Why Weight Plateaus Don't Matter

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

Looking at my weight over the past year, it looks like I haven't done much.

This time last year I was at 133.2. Last month I got down to 130.2, and after increasing my carbohydrates by 5% and celebrating my b-day Tuesday, I'm up to 132.2, but that will drop back down in time. Over the summer I peaked at 139.2. So you could either say that I dropped from 139 to 130, and lost only 9 lbs in a year, or you could say that I only dropped from 133 to 130 and lost only 3 lbs in a year. Neither one sounds impressive, does it? Why, you might even say I had the plateau of a lifetime and the whole year was a total bust.

Oh, but wait. Then you look at my pictures.

March 2008

And March 2009

The scale does NOT have to move for you to see results.

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

Looking at my weight over the past year, it looks like I haven't done much.

This time last year I was at 133.2. Last month I got down to 130.2, and after increasing my carbohydrates by 5% and celebrating my b-day Tuesday, I'm up to 132.2, but that will drop back down in time. Over the summer I peaked at 139.2. So you could either say that I dropped from 139 to 130, and lost only 9 lbs in a year, or you could say that I only dropped from 133 to 130 and lost only 3 lbs in a year. Neither one sounds impressive, does it? Why, you might even say I had the plateau of a lifetime and the whole year was a total bust.

Oh, but wait. Then you look at my pictures.

March 2008

And March 2009

The scale does NOT have to move for you to see results.

arewethereyet · March 2009

WOW:noway:

So proud of you missy!!:flowerforyou:

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

Thanks

I'm not trying to boast, just pointing out that weight fluctuations are pretty superficial. There's really no reason to worry about a few pound gain here and there, especially when resistance training. No, you're not going to gain a lb of muscle in a week, but your body undergoes huge changes in other aspects when you start any exercise program. Everyone needs a floppy tape measure!

mizzymiz · March 2009

You look awesome! Not a plateau in sight!

Cheers! :drinker:

nearhart04 · March 2009

Very encouraging (and impressive, might I add)!!! I agree with you. While I would love to lose weight, I am more concerned about how I look. Being thicker but toned is way more attractive than thin and mushy. You've also just encouraged me to take some photos of myself... hopefully they will keep me motivated as they've done for you. Cheers!

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

Very encouraging (and impressive, might I add)!!! I agree with you. While I would love to lose weight, I am more concerned about how I look. Being thicker but toned is way more attractive than thin and mushy. You've also just encouraged me to take some photos of myself... hopefully they will keep me motivated as they've done for you. Cheers!

Photos are awesome! I was actually getting discouraged when I took this photo. I hadn't taken photos for about 6 months, and over the summer did visually add some abdominal fat, and I was just feeling tired from training hard and unsure of my progress because I hadn't really been looking at myself. When my bf took the pic I was really blown away because I had no idea my back had developed so much (unlike the Old Navy mannequins, I can't swivel my head to check out my butt! :laugh: )

Now when I'm feeling down or unmotivated I look at that and realize what good hard training will do. It doesn't matter what it does to the scale, just what it does to my body!

jljohnson · March 2009

Nice work SBS!! You are my inspiration right now. I'm about the same weight and only a few years older, but would love to be more toned.

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

Awwe, thank you! :flowerforyou:
It definitely takes a lot of work but I am really proud of what I've accomplished. I definitely look up to moms who have the motivation to be in shape...you already have your hands full (of cuteness!)!

mrsyac2 · March 2009

good post- Measuring yourself is key- the scale doesn't have to move for you to look like you dropped 15lbs because of toning and muscle- Checking fat percentage, and measuring yourself are better ways to check progress then just weighing

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

good post- Measuring yourself is key- the scale doesn't have to move for you to look like you dropped 15lbs because of toning and muscle- Checking fat percentage, and measuring yourself are better ways to check progress then just weighing

Exactly. Back when I first started in 2006, I dropped about 5 lbs in my first 5 weeks. That alone was a good loss, but I dropped an entire pant size and people really noticed, because it was almost entirely body fat (we did caliper measurements and determined how many lbs of fat: muscle were lost). So I maintained my muscle mass and lost a good chunk of fat (about the size of a big loaf of bread) even with a little 5 lb difference.

SHOPPINGDIVA · March 2009

that is freaking awesome,gosh i cant wait to look that good! you go girl:drinker:

SHOPPINGDIVA · March 2009

that is freaking awesome,gosh i cant wait to look that good! you go girl:drinker:

MissNova · March 2009

Thanks

I'm not trying to boast, just pointing out that weight fluctuations are pretty superficial. There's really no reason to worry about a few pound gain here and there, especially when resistance training. No, you're not going to gain a lb of muscle in a week, but your body undergoes huge changes in other aspects when you start any exercise program. Everyone needs a floppy tape measure!

Thanks, this makes me feel so much better!

Heather125 · March 2009

I think there's alot to lean from what you've just said way to go P.S. hope you had a good birthday

SGFlyinHi · March 2009

You are my idol, SBS. You look awesome!!!
I need to take my monthly updated pics. I'm a couple of weeks behind- oh well. Right now I'm not changing that much, or so I thought. My friend just told me that my legs look leaner and my trainer told me the same thing last week. I've been doing Jillian Michael's 'Making the Cut'. As soon as I take my new pics I'll know just how well it is working. :bigsmile:

Have fun tonight!!
:drinker: :drinker:

AmandaJ · March 2009

You look great, you have did amazing. Can I ask how tall you are?

kerrilucko · March 2009

wow huge difference! Not that you didn't look great, even in the before pic! :flowerforyou:

johnblake · March 2009

talk talk talk......................................turn around then we'll see how much of am improvemant

lotusfromthemud · March 2009

Thanks

I'm not trying to boast, just pointing out that weight fluctuations are pretty superficial. There's really no reason to worry about a few pound gain here and there, especially when resistance training. No, you're not going to gain a lb of muscle in a week, but your body undergoes huge changes in other aspects when you start any exercise program. Everyone needs a floppy tape measure!

Oh, you beautiful muscular girl, you. Bless you for posting this today.:flowerforyou: You've been my inspiration to really weight train. . .lifting heavy and working to failure. (things I used to do in my youth. . .)

Yesterday, in spinning I looked down at my arms and said "man, I'm getting definition." Then, the scale mocked me this a.m. and brought me down for nearly the entire day. I've promised myself that tomorrow I'm getting out my floppy tape measure (it's around here somewhere. . .) and, for the record I actually threw away my scale this morning.

LightenUp_Caro · March 2009

i mean, the pictures really speak for themselves!

You look fabulous!!! :flowerforyou:

Marla64 · March 2009

Awesome progress-- thanks for the needed reminder!!!!!!!

Mangoaddict · March 2009

you look great! What exercise routine do you have?

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

You look great, you have did amazing. Can I ask how tall you are?

Thank you!

I recently found out I'm not quite 5'0. More like 4'11.5. But I round to 2 significant figures so I'm 5'0. :bigsmile:

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

You are my idol, SBS. You look awesome!!!
I need to take my monthly updated pics. I'm a couple of weeks behind- oh well. Right now I'm not changing that much, or so I thought. My friend just told me that my legs look leaner and my trainer told me the same thing last week. I've been doing Jillian Michael's 'Making the Cut'. As soon as I take my new pics I'll know just how well it is working. :bigsmile:

Have fun tonight!!
:drinker: :drinker:

Awesome! I love it when people point things out. :smooched:

I did indeed have fun last night! I definitely indulged. :devil: I had:

Slow Comfortable Screw Against the Wall
Mint 2 Lips
Shot of Goldschlager
1/2 Dirty Martini
Irish Daydream
1 chocolate chip cookie
Most of a frosted cinnamon bun
2 BK Burger Bites (these were not impressive)

No hangover this morning because I drank TONS of water. Made myself scrambled eggs and waffles this morning. :happy:

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

talk talk talk......................................turn around then we'll see how much of am improvemant

LOL

The stuff in the front doesn't get 'built' like the stuff in the back.

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

Thanks

I'm not trying to boast, just pointing out that weight fluctuations are pretty superficial. There's really no reason to worry about a few pound gain here and there, especially when resistance training. No, you're not going to gain a lb of muscle in a week, but your body undergoes huge changes in other aspects when you start any exercise program. Everyone needs a floppy tape measure!

Oh, you beautiful muscular girl, you. Bless you for posting this today.:flowerforyou: You've been my inspiration to really weight train. . .lifting heavy and working to failure. (things I used to do in my youth. . .)

Yesterday, in spinning I looked down at my arms and said "man, I'm getting definition." Then, the scale mocked me this a.m. and brought me down for nearly the entire day. I've promised myself that tomorrow I'm getting out my floppy tape measure (it's around here somewhere. . .) and, for the record I actually threw away my scale this morning.

I'm so glad I inspire you to lift!! So many women (and men too!) miss out on that and it's really an integral part of a fitness lifestyle.

Good for you getting rid of the scale. I think they're only useful if the numbers have no mental effect. I use mine still because I know what to expect when I eat some junk food or increase/decrease my carbohydrate intake or exercise. But I rely on pictures and tape measure most of all. The scale only becomes really useful when you use it in conjunction with body fat tests to determine how much muscle you're retaining.

johnblake · March 2009

you look great, keep up the good work you'll be ready for a show before you know it

songbyrdsweet · March 2009

you look great, keep up the good work you'll be ready for a show before you know it

Thanks!

I donno if I want to do a show, but looking like I *could* do one wouldn't be bad. :laugh:

hmo4 · March 2009

Nicely done girl!:drinker:

beautifullyjaded · March 2009

haha my fiance said the same thing to me that even tho im not losing weight im still toning and getting defanition and he can totaly tell...i always though he was trying to be nice untill i read this and saw your pictures...now when he gets home from work im gonna give him a BIG hug!!! and now i feel better and not so down on being on a platue! woo hoo.

Why Weight Plateaus Don't Matter

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