Scale not moving? Don't freak out - see photos

thecrossfitter
thecrossfitter Posts: 424 Member
edited October 6 in Motivation and Support
I've seen a lot of my MFP friends discouraged because they don't feel like they are making progress, especially due to scale anxiety! Here is why you should NOT give up if you don't see the scale moving.

The following are photos of me from this year. I started strength training in August. I initially went to crossfit 3 times a week, then 4 and then at the end of October was up to 5 days a week. (As you can see, I saw results from going 3-4 days a week. I go 5 days a week because I love it! And I'm seeing even more results in my strength.) BUT if I let the scale measure my success, I might have felt like giving up.

Photo 1: August 146.4lbs
Photo 2: September ??lbs
Photo 3: November 150lbs
*Seriously - these first three photos show me gaining almost 5 lbs. It wasn't until the past three weeks I've seen the weight starting to drop. My hypothesis is this is because I was new to weight training.
Photo 4: December 144.5lbs

Screenshot2011-12-13at21427PM-1.png
*** I am 5' 5" for those who asked :)

If I let the scale measure my success, all I could do was say that I've lost a measly 1.9lbs since I started four months ago. The scale is only one tool of measurement you have.

Take photos. I seriously hardly felt like I made much progress month to month. Until I saw them lined up side by side.
Take measurements! (I haven't measured since August - I'll keep you posted.)

I have the following hanging on my refrigerator:
http://12most.com/2011/10/21/12-fundamental-habits-super-fit/ (Thanks runswithdogs)
I made a decision that these things would be me. And they are! Stay positive - no excuses - make good choices (and when you make poor ones, stop beating yourself up and get back on that horse!)

Why else have I seen success? Because I love the process just as much as the results! And it's a choice I make every single day.

You got this!

Edit 2: My food diary is wide open if you're interested. I'm eating around 1700-1900 calories a day - I've cut out processed foods from my diet except for occasional treats (one or two meals on the weekend - not the entire weekend - occasion beer with dinner). I eat fresh meat and produce for almost every meal. I pre-prepare food on the weekend. I make sure I ALWAYS have these foods in my home so I won't feel stuck (my boyfriend eats a lot of things I don't). My exercise days are not optional - despite working full time and going to grad school, I work my life around it :)
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Replies

  • Brendevi
    Brendevi Posts: 5
    :heart: This is great thanks for posting it!
  • 21katykat01
    21katykat01 Posts: 51
    Wow you look fantastic! Grats! :)
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    I've started taking measurements and I just love watching them melt away. You look awesome!
  • trenley
    trenley Posts: 35 Member
    Thank you! People (including myself at some times) rely on the scale numbers far too much, when we really should rely on the results we see in the mirror and how we feel. This is especially difficult for people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder or any eating disorder because the mirror image is mentally distorted. So I really recommend taking pictures at intervals like you did.

    By the way, rockin body!! :D
  • OLFATUG
    OLFATUG Posts: 393 Member
    You look amazing.
    You are dead on with not letting the scale tell you that you're not doing it right.
    You look amazing. :)
  • miovlb6
    miovlb6 Posts: 339 Member
    I'd hang those progress pics on my fridge...you look great!
  • kieva626
    kieva626 Posts: 191 Member
    nice!!! and you look great!! random, i love that nike bra btw! lol
  • chrissyv1024
    chrissyv1024 Posts: 97 Member
    Thanks for posting!! You look fab! Thanks for adding that link too!
  • DarkAngellEyes
    DarkAngellEyes Posts: 317 Member
    You look amazing! I've been reading up about getting into serious strength training and I think I'm finally ready to get started... you're an inspiration...
  • emyback68
    emyback68 Posts: 89
    thank you! The link is great too! (And you look fantastic!)
  • Laura_Ivy
    Laura_Ivy Posts: 555 Member
    You look amazing!! How tall are you because you look really fit! :)
  • staceyb2003
    staceyb2003 Posts: 203 Member
    thanks for posting this. My husband and other people say they can see results with me, but I don't see them on the scale. Not seeing it on the scale does get frustrating.
  • handy05
    handy05 Posts: 53 Member
    Awesome! Thanks for the encouragement! Inspirational! You look great also! :drinker:
  • thecrossfitter
    thecrossfitter Posts: 424 Member
    You look amazing!! How tall are you because you look really fit! :)

    Thanks! I'm 5' 5"
  • drog2323
    drog2323 Posts: 1,343 Member
    great post!!! and nice work. look great.
  • bizchic
    bizchic Posts: 30 Member
    *like*
  • ninjapixie87
    ninjapixie87 Posts: 124 Member
    Thanks for sharing!

    I'm trying to lose weight, but it's frustrating when the scale isn't moving much, even when I am losing inches.
    Out of curiosity, are you eating to maintain your weight, or are you still trying to lose weight?
  • thecrossfitter
    thecrossfitter Posts: 424 Member
    Thanks for sharing!

    I'm trying to lose weight, but it's frustrating when the scale isn't moving much, even when I am losing inches.
    Out of curiosity, are you eating to maintain your weight, or are you still trying to lose weight?

    I'm still eating to cut a bit more fat (as in off my body - not the macronutrient... I'm always over in fats haha). I really have no 'goal weight' in mind - because I have no clue what it will be. My goal is to get down to about 20% body fat. The downside is that this is tricky to measure accurately since the margin of error on my scale is so great! I actually want to have my abs showing - and the last place I always lose weight in my stomach, so it'll take some time. I have no problem with building a bit of muscle either (I know that takes a long time and this won't happen until I increase my cals!) - so yeah. Honestly I could care less whether the scale lands at 125 or 165! I just want to be super strong/fast/powerful/have endurance/all around fit and have a body that shows my strength :-P
  • HealthyBodySickMind
    HealthyBodySickMind Posts: 1,207 Member
    You look great! There is soooo much more improvement there than "a measly 1.9 lbs".
  • soccer8s
    soccer8s Posts: 238 Member
    You look fantastic. Keep up the good work!
  • Fighting4Healthy
    Fighting4Healthy Posts: 336 Member
    this post makes me feel so much better! I let the scale rule over me, but seeing your pic that helps me realize that I am better than my scale!
  • sara338
    sara338 Posts: 34
    You look amazing! You must have worked very hard. Keep up the great work! :)
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I need to show this to my mom! She freaked out because I had a 2 lb gain one week. I told her after strength training for a while I'm bound to gain a little muscle weight before I start losing again. You look great, and I am posting that list on my fridge, next to my vision board. Thanks for this post!
  • thecrossfitter
    thecrossfitter Posts: 424 Member
    I need to show this to my mom! She freaked out because I had a 2 lb gain one week. I told her after strength training for a while I'm bound to gain a little muscle weight before I start losing again. You look great, and I am posting that list on my fridge, next to my vision board. Thanks for this post!

    You'll also weigh more the day after a workout due to water weight. You create micro tears in your muscles when you workout; this is how you get stronger. Your body will retain water to repair these tears. For consistency purposes I only weigh in on days that follow a rest day :)
  • ladybuglvr
    ladybuglvr Posts: 13 Member
    Thank u for posting! I SO needed to read this today!! You look fabulous :)
  • zenJes
    zenJes Posts: 198 Member
    GREAT work, loving the photos i think im definately going to have to take some and see where crossfit takes me!!!
    It really scares me when i see people weighing themselves every day, i hardly do it once a month :D all about the results in fitness and strength more!!
  • JJinWI
    JJinWI Posts: 197 Member
    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS! I joined a gym October 7. I haven't even lost two lbs yet. I've been working out hard with weights and a trainer. Inches are creeping down and my clothes fit so much better, but it's SO discouraging not to see the scale move!

    You look fab, woman!
  • Carrie704
    Carrie704 Posts: 176
    looking good! I'm in the same boat. thanks for posting
  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    thanks for posting.
  • Aurelina
    Aurelina Posts: 197 Member
    Most excellent!!
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