Ditch the scale, really!!

HappilyLifts · March 2013

here's why:
(please right click image and select 'view image' as I'm not sure how to make all 7 images fit to this page)

discovered that I look almost the same as I did when I weighed 159 pounds in 2007 and did nothing but jog a couple of times a week (photo on the left).
Middle photos are me at my heaviest, 212 pounds.
Photos to the right are of me last week back into UK size 12 gym leggings after a year of cardio and strength, up to five days a week all weeks barring illness and holidays away from home.
I was a size 12 back in 2007, but the strange thing is, I now weigh 185, not 159 pounds.
I gained about 3 pounds two weeks ago and I haven't been able to shift them and have been feeling pretty fed up and my eating habits were starting to suffer as I beat myself up over it and beginning to not care. Feeling a bit better now!
My message to you is -
The scales are TERRIBLE indicators of progress sometimes! Please don't rely soley on them. Take photos, measurements, go by how your clothes fit, anything but let the scales bring you down!

JerseyGirlinTN · March 2013

Excellent comparison!!! Thank you!

SnicciFit · March 2013

wow! I agree that the scale is a terrible indicator of health (or size for that matter). Great comparison!

lalaglo30 · March 2013

Scales definitely don't tell all. I know women who are my size that weigh the same but look heavier and I know women who weigh alot less than me but look the same as me and wear the same size. It's all about muscle mass and how you hold the weight.

StheK · March 2013

I agree, in general. Although when you're as heavy as I am and trying to stay motivated, weighing every once in a while is the only obvious way you can measure progress and know that all your hard work is having an impact. But it certainly isn't the only (or even the most important) way, and I think that the longer you have been successful towards your goals, the less the scale should factor in. At least, that's what makes sense for me.

MommyofTwinies31 · March 2013

I agree you look amazing

christineoak · March 2013

ty for the post, i needed that. haven't been able to drop below 180 lbs and have been getting very discouraged. but i have seen a difference in how my clothes fit and yes even my shoes! and my diastasis recti has almost disappeared!

GCPgirl · March 2013

That is so true! I went to an exercise class last Friday and after I told the instructor I wanted to lose 30 LBS she said that is too much and asked me what I thought she weighed. I said 125LBS even though she looked smaller...she weighed 142LBS!

I still keep that little black dress that I can't fit into and when I do I know I have reached my goal!

You look great!

Lupercalia · March 2013

That's a fantastic illustration of why scales can be so stupid, especially for those of us who are strength training. Thanks for sharing your photos and your experience. :flowerforyou:

NHoughton13 · March 2013

I have slowly been learning this, but it's hard. I feel better and can see a difference in the mirror, so it must be true!!

Congats, you look great!

charlie42 · March 2013

Great job! Congrats!

langsyne · March 2013

Scales can do more harm than good. A lot of the time they are damn depressing because of weight fluctuations
and seeing no progress can lead people to throw in the towel.
Better to go by how your clothes are fitting, or waist measurements.

ChgingMe · March 2013

Scales definitely don't tell all. I know women who are my size that weigh the same but look heavier and I know women who weigh alot less than me but look the same as me and wear the same size. It's all about muscle mass and how you hold the weight.

Amen. Coworker is 148 I'm 175. She looks like shes about 20 pounds heavier than me. I work out, she does not.

angieleighbyrd · March 2013

You look great and thank you for this.

I have a number in my head that i'd like to get to, but i've been at the same weight for months. I'm now working more on strength and even though the scale is the same my clothes are a lot looser. it's just hard getting that goal number out of my head. i took before pictures when i started p90x so even if the scale doesn't drop at my next weigh in i'm hoping comparison pictures will help my attitude.

perfectionisntme · March 2013

Even more motivation for me to keep with measurements and not the scale. Great work!

ChgingMe · March 2013

That is so true! I went to an exercise class last Friday and after I told the instructor I wanted to lose 30 LBS she said that is too much and asked me what I thought she weighed. I said 125LBS even though she looked smaller...she weighed 142LBS!

I still keep that little black dress that I can't fit into and when I do I know I have reached my goal!

You look great!

Yep Im striving for a size 8. Whatever that weighs. I'm currently at about 172ish and a size 12.

NavyKnightAh13 · March 2013

I agree. While it would be nice to weigh 142 by now......I decided that since my body won't move out of the 160's, for now 167.2lbs, I am wearing smaller clothes (mostly mediums in tops, and size 11 jeans which are starting to get a little big on me) and honestly as long as as that is happening, my scale can go shove it.

Btw, you look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AngisBubis · March 2013

Thanks for sharing those pictures. I need to take that advice. I am hooked on weighing in daily! It is very discouraging at times.

ruwise · March 2013

This time around i think I'm much more aware of that so i weigh myself weekly but am also taking measurements and my body fat % monthly. That way if my weight doesn't go down I can still see if I'm being successful by those other factors.

leeannewgeorge · March 2013

I totally agree. You look fabulous! I have steadily gained weight over the last 3 years. (Lost my exercise buddy, lost my job, etc.) Now I am back at the gym and for motivation I have hung all the clothes I purchased as I got bigger on a spare rack in the closet according to decreasing size. As I fit back in to them, I move them to the rack where I hang my current wardrobe. It makes me feel great to move something over!

kolkol · March 2013

I think you look a slight bit smaller in the ones now weighing more than the old one when you just ran. I am convinced myself that I too even though I am 15 lbs larger than I was last year at this time feel as small as I did then. Just the feeling of not having a huge belly poking out.

HappilyLifts · March 2013

thanks for the comments and I'm glad it's helped some of you.

Interestingly, before I put those photos together, I was thinking I'd like to lose the same amount again that I've already lost (28 pounds...or 25 if you count my recent gain!)
I'm not so sure this is my goal anymore.
In fact, it's made me start reconsidering my whole outlook.
If I'm not interested in what the scale says, maybe I don't need to be calorie counting anymore? Maybe I should just try eating healthily and stick with one of some of the small treats that I know are under 200 calories. I could check that I'm not going wrong with my tape measure since I take regular measurements with it.

It sure would save alot of time if I wasn't tracking calories, but I'm just not sure I'm brave enough to not track them, or even if there are any cons that outweigh the pros.

Timshel_ · March 2013

I agree, in general.

In the end it really just matters how you feel.I like to track my weight to see how different eating or exercising effects my body though.

tryinghard71 · March 2013

Agree. Measuring is more important than the scale for progress.

Jesslins · March 2013

Wow thanks for posting this! I have been getting upset and beating myself up because I've been working my *kitten* off and the scale is stuck! I can't get it down! Been trying for 2 weeks and I workout EVERY night! and Eating right! Last night it said I gained 4 pounds! I wanted to give up and leave the gym and cry!! haha. But I stuck with my workout. Its depressing! But this just made my day! Thanks for the motivation! I needed it!! : )

HappilyLifts · March 2013

I think you look a slight bit smaller in the ones now weighing more than the old one when you just ran.

You just made my day even better, thanks! :laugh:

HappilyLifts · March 2013

Wow thanks for posting this! I have been getting upset and beating myself up because I've been working my *kitten* off and the scale is stuck! I can't get it down! Been trying for 2 weeks and I workout EVERY night! and Eating right! Last night it said I gained 4 pounds! I wanted to give up and leave the gym and cry!! haha. But I stuck with my workout. Its depressing! But this just made my day! Thanks for the motivation! I needed it!! : )

you're welcome. Like you I've been SO distracted and lost sight of what I have achieved week in week out just because the scale says I'm up on my last reading. I have weighed most days for a whole year, but why? I never get on thinking "it's gonna be a good one!", it's just torture nine times out of ten!

LibertyBelle89 · March 2013

this is me to a T! this was very motivating, I sure needed it today

RepsnSets · March 2013

It was a struggle at first for me but Im building a relationship with the tape measure rather than the scale. I also took pics at the start and updated them a couple of weeks ago with a huge difference in body shape (for the better)

Thanks for your post. Im sure many members here will find your thread beneficial.

You look awesome

mammakisses · March 2013

Amazing! After looking at your pics I went to look at myself in the mirror along with my before pic and with only 5pounds down I can see a huge difference in my belly. Thanks for sharing

HappilyLifts · March 2013

Amazing! After looking at your pics I went to look at myself in the mirror along with my before pic and with only 5pounds down I can see a huge difference in my belly. Thanks for sharing

that's fantastic! Well done

Ditch the scale, really!!

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