More proof that the scale lies! (pics)

LaurenAOK
LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
in Success Stories
I took some progress pics today because I was feeling a little discouraged. I was shocked and had to share my results!

Back in February I competed in a pageant and worked hard for months to get in shape for it. I got down to 125 pounds, my goal weight. I posted those "goal weight" pics here feeling very proud. After the pageant, I got a little out of control and gained back up to 133 or so. The past couple of months, I've been back to calorie counting, eating healthy, and working out consistently (I did my first triathlon last week so I trained hard for that!) Still, I'm hovering around 130-131 and can't seem to get below it. I was feeling very frustrated until I took these pictures.

Here are pictures of me at 125 and 130. I'm actually liking my physique better with the extra weight! My stomach looks just as flat (is it just me, or does my waist actually look smaller?), and my boobs and butt look better with the extra weight :happy: I wish I had a better side photo from 125, cause I know my butt did not look this good then.

125:

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130:

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And if that wasn't enough for you, here's MORE PROOF. I took these pics of my arm one month apart - May 15 and June 15. I don't think I lost any weight between then - maybe 1 pound - but my arms have DEFINITELY slimmed down. Crazy, huh?

PEV11Nrl.jpg
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BOTTOM LINE: The scale is a liar. It can definitely be a good measure of progress, especially when you're just starting out. But once you get to a healthy weight and you just want to progress yourself aesthetically, throw your scale out the window. Seriously.

:heart:
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Replies

  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    You definitely look stronger. Great job!!!
  • quietHiker
    quietHiker Posts: 1,442 Member
    Wow!!! :) Great pics! I'm in the same boat...got down to goal weight and gained back 5, but feel better than ever! Keep up the awesome work!
  • boredlimodriver
    boredlimodriver Posts: 264 Member
    agreed. track progress by the mirror, not the scale. i'm only down 8 pounds the last 3 months, but i look much different
  • MzIrish
    MzIrish Posts: 11,917 Member
    Great job !!
  • her4g63
    her4g63 Posts: 284 Member
    GREAT change in your arms! You can definitely see the difference and you look fabulous! (:
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    agreed. track progress by the mirror, not the scale. i'm only down 8 pounds the last 3 months, but i look much different

    And judging by your profile picture, you look awesome! Great job!
  • ken_hogan
    ken_hogan Posts: 854 Member
    All the pics look awesome! If I had to pick I would go with 130. Now to let my iPad cool off after looking at those smokin' hot pics! :)
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    that's awesome lauren!! hell yeah you can totally tell, you look banging in both but at a higher weight you do look slimmer. the scale is a filthy liar. i used to be an obsessive weigher but part of my recovery i'm just going by how i look and feel, and how my clothes fit. i have gained as well went up from 101 to not sure but prolly around 106 now and my stomach actually does look flatter, i've just been focusing on toning as well like you are. keep up the great work and i definitely need to toss my scale out the damn window!! you looked great in your pagent pictures too but you can see the progress and you definitely have been working hard because it shows! :drinker:
  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
    You look great! I think I need to start taking photos because I also get discouraged really easily, but I know that my body has changed. Your hard work is paying off!
  • Mario_Az
    Mario_Az Posts: 1,331 Member
    Looking good great job it is always great to take pictures of your progress so you can do what you just did and see your hard work and that will keep motivating you to keep going strong good luck. Train insaine or remaine the same
  • karllundy
    karllundy Posts: 1,490 Member
    You look fantastic! You can definitely see more definition in the "heavier" pics.
  • LexiAtel
    LexiAtel Posts: 228 Member
    Muscle weighs more than fat, and you are NOT fat... My Lord... great job! :)
  • missdoomcookie
    missdoomcookie Posts: 21
    Like others have said, you're clearly more muscular and muscle is heavy. You looked gorgeous then and look gorgeous now, though! :)
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    Wow- I remember seeing your success story and you looked gorgeous. But you do look way firmer and more fit now- awesome body. Thank you for sharing your continued success!
  • cplate
    cplate Posts: 16 Member
    Thank you for your post today.... I have being feeling frustrated since the scale is not moving... actually gained 2 lbs over the past few weeks. I think I am slimming down by taking off some inches. I guess I need to measure it by talking some photos....

    By the way... congrats. Your hard work is paying off!
  • iarelarry
    iarelarry Posts: 201 Member
    I just spent a fortune on my scale...:sad:
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    Thank you all! Yeah, I knew muscle was more dense than fat and the scale doesn't always tell the whole story. I honestly didn't think I was gaining any muscle, though! I was training for a traithlon, so that was mostly cardio. I also did the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution program which does have a lot of strength training, but it was generally high-rep low-weight type stuff. Which is the opposite of what I'm used to, because I normally go for strength programs like Stronglifts 5x5. I really wasn't expecting to see any results, but these photos tell a different story!
  • SexyLovinmeCook
    SexyLovinmeCook Posts: 1,393 Member
    Yep you look amazing...and so much tighter on the 130 picture....Thanks for the encouragement for the scale watchers and myself...Don't care myself for the sucker..bahaha
  • Whipppets
    Whipppets Posts: 267
    I agree I got down to my goal weight then put on 4lbs but everyone asks me if I lost weight.. I believe my waist is even
    smaller though I gained weight. I just feel fitter than when I am 165 I just feel to skinny.
    The 131 lb pics are fantastic.
  • tbodega
    tbodega Posts: 186
    You look hot both ways! Great work though!!
  • BeautifulByChoice
    BeautifulByChoice Posts: 60
    Such great motivation! You look awesome!
  • lawmaria
    lawmaria Posts: 184 Member
    great job and thanks for sharing. i hate the scale!!
  • Kath712
    Kath712 Posts: 1,263 Member
    You look fabulous! I totally agree - throw the scale away and just work on getting stronger and healthier! Who cares what number is on that silly little machine? No one knows but you. Keep up the great work!
  • aktodd13
    aktodd13 Posts: 1
    Thank you so much for posting this! I needed this motivation because I have only lost one single pound and have been ready to throw in the towel! I am going to take pictures to track my progress thanks to you!

    You look great!! Awesome job!
  • heatherloveslifting
    heatherloveslifting Posts: 1,428 Member
    Holy cow! You look amazing in both, but maybe a bit better at 130! You're gorgeous!!!!
    (And almost exactly my size, so now I really want to go take a pic and hope my scale lies even a fraction as much as yours!) :flowerforyou:
  • CandiQueen
    CandiQueen Posts: 57
    This is really motivating for me because I have been stuck around 127-129 for quite a while now, so maybe I should stop paying any attention to the scale and start paying more attention to how I look and feel. Go by measurements, not pounds!
  • myfitnesstracker1
    myfitnesstracker1 Posts: 6
    Thank you for sharing! The pictures show in an amazing way that the scale isn't the whole story and neither is a number.

    I've been obsessing over my goal weight. Somehow I like the number under 130, as if 129 is perfect and 130 is suddenly humungous. The problem I find is that I found it really hard to maintain my goal of 128, and so rather than going into maintenance was forever in weight loss mode.

    I've finally settled on a goal weight of 132 lbs that I think is most healthy for me, but sometimes I still struggle with being happy and motivated about it. Now that I see your pics, I realize how 132 can actually look better!
  • KimAggie04
    KimAggie04 Posts: 165 Member
    Congratulations! You look great!!

    I had something similar happen to me. It took me a year to lose 10 lbs with MFP. Then I had a small surgery and gained all the weight back in 6 months. I worked out and walked a lot during these last 6 months. The weird thing is that I still fit into my new (10 lbs lighter) clothing! Now I am doing Insanity and have seen very little progress on the scale, but I am definitely noticing on the mirror and in my clothes.
  • suelegal
    suelegal Posts: 1,282 Member
    Muscle weighs more than fat, and you are NOT fat... My Lord... great job! :)

    uh... no. A pound of muscles weight 1 pound, just like a pound of fat weighs 1 pound. Muscle is more dense and takes up less room than jiggly squishy fat.

    Lauren, you look awesome! Love that you are not just think, you are strong!! Keep up the great work!
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I've been obsessing over my goal weight. Somehow I like the number under 130, as if 129 is perfect and 130 is suddenly humungous. The problem I find is that I found it really hard to maintain my goal of 128, and so rather than going into maintenance was forever in weight loss mode.

    This is exactly what happened to me! I was somehow able to make it down to 125 for my pageant, but other than that I always pop back up to 130 or above. And my self esteem gets so much better when I'm below 130 - even 129, like you said - so that's why I'm hoping these pictures will help remind me that I don't need to be a certain weight to feel good about myself!

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