What's more important to you?

crystal9999

I always see people complaining on here about the scales not moving. So I ask this question, What's more important to you; the number on the scales, or the way you look in the mirror and the way you feel? If it's the number on the scale, then don't workout, don't lift weights and you can be skinny fat. If it's the way you look in the mirror, then lift weights and workout so you can be tone and fit. I wish people wouldn't get so obsessed over the number on the scales because when it doesn't move they get discouraged and give up. I'm one of those people, but I've changed my mindset and those devil scales do not control me anymore. That number is not what's important to me. I want to be strong, fit and healthy, not skinny fat. Also remember, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Muscle is however more dense than fat and therefore 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat. One more thing lean muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, even when you are doing absolutely nothing. Just some thoughts I had this morning. Have a good day.

quirkytizzy

Hm. I want to be skinny. Damn straight I do. I also want to rock the bikini that I was always terrified to wear even when I was skinny. I want to look better at 32 (6 months away) than I did at 25.

Getting there and STAYING there requires putting health and fitness above simple dietary changes. Thus I do. Being stronger, fitter, all of that - it feels great. It gives me more confidence than I would have thought possible. I am surprised and amazed at how getting healthier has been changing my composition, not just the number on the scale. Continuing these behaviors even AFTER I've hit goal weight is going to be important.

But I ain't gonna be able to rock the look I want to if I'm overweight. So yeah, that number on the scale? Pretty damned important, too.

crystal9999

I meant skinny fat.

crystal9999

And there is a BIG difference in a 130 lb skinny fat person, and a 130 lb toned person. So, those numbers on the scale can be very deceiving was the point.

quirkytizzy

Touche and good point.

Gwen_B

Love, love this post! I think there are way to many people on here obsessed with the scale. They weight everyday or log that they lost less than a pound... really? You can loose and gain up to 5 pounds in a day. I don't even own scales and probably weight myself 5 times in 10 year. I am more interested in the way you look in the mirror and the way you feel.

ChubbyMcFatpants

Ever since I started going to the gym, the number on the scale stopped moving. AND I AM ECSTATIC!

I am so psyched about the numbers staying the same or even creeping up a bit, because I know I am working hard, I know I am sticking to my calorie goal, and I know muscle weighs more than fat. So I just assume I am losing fat, gaining lean muscle, and that's making my numbers settle. It's actually really encouraging.

Good post! A lot of people are way too fixated on the numbers, and are not paying any attention to what their body is saying!

Aviva92

Also remember, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Muscle is however more dense than fat and therefore 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat.

doesn't that mean that muscle weighs more than fat?

crystal9999

Absolutely, I had to finally come to the realization that I have to look at the big picture and not just the number on the scales.

AmyRhubarb

Give me my tape measure, how I look & feel, and how my clothes fit over that silly scale any day.

I have been up and down with the same three pounds for over six months, but in that time I have lost fat and inches, and dropped a full pants size. :bigsmile: Who cares what the scale says?

Grab that measuring tape, take some photos - both are a better way to see your progress.

Lisa2bHappy

Hi crystal9999,
Great post :-) I agree with you

crystal9999

Also remember, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Muscle is however more dense than fat and therefore 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat.

doesn't that mean that muscle weighs more than fat?

1 lb of muscle equals 1 lb of fat, just like 1 lb of concrete equals 1 lb of feathers. It's just that the muscle and concrete take up less space.

fiberartist219

To be honest, neither. I don't care that much about my appearance or the scale. They are both just ways of measuring progress, but for me, the real motivation is my health. I want to feel strong and avoid diabetes.

The fact that working out and eating right makes me look better is icing on the cake. The real goal though is to be strong and healthy when I'm 80, and to feel good right now.

It's working... but it can be hard to tell at times how my progress is going. I just have to stick with the concept of eating well and working out and do it for years at a time. It took me about 2 years to lose 20lbs and a pant size, but the effort was worth it because I'm feeling more stable than I did before. It's a slow journey, but it's worth it.

Hezzietiger1

Also remember, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Muscle is however more dense than fat and therefore 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat.

doesn't that mean that muscle weighs more than fat?

muscle takes up less space than fat.. you Can have more weight in muscle and have a Smaller body. That's Why many people believe muscle weighs More...

roadtripper23

I lost 60 lbs in a matter of 6 months last year. The scale hasn't hardly moved since than, but I have been walking, doing pilates and yoga and eating right for the past year. Even though the scale hasn't moved I've gone down more than a dress size. For me it is all about feeling great and looking healthy and toned. I try not to be to concerned about the number on the scale, though I do watch it to make sure I don't go up since I've been battling the weight game for many years. Getting on once a week is important because it is easier to take off a two lbs gain than it is to take off a 10 lb weight gain.

Aviva92

Also remember, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Muscle is however more dense than fat and therefore 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat.

doesn't that mean that muscle weighs more than fat?

1 lb of muscle equals 1 lb of fat, just like 1 lb of concrete equals 1 lb of feathers. It's just that the muscle and concrete take up less space.

yes, i understand that, but the being more dense part means that muscle weighs more than fat. if you're going to compare 1 lb of anything to 1 lb of anything else of course they weigh the same. doesn't seem meaningful to say that.

onyxgirl17

Both. The scale is a partial marker of progress. I can usually tell when I'm thinner by looking in the mirror and all the people around me saying how much weight I've lost lol. Even though the scale didn't move at all the last month people who hadn't seen me in a month were like "oh you lost weight". wtf lol

deladypilot

Numbers on the scale are just feed back for me. Nothing more. Of course I do not want the number to be large but that being said. I could really care less what the number is if I look good in my skinny jeans.

I do belive you need to be conscience of the scale but not obsessed with it.

elisa123gal

yeah.. i get what you're saying...but the scale has to move...because when you're overweight..you're overweight. If a woman weighs 200 pounds and is supposed to be 135..it is disheartening when the scale stops at 170...she doesn't want to weight that..

I also see people on here who look fit muscle wise..but you can tell they still need to lose the weight...they look defined but big.

dperich1968

Healthy - for me I just want to be healthy. I struggle constantly with that damn scale. I am a petite 5'1" and every lb shows. But for me I want to run a 10K (soon) and beat my 5K PR. I eat healthy and love wine (that is my not losing weight problem).

I so need to start strength training more and that is my 2013 goal. The scale can collect dust and I will watch my clothes fit better and my endurance improve.

FitFabFlirty92

yeah.. i get what you're saying...but the scale has to move...because when you're overweight..you're overweight. If a woman weighs 200 pounds and is supposed to be 135..it is disheartening when the scale stops at 170...she doesn't want to weight that..

I also see people on here who look fit muscle wise..but you can tell they still need to lose the weight...they look defined but big.

Agreed. And not everyone wants muscle definition. I hate the term "skinny fat" because it comes off as kind of insulting. You're thin, overweight, or somewhere in between. But it doesn't make sense to look at someone who worked hard to get down to a healthy weight and say they're still "skinny fat" because they don't lift weights.

purpleipod

Right now? The number on the scale. This stems from the fact that I'm so overweight right now.

meshashesha2012

what's wrong with wanting both? it's possible to have both.

i'm still trying to figure out what's going with me because i'm not an exercise noob by any means so i know i'm not "building muscle" or any of the other ridiculous claim people want to use to explain why the scale isn't moving

my weight loss over the past year has fluctuated and i was up to 32 pounds loss. now i'm at 15 pounds lost because i've gained 17 pounds yet i'm still comfortably wearing the same size jeans now at 15 pounds loss as I was with 32 pounds loss. and no.. i didnt gain 17 pounds of muscle :laugh:

i'm still at a weight that regardless of what i look like, will some day not be good for my joints. so yeah, for me the number of the scale is just as important as my body composition

ckehoe89

It has taken me a long time to realize the importance of feeling good versus looking perfect. I think the media has a lot to do with how I felt about myself and the goals I had. After losing some weight (but not as much as I would have liked) I still didn't feel good. But after much contemplation, I have learned to love myself for who I am. And instead of focusing everything on how many calories I am burning when I get on the treadmill, I am focusing on how what I am doing is prolonging my life and creating a healthy and happy life. Now I know we all have weight loss concerns, and that's important too, but instead of thinking of what we are doing as weight loss and diets, we should think of it as a positive healthy lifestyle change,

bluefox9er

Numbers seem to be the ultimate validation for a lot of people. there's something so non-negotiable about them. It's so strange..when I was 170 lbs, people said i looked patsy and very ill, as I had gone to 170 from 265 lbs.

I weigh 165 now and look healthier, but people thought I looked 'thinner' when I was 5 lbs heavier.

avababy05

This is something I have to work on.I workout walking and running in intervals as well as weights.I've gone from a 16 to a 4 in the last three years.I'm 5'1 and weigh 130.My friend,same age and height is now also a size 4 but never works out and just lost 15 pounds using herbalife for a weight of 115.I find myself envying her weight even though I know I weigh more because I workout.I know it's not a competition but I would like to stop obsessing with the number and be happy with where I am.This is the smallest I've been in my adult life so I really would like to stop looking at that number 3 times a day.