More Than Just Losing Weight
Some of the most overused expressions I hear as a trainer is “I’m just not losing any weight” or “I’ve only lost a couple of pounds” or even “I’ve been training so hard but I’ve GAINED a couple of pounds”. I’m sure I’m not the only trainer who hears this and sadly this weight-dropping obsession leads people to becoming disheartened and falling off the wagon, or punishing their bodies by consuming even less calories than they need and developing an unhealthy relationship with the scales. Sound familiar?? Believe it or not that was me in the picture on the left taken back in the summer of 2009…and whilst I have never really been overweight I still had an obsession with weight loss…”If only I could be a size 8 and 9 stone I’ll be happy”, a weight I’d not been since pre teens. In this picture, on the left, I was a size 8 and 9 stone, and was STILL obsessed with the scales which typically is not uncommon for a young 19 year old girl.
Now I would just like to point out that in the first picture I am actually a smaller dress size AND a lesser weight than in the picture on the right (taken recently). I now weigh 10.5 stone and typically I am a size 10 in most shops (top shop don’t cater for booty) so therefore I’m actually ‘bigger’ both on scales and in dress size.
So what’s the difference??
Aside from the aesthetics, most importantly I am strong, fit and healthy, and I have 2 of my biggest assets…not abs and a bum but CONFIDENCE and ACCEPTANCE of my body. This is something that is earnt through consistent hard work and dedication. The point to this post?? Again I weigh MORE in the picture on the right and I’m a bigger dress size… Total body weight is determined through other factors such as bone density, muscle mass, water retention in cells and not just fat alone. Yes we all want to look great and there really is no quick fix (there are 7 years between these pictures) but next time you think about giving up after only losing a pound etc, think about the other factors as to why you should exercise and eat well, and still allow yourself the odd treat
