10+ years later, 15 pounds heavier, but waist 1" smaller

I have been on what seems like the never ending quest to weigh what I did before I had my first daughter in 2006. I never weighed more than 129 before I got pregnant with her. For some reason, I feel I will have "arrived" when I get back into the 120s on the scale.

I have four daughters now and have gained and lost and gained and lost over the past decade. Still, I have never been able to get below 138 pounds.

I have been using MFP, lifting weights, and doing aerobics for the past year and have lost 15 pounds putting me at 141 pounds as of this morning.

But I had a major eye opening moment yesterday! I was sewing a dress for myself and I needed to reference an instructional book that I bought in 2004. I noticed that I had written my measurements in it. My waist was 30" and I was somewhere in the mid-120s weight wise. My waist is currently 29". Fifteen pounds heavier but my waist is 1" smaller!

I have always believed that body composition was the most important factor, but still felt like I needed to get that number down on the scale to get back to where I was before I had children. But I now realize that I have surpassed my goal and didn't even realize it! I am smaller and most definitely have way more muscle than I had at that point in my life.

I hope that this encourages someone else to realize that the number on the scale is just one factor in weight loss (and not a very good one). Taking measurements and progress photos will give you a much better indicator of your progress. I am so glad that I stumbled upon those measurements!