When was the last time you weighed yourself?
I feel We have been conditioned to place massive importance around the number on the scales.
And as a personal trainer / strength coach / Nutrition coach, there is always that voice telling me I should be lean!
**Reminder that we are all dealing with our own shit**
When I pushed ‘share’ on the below photo on Tuesday, I got butterflies.. putting myself out there is always a bit nerve racking but I feel this not only needs to be said but shown.
If you missed it, the first ‘before’ photo was taken 7 years ago pre kids when I first moved to the Sunshine Coast.
This is what 68kg looked like.
My training was very inconsistent as we built the bones of StrengthCity.
I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror.
Since that photo, I have hit 58kg and have moved from 63-67kg.
The second photo was yesterday.
This is what 70kg looks like.
My training has been consistent for the last 2 years.
I am more at home with myself than I ever have been at this weight.
I have been slowly building in strength and cant remember the last time I ate in a calorie deficit.
And is the strongest I have ever been.
I wanted to post this for two reasons..
The first being that if your goal is strength and to lift heavier weights, its probably going to be more achievable if you are in maintenance or above. Its can be difficult to gain strength if your not eating to fuel both performance and recovery. Also, weight moves weight. At the moment, I am not interested in ‘cutting’ to be in a smaller weight category. I am however, interested in tearing it a new one and seeing how much weight I can lift.
Secondly, as you can see in the pictures, the number on the scales doesn’t tell the whole story. I have changed my body shape, centimetres and body composition, looking different from the first picture but weighing in 2kg heavier.
So this is a reminder that even though the scales might not be changing at the rate you think they should or get upset when they don’t, body composition changes could be occurring. Check in with other indicators of progress (see below) and keep up the work.
There is so much more going on than just the scales..
Body Measurements
Body weight and circumferences
InBody scan or equivalent
Subjective measures such as belt holes or tightness of clothes
Objective physiological indicators / lab tests
Blood lipids
Fasting glucose, glucose control
Red and white blood counts
Blood pressure
Nutrient status (vitamin and mineral levels)
Tests of GI health (eg SIBO, gastric mobility, GERD)
Hormones levels and hormone health
Heart rate variability, resting heart rate
Morning temperature
Medication use
Frequency of health problems (number of colds, days unable to do daily-life activities)
Subjective physiological indicators
Pain
Inflammation
Sense of physical wellbeing, vitality, overall wellness
Gastrointestinal symptoms, digestion
Energy and fatigue
Sleep quality
Joint mobility / stiffness
Immunity
Subjective psychological indicators
Mood and emotional stability
Perceptions of stress load
Overall outlook and resilience
Calm and relaxation
Clarity of thought; ease of learning and remembering
Subjective social indicators
Participation in daily life activities
Social engagement and confidence
Quality of relationships and social network
To your Growth,
Chloe