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CrystalsLost's Diary
by CrystalsLost

next entry: HOW do I post a Video?

Every Woman Needs To Read This!

06/22/2011

Saw this article down below on one of the blogs I read:

http://everydaypaleo.com/2011/06/22/attention-scale-addicts-part-2/

Brace yourself. I’m coming at you with all guns blazing on this one and you aren’t going to believe what you’re about to see. First things first, if you haven’t read my diatribe condemning your bathroom scale, please begin there.

Alright, now that you are caught up, let’s revisit Deb from my last post. Deb has been kind enough to let me exploit her for your education on these here interwebs and I am very grateful. Showing the world where she started isn’t easy, but she is a kind person who wants to help you and she has accomplished some remarkable things in her health and fitness.

So here is Deb at the beginning of a contest we held at my gym in January of last year.

Here she is at a size zero with her nutrition dialed. For the full effect of this picture, place your thumb on your screen directly over the ugly guy on the right.

And here she is a couple of weeks ago after a lot of hard work that has dramatically increased her fitness capacity. I didn’t actually intend for this post to be all about Deb’s accomplishments, so I won’t repeat her numbers here. Suffice it to say, my money would be on Deb versus the average American girl half her age in a contest of any exercise I have ever convinced her to perform. Now for the really good part.

I spent my entire career waiting patiently for the right situation that would produce the picture below.

Now that you are done staring in amazement, eyes darting back and forth between the two Debs and down to “155lbs” to make sure you read it right, let this information really sink in. Let it change your perspective to something healthier. Forever!

Now go throw away your scale.

Faced with the facts above, basing your goals – or even worse, your happiness – on the number on your scale is absolutely ridiculous. I’ll give you an example of why weight is useless information in all but extreme cases. Let’s pretend Deb came to me at a weight of 200 lbs and told me she wanted to get down to 155 lbs. Which side of the picture above do you think she would prefer? Do you think she would have been satisfied with the left side? Look at her face. She is ecstatic with her body on the right, but on the left she can hardly stand to have her picture taken. We can glean from this that goals based on weight are too vague to be useful. If I had only given you her circumference measurements (waist, hips, thighs, bust, etc.) and no photos, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind which 155 lb Deb you would have chosen as the more aesthetically appealing. But when you look in the mirror and see a body like the Deb on the left you probably say, “Damn, I need to lose some weight.” Now you have undeniable evidence that defies that thought. Losing weight is not what you want and pursuing a number on your scale is not the path to success. It will drive you insane, though. But that’s probably not your goal.

Change your perspective to something healthier. Forever!

For those of you that may be having a hard time believing how all this can possibly be true, click here and hit Deb up on Facebook. She will be happy to befriend you and answer your questions, but please be reasonable. She has not volunteered to coach you, just to be your motivation.

next entry: HOW do I post a Video?

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That's awesome, congrats to her! It's great to actually see things like this. It shows weight is just a number.

[*[Wind Dove]*|0 likes] [|reply]

yay Deb!

I think it's different for everyone. I totally understand the "muscle weighs more than fat" thing, and i'm totally happy weighing myself once every week (sunday, before my shower, at the same time doing a breast-exam) but I don't judge my whole attitude on that. If it doesn't move, fine. if it does, fine.

My whole thing is "how much can i do physically?"

-how much can i lift?
-how small of a pant-size can i squeeze into?
-how fast can i run a mile?
etcetc. all of these things make me happy. On top of also feeling amazing because of my diet.

-----------
now--- to deb-- I didn't read her blog, but did she accomplish this with exercise AND diet? (paleo, i'm imagining).

[LNStar|0 likes] [|reply]

Wow that is amazing! x

[davidsengel82Star|0 likes] [|reply]

This is too true...I've sat at the same weight forever now but my clothes are getting looser. It's crazy.

[sognatriceStar|0 likes] [|reply]

Thats why I just use my scale as a guideline type deal. If you saw me in person and I told you what I weigh, you wouldn't believe me. I'm naturally muscular and it plays to my benefit lol

[theregoesmyheart|0 likes] [|reply]

since I will be going to their house I will honor their customs and cover myself. I know that that wouldnt expect me to change my clothes at my house, but I wouldnt disrespect their house.. I know that much

[Meghans FollieStar|0 likes] [|reply]

No I wouldnt expect them to take their Hijabs off at my house... i guess its a me thing I dont feel right walking into their house in a tank top being the only adult woman with bare arms. I would of felt uncomfortable when I feel just as comfy due to how I was raised in their clothes as I do in a tank top.. I Just wasnt sure what would be expected here in the US. I am all to familiar what to do if I was over seas.... but at a loss with what to do in my own back yard... strange isnt it? But I had a wonderful afternoon which was the point I suppose

[Meghans FollieStar|0 likes] [|reply]


This is so, so, so great. =D

[lithium layouts.Star|0 likes] [|reply]


See, this doesn't actually surprise me. She looks the same size. Just shaped better. Like, her muscles are stopping her tummy sag out, and giving some shape to her arms and legs. It's not like she's huge on one pic and tiny on the other - it's just about the shape. She did what she needed to do - she didn't need to lose weight, but she needed to develop some muscle. And has probably gained energy as a result.
~
Adopt one today! Adopt one today! Adopt one
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[Always EstellaStar|0 likes] [|reply]

Amazing.
She was committed.
Motivational, for sure.

[.insignificance.|0 likes] [|reply]

Holy smokes! She looks fabulous and you are absolutely right. Sometimes it's not the number on the scale but how the person actually looks. Thanks for this post. I have been so frustrated - everyone tells me I look like I've lost weight, and my clothes are getting too big and I'm able to buy smaller sizes - but the stupid scale says I haven't lost ANYTHING. =\

[*-.Stephanie.-* Star|0 likes] [|reply]

Not only do I use my scale strictly as a guideline, but I also only have vague goals with weight loss. By my height, and age, going by BMI calculators my "ideal" weight is 97-128 pounds. I weighed 125 pounds when I was in marching band, and I was skeletal. So I figure I'm going to work on losing FAT, and getting toned, not necessarily focus on weight.

[Villy|0 likes] [|reply]

BMI is not a very good way to look at it either because it is based on what the ideal person for those measurements. Not everyone's structure, despite those things, are the same. Your body will do what it wants and you may never reach those goals but remember that those are averages, not precise. If you go to a trainer they can help you get a more accurate way of measuring.

[beppylou|0 likes] [|reply]

I realize that. That's why I said if I went by that, I would be skeletal. No one seems to take into account body shape or type. I may be short, but I'm all tits and ass, so at 97 pounds I'd look like I was about to fall over dead at any moment.

[Villy|0 likes] [|reply]

lol I can completely relate, 4'9 and my rear end looks like a fricken car! but according to the chart I am over weight! I'm not anywhere near it but people get so hung over on those charts. They shouldn't.

[beppylou|0 likes] [|reply]

I wish the army looked at it that way because they have 'weight goals' and for some people those goals are not what should be. Yes, while they get into better shape they might lose some but realistically they gain or stay the same because of muscle and that keeps them 'over weight'

A body builder, can be in the perfect shape but be to fat for the army because his mass weight is to high. It's important to understand what it means to get into shape, rather than just shed some pounds.

[beppylou|0 likes] [|reply]

I use the GE InBody230 to measure my progress. First time made me cry. Now I'm determined to push the numbers the right way.

http://inbody.gehealthcare.com/products/inbody-230

[Hidden DepthsStar|0 likes] [|reply]

Holy crap! Go Deb!!!

[The Spirit|0 likes] [|reply]

♥ This entry - and exactly what I needed! When I finally accepted myself and decided to be HEALTHIER was when I started losing weight AND inches - and of course got healthier! Now that my son is 9 months old, and I'm getting marrie din 6 weeks - it's crunch time and I've been stressing out over the numbers on the scale. Pshh. If I could just find the time to exercise and the motivation to eat healthier - I'd be set!

[♥New.Mommy.|0 likes] [|reply]

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