This is what 24 pounds can look like.

lacurandera1

I see a lot of people on here who are stuck on the numbers on the scale- who only see the measure of their success by pounds. I can't say that I was any different. When I started this, i really just wanted to be able to say that I weighed 140 lbs. My goals have changed, and now I don't really care if I weigh 140 or 160. Now I'm after a body. And it feels kind of good to be free from that stupid scale, to eat what I want (within reason) and know that i'm doing good for my body and fueling it instead of trying to limit what I eat. I started living healthier to reach a number. And it didn't take me very long to realize I wanted more than that. It became a lifestyle and constantly morphing goals as I achieved more and more of them. It turned into wanting to change my body composition and not just a number.

I do a ton of HIIT, run and left heavy 2 or 3 times a week. Kickboxing and zumba are sprinkled throughout my week, too. The muffin top is gone, my legs are smoother (i.e. no cellulite, dimples, etc). My butt is starting to look like I HAVE one (I never knew flat *ss was a condition of being out of shape. I thought it was genetic. lol) And....my bf has started calling me "two-pack."

I wanted to post these to show people how big of a difference a small-ish loss can be when you're really focusing on the overall picture and not just how much you weigh. Some of the things I did to encourage myself when I stopped losing weight was taking measurements and pictures. PICTURES! Take them! When you look in the mirror it's hard to tell the differences between yesterday and 2 weeks ago. But side by side, after all is said and done, you will see the changes. I recorded my measurements when I started and am still kind of surprised. I didn't think I HAD 6 inches to lose in my waist. Or 4 on my hips. I had this self image of myself when I was still in high school and was kind of shocked when I had my bf take my first pics.





I never realized I looked like this.




And I never realized I COULD look like this.



I mean I'm the laziest person in the world. But I had a health scare that I thought was caused by my creeping weight and it really motivated me. Additionally, I had noticed feeling sick and nauseous after eating. I had GERD symptoms for over a year. Like my body was telling me something was getting out of hand. I had never felt sick after eating before and it was kind of worrisome. I started exercising and then it snowballed. It turned into something I couldn't control. I quit smoking 4 months ago and my addiction to nicotine transferred to running and exercise in general. I told a friend who said she was proud of all I did that "If exercise wasn't good for me, it would be really, really bad, because it is absolutely an addiction."


I guess what I'm getting at is, don't give up. Do this for you, and no one else. Once you get where you're going, stay there. or go beyond it. Don't ever go back. Make this a true and lasting change in your life.

Sweetsugar0424

I couldn't agree more and can't wait to show what a 'measly' 40 lb loss looks like for me. I will be posting after my one year

Good for you for choosing to take that one step which turned in to a lifestyle. I'm glad to have you on my FL

emilypink573

Thanks for sharing! Sometimes i dont notice that just a few pounds makes a difference.

BrotherBill913

That's awesome congrats!! I'm not sure what I weigh. That sounds odd for being on here but I do know I am down 5 belt loops, yepp yepp More concerned with that than the scale. Keep it going!!

castell5

Congrats to you

rejordan

Now THAT was well said! As someone who has alot of weight to lose, I am so glad a to see a "smallish" (meaning smaller than me)person put it in perspective! Its not about the pounds! I was in class with a lady who looked twice as big as I did, but weighed 40-50 lbs less! Imagine my shock! Muscle looks different than flab folks! You look great shug!

lacurandera1

but I do know I am down 5 belt loops, yepp yepp

I know! I bought a belt that barely fit a few months ago, around my waist, which is not where I wear my jeans. And now it fits on the second loop, around my hips. These NSVs are often overlooked and really shouldn't be. they make me feel better than any pound down ever did.

vharding7

So inspiring!!! I am still struggling with the scale "complex" but now that I have added heavy lifting and HIIT training hopefully I can break free of it like you did! Congrats! Awesome job!!

Momjogger

That's great! I didn't have to track everything or that the scale didn't matter but it does for me. Most importantly because if I am not under a certain weight, I can't give a kidney to a family member who may need it, which is why I started this journey. I would gain the weight back if I was not vigilant. AND I have always enjoyed exercising, but that alone with healthy choices did not make a difference because even though I love fruit and vegetables and exercise, I was still eating too many calories. I have to do this consciously and mathematically in order for it to work. I am very happy for you. Maybe some day I can stay on track without thinking about it!

lacurandera1

Most importantly because if I am not under a certain weight, I can't give a kidney to a family member who may need it, which is why I started this journey.

This is a fantastic, super self-less reason for leading a more healthy lifestyle. How admirable.

lacurandera1

So inspiring!!! I am still struggling with the scale "complex" but now that I have added heavy lifting and HIIT training hopefully I can break free of it like you did! Congrats! Awesome job!!

You'll be so tickled by your weights results. I promise. Not only does it make you feel like a bad*ss, it really is a body transformer. Good luck!

mamasmaltz3

Thank you for sharing! You have inspired me today. I love the before and after pics. Hopefully someday I will have the confidence to post some.

BrotherBill913

but I do know I am down 5 belt loops, yepp yepp

I know! I bought a belt that barely fit a few months ago, around my waist, which is not where I wear my jeans. And now it fits on the second loop, around my hips. These NSVs are often overlooked and really shouldn't be. they make me feel better than any pound down ever did.

lowpro1983

Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

Oh...and you look GREAT!!!

BrotherBill913

That is so cool

jeremyw1977

What a difference! Great work getting to where you are.

lacurandera1

Thank you for sharing! You have inspired me today. I love the before and after pics. Hopefully someday I will have the confidence to post some.

You will, if only because you're like "dam* i look good!" lol. bc trust me, I really don't want that first picture out there anywhere.

JanaCanada

Wow.....washboard abs! You look marvelous!

lesita75

Congratulations on your achievements and thank you for sharing. It truly is the pictures and measurements that make me go "damn, I looked like that?!?!"

Mcgrawhaha

for the most part, i agree with you. however, for women who are pushing numbers on the scale close to 300 pounds, it means the world to watch that number go down. once your down, to a "normal" range, then sure, i could see the non-care in regards to the number. im about to finally get under 200, and to be honest, i dont care if i get to 160 or 180, just being under 200 is so special for me because i was upwards of almost 250 last christmas. there is a point where the numbers become less important and toning and body comp becomes most important, but some have to shed alot of pounds of fat to even get down to a point to see a muscle. so i think, for the most part, you make perfect sense, but for women who have a number on the scale that is not only extremely dangerous but downright embarassing... its nice to see that number go down...

NavyKnightAh13

I am hoping to be able to say "damn i look good" because I have never been able to say it. When i hit 243 last year, I said "enough" and once I had my son, i restarted my journey here on MFP. I can honestly say that originally I was aiming for 125, but i would much rather have a lean muscular look then anything and if that means weighing more then 125, so be it.

By the way, you look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lacurandera1

for the most part, i agree with you. however, for women who are pushing numbers on the scale close to 300 pounds, it means the world to watch that number go down. once your down, to a "normal" range, then sure, i could see the non-care in regards to the number. im about to finally get under 200, and to be honest, i dont care if i get to 160 or 180, just being under 200 is so special for me because i was upwards of almost 250 last christmas. there is a point where the numbers become less important and toning and body comp becomes most important, but some have to shed alot of pounds of fat to even get down to a point to see a muscle. so i think, for the most part, you make perfect sense, but for women who have a number on the scale that is not only extremely dangerous but downright embarassing... its nice to see that number go down...

You are absolutely right and I didn't mean to make it sound like it wasn't important. or exhilarating, or downright great! But, I see some people get very down bc, they didn't lose anything this week, or they gained a pound back, etc. but the gist is, if they've been working hard and eating right...they're changing their body composition! They may not see it on the scale or in the mirror, but they really are making changes, and it's important to not forget that!

dmkirk28

Awesome advice and inspirational pictures!!

nturner612

u look GREAT!! congrats on ur weight loss!!

firstsip

Nice work! Since losing weight and getting much fitter, I've actually STARTED having GERD. :laugh:

lacurandera1

Nice work! Since losing weight and getting much fitter, I've actually STARTED having GERD. :laugh:

Oh no! that really sucks! what is even up with that? Maybe a change in your diet that doesn't agree with you?

sherisse69

You look awesome! How tall are you? How long did it take you to see these changes? Great job!

lacurandera1

You look awesome! How tall are you? How long did it take you to see these changes? Great job!

Thanks! I am 5'9". I started in March of 2012. I'd say 3 or 4 months later I had lost 20 lbs. The other 4 came off suuuuper slowly but the inches were falling off even though the weight wasn't. Take into consideration, the 2nd pic is of me actively flexing my core, but it's so good to know that someday it's gonna look like that all the time!!!!

firstsip

Nice work! Since losing weight and getting much fitter, I've actually STARTED having GERD. :laugh:

Oh no! that really sucks! what is even up with that? Maybe a change in your diet that doesn't agree with you?

Worked with a GI to figure things out... unfortunately, almost every member of my family has GERD. Looks like I was just dodging it this whole time... so, I'm glad you overcame those symptoms! I sympathize with how much it sucks!

SexyLovinmeCook

Love your results....Good job

JennC831

You look great!!!