation, and/or any opinions of what my weight should be.

soccerkon26

I feel the same way. One week I will feel like I look great and am feeling accomplished. The next week I think I look too skinny, but then a few days later I feel like I need to strength train more or eat less of my exercised calories, etc.

I try to remember to not just look at the end result (since we don't even know what we want!). Be happy with the process too. progress, not perfection!

TheRoseRoss

I don't recall my weight when I (re)committed (182lbs, maybe), but I was delusional. I fancied myself a pro body builder, and said "I'll bulk up to 230lbs in 6 months,, then I'll cut down to 205 pounds of pure muscle in time for summer." I had bulked up to 215lbs, all of it gut, and the beginning stages of "man boobs." I still thought "it's probably just 10lbs of fat. I can cut down to 205lbs (don't know why I was fixated on that number) of muscle.

I got to 205 pounds. No abs. No muscle to speak of. I continued losing weight thinking "okay, I'll go down to 195. That should be good." I guess I was worried about "getting too small" and "not looking manly." I eventually got down to ~185lbs, so about right where I started. BUT...I could finally see that I looked A LOT different than I had when I began my "bulk." I readjusted my mentality. I no longer have my mind set on any magic number. I use a seamstress tape to measure my extremities in order to gauge my growth, and I use the mirror to help me determine if it's muscle or fat that I'm gaining. I rely on the mirror, and haven't stepped on the scale in months. As it was put to me:

"Imagine 2 people, A & B, identical in every way. Both weight 200 pounds, and possess 50% body fat. They embark on a weight loss plan.
- Person A loses 50 pounds, but is now 15% body fat,
- Person B loses 100 pounds, but is now 50% body fat.

According to the scale, person B lost the most "weight." Would you prefer to be the person that weighs more @ 150lbs with 15% body fat, or the person that weighs less @ 100lbs with 50% body fat?

If you simply went by what's on the scale, you'd want to be person B (100lb, 50% body fat). If you went by the mirror, Person A weighs more actually looks better due to lower body fat percentage.

I hope that made sense. I suggest not getting fixated on some number on the scale. Use the mirror and go until you're happy.

Zombella

I am quite a while away from my goal weight, but I gave myself a weight that I want to get to, and then re-evaluate. People that are my height usually have a lower weight because I am short, but it depends on body type.

I say lose some more weight and see where you are. If you still have doubts, lose some more.

eatingfatbeingfat

The mirror is just not accurate....at all. People can rarely see themselves clearly. I have a great deal of trouble with this too, I really sympathize. I don't have the "You are getting too small" bit (I am at 169) but certainly have trouble assessing what I really look like. I am aiming for 140 (I am also 5'6'') figuring that is a healthy weight - and concentrating on adding muscle tone.

But it can be so damn frustrating.

samhennings

PortiaRuth wrote: »

I am really struggling with my opinion of my body. One minute, I feel like I am too big, and then the next minute I worry about becoming too skinny. I'm not on any particular diet, but I have been more aware of what I eat; counting calories and exercising (strength and cardio) 3x/week for 3 months now. I am 5'6 and started out at 155lbs; I am now down to 147 with 36-27-41 measurements.

The problem is---I can't settle on a goal weight! When I look in the mirror, part of me thinks I look fine the way I am. But as soon as I see a skinnier girl, I think I should be skinnier. Most people think I already am skinny and I'm crazy to be wanting to lose weight.
I vary between wanting to make my goal weight from 138-145lbs. I guess I just need any kind words of motivation, and/or any opinions of what my weight should be.

I stopped worrying about weight a while ago, and feel much better for it.

I instead focus on a goal physique. The weight is secondary.

Perhaps this would work for you? Is there a "body type" you would like? Perhaps a physique goal, abs for example. Or even a physical goal - run a 5k or something like that.


I arrived at this myself when I hit my original goal weight and didnt like what I saw in the mirror. I wasnt skinny fat, but I just had no shape or definition, and had certainly lost muscle in my weight loss process. Since when I decided upon lifting weights and getting fitter, Ive put on around 6lbs and feel so much happier with myself. I also feel very positive about what Im doing with my body and where it is heading.

Obviously I check in and keep an eye on my weight from time to time, but essentially Im eating right and exercising with a view to looking and feeling good (vain, I know) and the weight really isnt a concern to me all the while Im improving in the areas Im bothered with.

PortiaRuth

Thank you all for the support and suggestions! It's a big help in itself just knowing that others are going through the motions too