Screw the scale! Fitness blogger proves that weight is just a number

Fit and healthy has many guises, but all too often we think that being fit and healthy means being slim and weighing nothing, and that's just not the case.

The recent campaign to be 'strong, not skinny', is a great one, and it's a mantra to follow (although there is nothing wrong with being slim if that's your natural frame), but we still put pressure on ourselves to lose that final few pounds, to reach a certain 'goal' weight. Ask any of the Biggest Loser contestants; this is not a mindset that works.

A photo fitness blogger, Kelsey Wells of My Sweat Life, posted on Instagram yesterday has gone super-viral because of one thing: her weight. Luckily, this is not a fat-shaming or a look-at-her-six-pack-she-had-a-baby-yesterday post, it's a three picture in one image that shows her at different stages of her fitness program, and it marks her weight in each one.

SCREW THE SCALE || I figured it was time for a friendly, yet firm reminder.? YOU GUYS. PLEASEEEEEE STOP GETTING HUNG UP ON THE NUMBER ON THE STUPUD SCALE! PLEASE STOP THINKING YOUR WEIGHT EQUALS YOUR PROGRESS AND FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING PLEASE STOP LETTING YOR WEIGHT HAVE ANY AFFECT WHATSOEVER ON YOUR SELF ESTEEM, like I used to. To any of you who are where I once was, please listen to me. I am 5' 7" and weigh 140 lbs. When I first started #bbg I was 8 weeks post partum and 145 lbs. I weighed 130 before getting pregnant, so based on nothing besides my own warped perception, I decided my "goal weight" should be 122 and to fit into my skinniest jeans. Well after a few months of BBG and breastfeeding, I HIT IT and I fit into those size 0 jeans. Well guess what? I HAVE GAINED 18 POUNDS SINCE THEN. EIGHT FREAKING TEEN. Also, I have gone up two pant sizes and as a matter of fact I ripped those skinny jeans wide open just the other week trying to pull them up over my knees.? My point?? According to my old self and flawed standards, I would be failing miserably. THANK GOODNESS I finally learned to start measuring my progress by things that matter -- strength, ability, endurance, health, and HAPPINESS. Take progress photos and videos. Record how many push-ups you can do, ect. And if you can, your BFP -- there is only a 5 lb difference between my starting and current weight, but my body composition has changed COMPLETELY. I have never had more muscle and less body fat than I do now. I have never been healthier than I am now. I have never been more comfortable in my own skin than I am now. And if I didn't say #screwthescale long ago, I would have gave up on my journey. So to the little teeny tiny voice in the back of my head that still said "?wtf is this- not 140!???" last week when I stepped on the scale, I say SCREW. YOU. And I think you should probably say the same to your scale too. #byefelicia ???? . . #bbgprogress #transformationtuesday #fit #fitness #workout #fitmom #fitchick #fitfam #fitnesstransformation #beforeandafter #sweat #mysweatlife #girlswithmuscle #girlgains #strongnotskinny

A photo posted by K E L S E Y W E L L S (@mysweatlife) on Jul 26, 2016 at 8:55am PDT

The first pic shows her beautiful figure two weeks after having a baby; the next at the 'goal weight' she set herself to fit into her 'skinniest jeans'; and the final, healthy, happy, fabulous image is Kelsey as she is now, weighing only 5 pounds less than after having her baby.

Her point? "According to my old self and flawed standards, I would be failing miserably. THANK GOODNESS I finally learned to start measuring my progress by things that matter -- strength, ability, endurance, health, and HAPPINESS. Take progress photos and videos. Record how many push-ups you can do, ect. And if you can, your BFP -- there is only a 5 lb difference between my starting and current weight, but my body composition has changed COMPLETELY. I have never had more muscle and less body fat than I do now. I have never been healthier than I am now. I have never been more comfortable in my own skin than I am now. And if I didn't say #screwthescale long ago, I would have gave up on my journey. So to the little teeny tiny voice in the back of my head that still said "?wtf is this- not 140!???" last week when I stepped on the scale, I say SCREW. YOU. And I think you should probably say the same to your scale too."

"DO YOU REALLY ONLY DO BBG??" I blogged about this awhile back, but since it has come up a lot recently I put the direct link to the post in my profile for all who have asked!? || I have been doing @kayla_itsines #bbg program (cause it's bae????) for over 80 weeks now, however I wanted to post this old transformation photo to remind you that it doesn't take 80 weeks to see change. Don't get me wrong, REAL physical progress is slow and steady, and different for everyone. I don't want you to compare your progress to mine, but rather encourage those just starting out to stick with it. I always emphasize that healthy living and happiness should be the main goal and priority, but I also don't want anyone to feel discouraged or feel that physical progress is impossible. If you are doing the program and eating clean, progress IS happening, even though you can't see it day to day. So chin up! Keep slaying! You got this.???? || On a completely different note, I ate two donuts today.? It's holiday weekend for us and food is like my fave way to celebrate. Find your balance and enjoy life!!??? . . . . . . #fitness #fitfam #fitchick #fitnesstransformation #workout #fitmom #fitspo #bbgbabes #bbgprogress #bbggirls #bbgsisters #bbgfam #bbgmums #bbgmoms #bbgfam

A photo posted by K E L S E Y W E L L S (@mysweatlife) on Jul 3, 2016 at 7:23pm PDT

Do you agree with her message? Are you ready to say screw you to your scales?

Via Cosmopolitan

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• screw the scales