The scale doesn't mean everything...Fat to Fit

200ripped · August 2016

Even at 6'2", I would have considered myself FAT at 246 lbs. I was lazy and did little to nothing in the way of exercise. I was very unfit and mostly comprised of fat. Its now a few years later, and I have logged in a lot of time at the gym lifting weights, and admittedly probably not as much cardio as I would like...but I do cardio. My weight has only dropped 26 lbs on the scale...but oh what a difference the gym has made! My pant size went from 40-42" down to 34". My strength has literally gone up 10 fold. I can now spend an hour on the elliptical machine at 7.5 mph, and my heart rate never goes over 135. At my fattest 246, I got winded going up one flight of stairs. I believe that while the scale has only moved 26 lbs, I probably have lost closer to 50 lbs of fat, and replaced 24 lbs of it with lean muscle mass. When I created this account long ago...I chose the name 200ripped, thinking I needed to be 200 lbs or less. Well, I have learned that actual weight on the scale means less than being FIT does. I'm just posting this because if you are doing everything in your power to lose weight by eating right and working your butt off in the gym...the scale results will be slower than hell (and its tough to stay motivated) however, there are changes occurring outside the scale that you can't put a price on.

Pinklacroix · August 2016

You look great! Just goes to show how little the scale actually tells you.

Laviegurl25 · August 2016

Great job!!!

KiyaK · August 2016

LOVE this. Thank you so much for sharing. So much truth.

thereshegoesagain · August 2016

You have done an amazing job! Thank you for the inspiration, it'll help me keep doing what I'm doing.

Madux1818 · August 2016

That's it , I'm ditching my scale! From now on I'm using my clothes to measure progress. I've been weighing myself weekly and get easily discouraged when the number has not moved especially when I know I've put in the work. So thanks for being an inspiration.

smkondy · August 2016

That is incredible!! Thanks for sharing-very motivating!!

bizygirl1 · August 2016

Congratulations! You look amazing. I'm trying so hard to get back into great physical shape. I get impatient and expect immediate results and then get down on myself. But I don't give up.

blizzardsmom · August 2016

wow you look amazing! your timing of this post is perfect. my scale hasn't been moving. thanks for the inspiration :-)

jbirdy76 · August 2016

Thanks for this post! It is a great reminder.

200ripped · August 2016

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm glad to be an inspiration or help in any way.

jun4Me · August 2016

Great Job! Insprirational to all of us.

Hornsby · August 2016

Good job, dude. What are your goals moving forward.

200ripped · August 2016

Hornsby wrote: »

Good job, dude. What are your goals moving forward.

My goal moving forward is to shred the remaining fat that I have while maintaining or even adding to my muscle mass. I think I can achieve a lot more definition with about 10-15 lbs more fat loss. If the scale only moves 5 lbs because of muscle gains....all the better.

Just FYI....I'm currently lifting weights 3 days a week: day1 (Mon)= chest/triceps day2 (Wed)=back/biceps day3 (Fri)=legs/shoulders.

I do try to lift heavy, increasing weight each set, 3 sets per exercise. My 3rd set is typically the most weight I can complete 10 reps with. I try to do 4 exercises for each body part.

I know the final fat loss needs to come from my nutrition, and while I am eating somewhat healthy...I am not near strict enough to achieve the results I want. I really need to get motivated to be able to cross my finish line.

Madux1818 · August 2016

200ripped wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

Good job, dude. What are your goals moving forward.

My goal moving forward is to shred the remaining fat that I have while maintaining or even adding to my muscle mass. I think I can achieve a lot more definition with about 10-15 lbs more fat loss. If the scale only moves 5 lbs because of muscle gains....all the better.

Just FYI....I'm currently lifting weights 3 days a week: day1 (Mon)= chest/triceps day2 (Wed)=back/biceps day3 (Fri)=legs/shoulders.

I do try to lift heavy, increasing weight each set, 3 sets per exercise. My 3rd set is typically the most weight I can complete 10 reps with. I try to do 4 exercises for each body part.

I know the final fat loss needs to come from my nutrition, and while I am eating somewhat healthy...I am not near strict enough to achieve the results I want. I really need to get motivated to be able to cross my finish line.

I
I was about to ask you about nutrition, again congratulations. How heavy do you lift?

Hornsby · August 2016

200ripped wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

Good job, dude. What are your goals moving forward.

My goal moving forward is to shred the remaining fat that I have while maintaining or even adding to my muscle mass. I think I can achieve a lot more definition with about 10-15 lbs more fat loss. If the scale only moves 5 lbs because of muscle gains....all the better.

Just FYI....I'm currently lifting weights 3 days a week: day1 (Mon)= chest/triceps day2 (Wed)=back/biceps day3 (Fri)=legs/shoulders.

I do try to lift heavy, increasing weight each set, 3 sets per exercise. My 3rd set is typically the most weight I can complete 10 reps with. I try to do 4 exercises for each body part.

I know the final fat loss needs to come from my nutrition, and while I am eating somewhat healthy...I am not near strict enough to achieve the results I want. I really need to get motivated to be able to cross my finish line.

Just eat at a slight deficit, get enough protein and lift some heavy stuff!! You'll get there. Great progress so far!

200ripped · August 2016

maddux1818 wrote:
I
I was about to ask you about nutrition, again congratulations. How heavy do you lift?

It differs depending on how I feel some days. Now I wouldn't say I was very strong compared to others at the gym, but my 3rd set (10 reps) of a couple popular exercises would be:
Bench = 225
individual arm bicep curls = 55
I go to planet fitness, so many of the weights I use are with machines where I can select weight by the weight stack. It is very convenient.
My legs are very strong from my tennis days (I was competitive in my 20's) however my knees took their toll from beating the hard courts for 15 years. I am careful not to use the amount of weight that I can with legs because my knees hurt if I do, so those numbers would seem very small.

Thank you Hornsby. You are looking quite ripped there yourself...

rebeccaEsmith · August 2016

Love ya work

Goddesskat · August 2016

200ripped wrote: »

Even at 6'2", I would have considered myself FAT at 246 lbs. I was lazy and did little to nothing in the way of exercise. I was very unfit and mostly comprised of fat. Its now a few years later, and I have logged in a lot of time at the gym lifting weights, and admittedly probably not as much cardio as I would like...but I do cardio. My weight has only dropped 26 lbs on the scale...but oh what a difference the gym has made! My pant size went from 40-42" down to 34". My strength has literally gone up 10 fold. I can now spend an hour on the elliptical machine at 7.5 mph, and my heart rate never goes over 135. At my fattest 246, I got winded going up one flight of stairs. I believe that while the scale has only moved 26 lbs, I probably have lost closer to 50 lbs of fat, and replaced 24 lbs of it with lean muscle mass. When I created this account long ago...I chose the name 200ripped, thinking I needed to be 200 lbs or less. Well, I have learned that actual weight on the scale means less than being FIT does. I'm just posting this because if you are doing everything in your power to lose weight by eating right and working your butt off in the gym...the scale results will be slower than hell (and its tough to stay motivated) however, there are changes occurring outside the scale that you can't put a price on.

Goddesskat · August 2016

I read your caption today which prompted me to read your story. Thank you for the confirmation I needed to not worry about what the scale says because I too am overweight and I have in my mind that I need to lose close to 90 lbs. I started a regime on June 22nd of this year with watching what I eat and Walking. I talk to my walking partner about how the scale doesn't seem to be moving, but my clothes are feeling a lot different already. She said to just keep it up and eventually I will see the results. So far, I've lost 12 inches off my body and only 9 lbs. It's really a slow process and I guess that's the way it is supposed to be. I was 262 lbs. when I made this decision. I had hurt myself and was not able to move for a year which put me up to 276 lbs. Short of breath and getting depressed about my body image, I didn't think there was much hope of getting some of this off. I did try and watch what I ate so I lost 20 lbs. from that till I got here to MFP which I know I'm going to have to do regularily from now on to keep track of myself and where I'm at. I weigh 253.6lbs. now. So, I guess when I look at how I've been guided to right where I am, I see the progress. Thank you once again for Inspiring Me today. I am very grateful for people like you who share their magificent stories.

Madux1818 · August 2016

Hornsby wrote: »

200ripped wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

Good job, dude. What are your goals moving forward.

My goal moving forward is to shred the remaining fat that I have while maintaining or even adding to my muscle mass. I think I can achieve a lot more definition with about 10-15 lbs more fat loss. If the scale only moves 5 lbs because of muscle gains....all the better.

Just FYI....I'm currently lifting weights 3 days a week: day1 (Mon)= chest/triceps day2 (Wed)=back/biceps day3 (Fri)=legs/shoulders.

I do try to lift heavy, increasing weight each set, 3 sets per exercise. My 3rd set is typically the most weight I can complete 10 reps with. I try to do 4 exercises for each body part.

I know the final fat loss needs to come from my nutrition, and while I am eating somewhat healthy...I am not near strict enough to achieve the results I want. I really need to get motivated to be able to cross my finish line.

Just eat at a slight deficit, get enough protein and lift some heavy stuff!! You'll get there. Great progress so far!

Me again, what exercises are you doing for your core, seems that's where you lost the most?

Madux1818 · August 2016

What sort of core exercises do you do, seems that's where the most inches fell off?

normalicia11 · August 2016

Awesome transformation!

santandr77 · September 2016

Well done chick

sandrachis · September 2016

Very encouraging! I've worked so hard and ended up gaining 4 pounds. Doctor says it's muscle. My clothes fit better and my singing has improved as well as my endurance. Singing starts with strong thighs, pelvis, abs and then lungs. Most people think just lungs. My director has us rehearse while sitting on exercise balls. You look teriffic.

rldeclercq4 · September 2016

As I've gone from 367 to 238 so far people are more and more regularly asking me what my goal weight is, knowing I'm ever closer to a healthy size. I tell them my ultimate goal isn't actually a weight but to have a six pack. They laugh and then say "but really, what's your goal weight?" To which I respond by saying "I guess whatever I weigh when I have a noticeable six pack."

For me it's about looking as good as I feel and being fit and healthy - not achieving a number on a scale. My brother, who never exercises, is like 5'11" and 160 lbs and at this point I'm sure my cardio fitness level and strength level are both better than his... But it's not a competition

Madux1818 · September 2016

rldeclercq4 wrote: »

As I've gone from 367 to 238 so far people are more and more regularly asking me what my goal weight is, knowing I'm ever closer to a healthy size. I tell them my ultimate goal isn't actually a weight but to have a six pack. They laugh and then say "but really, what's your goal weight?" To which I respond by saying "I guess whatever I weigh when I have a noticeable six pack."

For me it's about looking as good as I feel and being fit and healthy - not achieving a number on a scale. My brother, who never exercises, is like 5'11" and 160 lbs and at this point I'm sure my cardio fitness level and strength level are both better than his... But it's not a competition

You look good on your profile picture, you must be tall because at 238 you look like you're already at your goal. I too have adopted no scale , with emphasis on weight training mostly.I wish op (original) would respond to all our questions so we can learn from him.