Forget the scale - my Stage 1 Results (pics)
phizzylizzy
Posts: 94 Member
I've been lurking on MFP for a few years, making maybe 4 posts in that time. Today is the day I finally have real progress to share!
On Saturday I finished the last scheduled workout of Stage 1, and I feel fantastic! I am doing AMRAP tonight, not necessarily for the workout (technically, this is my “rest” week), but because I feel so proud of the gains I've made with weights. I never thought such a thing would excite me so much, but I tell ya – I walk into the weight room like I own it. Like many others who have done the program, I haven’t lost any weight (in fact, I've gained almost 4 pounds) which seems counter-intuitive to my efforts, but I have lost 6 inches! And my pictures show a world of difference to me. I’m paying attention to the positive results from this program, and refocusing my efforts for the next Stage; specifically, lowering my calorie intake while maintaining my macros. If anyone else plans to hone in on nutrition and is aiming for around 1800 calories, I would love to friend up for trading recipes, tricks and support. In fact, anyone doing the program who would like some additional support, please add me!
Strength Gains
Workout A
Squats – 24 lbs -> 125 lbs
Push ups – 15 on knees -> 8 real push ups (2 out of 3 sets)
Seated row – 30 lbs -> 80 lbs
Step-up – 20 lbs on low step -> 24 lbs on high step
Prone jack knife – 8 -> 15
Workout B
Deadlift – 40 lbs -> 115 lbs
Dumbbell shoulder press – 12 lbs in each arm -> 25 lbs in each arm
Wide-grip lat pulldown – 57 lbs -> 99 lbs
Lunge – 24 lbs -> 60 lbs
Swiss ball crunch – 8 lbs -> 15 + 15lb weight
Stats:
Weight: 159 to 162.8
Triceps:13 to 12.5
Chest: 38.75 to 37.75
Ribcage: 33.75 to 32.5
Waist: 32.25 to 31.25
Abdomen (pooch): 36.5 to 35
Hips: 40 to 39.75
Thigh: 24.25 to 24
Calf: 14.25 -SAME
+3.8 lbs, lost 6 inches
OMG, pictures.
Before Stage 1:
After:
Before:
After:
And, before:
After:
My goal in posting this is to celebrate my success and hard work, stay motivated, and eventually look back at this post and see even more significant changes. Thanks for listening!
On Saturday I finished the last scheduled workout of Stage 1, and I feel fantastic! I am doing AMRAP tonight, not necessarily for the workout (technically, this is my “rest” week), but because I feel so proud of the gains I've made with weights. I never thought such a thing would excite me so much, but I tell ya – I walk into the weight room like I own it. Like many others who have done the program, I haven’t lost any weight (in fact, I've gained almost 4 pounds) which seems counter-intuitive to my efforts, but I have lost 6 inches! And my pictures show a world of difference to me. I’m paying attention to the positive results from this program, and refocusing my efforts for the next Stage; specifically, lowering my calorie intake while maintaining my macros. If anyone else plans to hone in on nutrition and is aiming for around 1800 calories, I would love to friend up for trading recipes, tricks and support. In fact, anyone doing the program who would like some additional support, please add me!
Strength Gains
Workout A
Squats – 24 lbs -> 125 lbs
Push ups – 15 on knees -> 8 real push ups (2 out of 3 sets)
Seated row – 30 lbs -> 80 lbs
Step-up – 20 lbs on low step -> 24 lbs on high step
Prone jack knife – 8 -> 15
Workout B
Deadlift – 40 lbs -> 115 lbs
Dumbbell shoulder press – 12 lbs in each arm -> 25 lbs in each arm
Wide-grip lat pulldown – 57 lbs -> 99 lbs
Lunge – 24 lbs -> 60 lbs
Swiss ball crunch – 8 lbs -> 15 + 15lb weight
Stats:
Weight: 159 to 162.8
Triceps:13 to 12.5
Chest: 38.75 to 37.75
Ribcage: 33.75 to 32.5
Waist: 32.25 to 31.25
Abdomen (pooch): 36.5 to 35
Hips: 40 to 39.75
Thigh: 24.25 to 24
Calf: 14.25 -SAME
+3.8 lbs, lost 6 inches
OMG, pictures.
Before Stage 1:
After:
Before:
After:
And, before:
After:
My goal in posting this is to celebrate my success and hard work, stay motivated, and eventually look back at this post and see even more significant changes. Thanks for listening!
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Replies
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Great results just from one stage! Awesome, keep it up, keep your diet in check and you'll be amazed at the end of stage 7!!
And oh yeah, scales suck!0 -
Awesome job!, You look fabulous, can't wait to see progress pics in stage 7. Keep up the hard work!0
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Amazing results! Keep us posted on the rest of your journey! I'm on Stage 1 Workout 4 and started out at about the same weights you did, I can't imagine ending up with those numbers! :-)0
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nice work! keep it up!0
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Great job! You are definitely more toned! Keep up the effort0
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Great job!!!!0
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DYNAMITE!!! You are doing great! keep it up!0
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I totally needed to see this today! I'm halfway through Stage 1 and discouraged that I'm gaining on the scale and not feeling like my results are visible yet. I'm going to keep sticking to the program and look forward to having similar success! Thanks for the motivation!!0
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Wow awesome results! I enjoy reading these post because it pushing me to work harder. I just finished stage one myself and am excited to move on to the next :-)0
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Very nice job! All your hard work shows. You're smaller all over. The scale is a liar!0
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Inspirational! Just goes to prove that the scales are not an accurate measure and other measurements give a much better idea of improvements. Well done.0
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A big congratulations on all your achievements! Its amazing what you can do after 8 short weeks of hard work. I hope I can squat and deadlift that much soon too. As for the inches lost WOW!
I'm wrapping up S1 week 3 and am getting discouraged because the scale is up 3 lbs and my trousers are feeling real tight. Seeing this is so motivational and I am going to use it to keep myself focused so thank-you for sharing.0 -
Really great progress! Thanks for sharing!0
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Thanks for sharing! You look amazing already! You can definitely see the changes.0
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A big congratulations on all your achievements! Its amazing what you can do after 8 short weeks of hard work. I hope I can squat and deadlift that much soon too. As for the inches lost WOW!
I'm wrapping up S1 week 3 and am getting discouraged because the scale is up 3 lbs and my trousers are feeling real tight. Seeing this is so motivational and I am going to use it to keep myself focused so thank-you for sharing.
My trousers got tight too (my only pair of work pants that still fit btw...). My pals can attest to my flip out about it. :P LOL
I am here to say that it DOES get better. My pants are no longer uncomfortably tight. I am going to be finishing up Stage 1 on Monday (only 2 workouts to go!).0 -
OP: Thanks for the post! I needed that sort of motivation. I don't know how much change I will personally see after Stage 1, but it inspires me to know that changes WILL happen! 0
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Wow, that's awesome progress!!
Hopefully those side-by-sides will COMPLETELY propel you to the finish-line in the program.
Nicely done!0 -
Thank you so much for posting this! I'm in the same boat as some of the others here, my weight just seems to be going up and pants are tight. I've got two more weeks in stage one so I'm hoping I can see change at the end of it! I don't care what the scale says, I just want to wear my pants again! (Though I must admit that i'm glad to have lots of skirts/dresses and it's FINALLY warm enough in Michigan to wear them).0
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Awesome progress and just in Stage 1, can't wait to see the change over time!!! I'm just about to start Stage 5:)0
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Wow! Thanks for sharing...such an inspiration! How tall are you by the way?0
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wow!! those are awesome stage 1 results!! keep going strong 0
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A big congratulations on all your achievements! Its amazing what you can do after 8 short weeks of hard work. I hope I can squat and deadlift that much soon too. As for the inches lost WOW!
I'm wrapping up S1 week 3 and am getting discouraged because the scale is up 3 lbs and my trousers are feeling real tight. Seeing this is so motivational and I am going to use it to keep myself focused so thank-you for sharing.
My trousers got tight too (my only pair of work pants that still fit btw...). My pals can attest to my flip out about it. :P LOL
I am here to say that it DOES get better. My pants are no longer uncomfortably tight. I am going to be finishing up Stage 1 on Monday (only 2 workouts to go!).
Thank-you for your reply, I really needed to hear this! I had been eating at TDEE since I started but I'm readjusting to TDEE-20% this week so hopefully, that will help too.0 -
Thank you so much for posting this! I'm in the same boat as some of the others here, my weight just seems to be going up and pants are tight. I've got two more weeks in stage one so I'm hoping I can see change at the end of it! I don't care what the scale says, I just want to wear my pants again! (Though I must admit that i'm glad to have lots of skirts/dresses and it's FINALLY warm enough in Michigan to wear them).
LOL! I'm going to go invest in some skirts this weekend and maybe then I'll stop flipping out about my jeans looking like they've been sprayed on! When I'm wearing my workout gear I feel strong and invincible (thank-you lycra) but when I get home and have to get dressed in normal clothes, its heartbreaking. But we're strong, there's nothing we can't do and this is just another hurdle on the way to the finish line. At least, that's what I tell myself 0 -
Thank you so much for posting this! I'm in the same boat as some of the others here, my weight just seems to be going up and pants are tight. I've got two more weeks in stage one so I'm hoping I can see change at the end of it! I don't care what the scale says, I just want to wear my pants again! (Though I must admit that i'm glad to have lots of skirts/dresses and it's FINALLY warm enough in Michigan to wear them).
LOL! I'm going to go invest in some skirts this weekend and maybe then I'll stop flipping out about my jeans looking like they've been sprayed on! When I'm wearing my workout gear I feel strong and invincible (thank-you lycra) but when I get home and have to get dressed in normal clothes, its heartbreaking. But we're strong, there's nothing we can't do and this is just another hurdle on the way to the finish line. At least, that's what I tell myself
I agree with the workout/normal clothes sentiment! I started at the cut level (I know TDEE is recommended at first, but I wasn't eating super low calorie prior to starting).
We just have to be patient. I would say the earliest to start changing it up if it isn't working quite right is 6-8 weeks. I don't mean freak out and drop to crazy low calories or anything, I mean minor tweaks/adjustments. The calories suggested in the book are just estimations. Even the author recommends listening to your body, but you do have to be patient and consistent and give it a good go first.
I plan to check my progress this weekend! At that point, I will only have one workout left in stage 1 (which will be completed on Monday).0 -
Amazing! I'm really glad you posted this because I'm in stage 1 workout 3. I can't wait to see what the end of stage 1 will do for me.0
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I do know so many are in the same boat but its so reassuring to see some of my same concerns and frustrations reflected back at me. Definitely makes me feel like I'm not alone out here! If I could wear my workout pants all the time (not the ones in the pictures, but my super sucker-inners with amazing optical illusions built in), I totally would. I just keep watching the Success Stories, and all of the gals on this discussion board with their amazing strength, weight-lifting savvy and buff arms. They/you help me keep on. I can't wait to post new pics adopting a new nutrition strategy (going nicely so far) and upping my time in the gym with longer workouts in Stage 2. Its been fun after being on MFP in fits and starts to finally settle in and get involved in this amazing community. To those working on Stage 1, way to go because you are on the path - finishing 16 workouts in a program is incredible and will pay off!!! 0
