These Unbelievable Before And After Photos Prove That The Number On The Scale Means Nothing

Sarah Weinberg
Updated
Photo credit: Instagram / @mysweatlife
Photo credit: Instagram / @mysweatlife

From Delish

You know how the old adage goes: Weight is just a number. But that can be hard to remember when the number in the scale isn't quite what you were hoping to see. Here's the thing, though: If you're a fan of those body positive sayings, you should also know muscle weighs more than fat - and nothing's better proof of that than a photo. Here are 12 images that'll inspire you to throw your #goalweight out the window.

Booties that look like this 🍑 aren't weightless.

Screeewwwwww the scale ⚖️⚖️⚖️ Weight is a terrible thing to obsess over and an extremely unreliable reflection of your health! I remember being so happy at the first photo and how skinny I was - ah how times have changed 😂😂😂 Now it's all about how feeding my growing 🍑 with healthy carbs, fat and PROTEIN 🍗🥚🥛 * * * * * #transformationtuesday #getstrong #bbg #sweatwithkayla #justdoit #fitspiration #fitnessgoals #beforeandafter #bbggirls #follow #sweaty #bbgweek11 #bbgprogress #🍑 #healthylifestyle #beachbody #getfit #fitspo #squatspo #fitgirl #thekaylamovement #fitnessjourney #goals #girlswholift #weightlifting #bbgcommunity #fitnesstransformation #bbgtransformation #screwthescale

A post shared by T E A G A N (@teaganbbg) on Mar 21, 2017 at 3:20pm PDT

An all-cardio workout routine may burn calories, but it won't score you any definition.

*Motivation Monday* It was either lose the weight or lose my scholarship and I am forever grateful that I was given a vehicle to take my health and body to the next level. Nutrition played a key role in me not only losing weight but putting on health gains. With supplementation, exercise, and consistency I was able to put back on 13 lbs and I'm feeling better than ever. The possibility to create whatever body type I want is amazing. Who's next? What's your health goal? Lose weight? Gainz? Energy? Improve your overall quality of life? ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ Click the link in our bio for your free wellness profile! renewedyou.weebly.com #YourHealthCoach #AskUsHow #LoseWeight #GainWeight #WeightLoss #WeightGain #VictoriousValentines

A post shared by Marcus & Diamonique (@victorious_valentines) on Jun 19, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

This is what more muscle mass and less body fat looks like.

#TransformationTuesday No difference in weight but a big difference in body composition! On the left (current) I have more muscle mass with less body fat, whereas on the right (10 months ago) I'm holding more body fat and less muscle mass. - It took about a year consisting of 2 bulking & 2 cutting phases to make this change in body composition. All to say change👏takes👏time👏! I also want to point out that the reason I have bulking and cutting seasons is because gaining muscle INEVITABILITY comes along with gaining some fat (that's just the nature of the beast). So in order to keep building muscle but stay lean I work in cycles: Gain muscle and fat ➡ then lose fat while trying to maintain that hard earned muscle ➡ and repeat 📈📉♻📈📉 - ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ #Transformation #FitnessJourney #BodyBuilding #EatToGrow #StrongNotSkinny #GirlsWhoLift #GirlsWithMuscle #FitFam #Fitness #FuelYourBody #Fitspo #FitChick #FitGirl #IIFYM #IIFYMGirls #FitnessMotivation #Motivation #Goals #Progress #Muscle #Gains #BodyTransformation #Physique #BodyBuilder #WeightLifting #Bulking #GetLean #Gainz #FitnessGoals

A post shared by Kaila Johnson, RD, LDN (@kai_fit_la) on Mar 28, 2017 at 9:27am PDT

Can you believe there's only a two pound difference between these two photos?

I've said this before, I don't use a weighing scale to measure my progress, but it does make for an interesting comparison. I weighed myself this morning out of curiosity and guess what? I GAINED 1kg since I last checked during my regular check up, which means there's only a 1kg difference between the two pictures: the left is the day I started #BBG and the right is today after 71 weeks of @kayla_itsines kicking my butt and eating better. But in terms of strength, mental and emotional wellbeing, happiness and body composition, there's a massive difference between the two. This goes to show, once again, that the number on the scale is not a real measure of the progress we've made in our journeys. Happy #transformationtuesday 💪🏻

A post shared by Asphaire (@asphaire.a) on Mar 28, 2017 at 1:18pm PDT

If this is what eating 2,000 calories a day looks like, sign me up.

#Repost @nessasphere. Sunday is fast becoming my favorite day of the week because I get to post my #sundayinspiration, which this week is @nessasphere. 😍 LOOK AT THIS WOMAN. 👀💪 Nothing quite like a reminder that weight can be deceiving, age means nothing and healthy looks different (yet wonderful) on everybody. 🙌

A post shared by @why_charlie on Jun 18, 2017 at 12:34am PDT

The message here: Weight-lifting may make you bulk up - but in all the right places.

Things I wish I could tell my old self... 1️⃣ Stop worrying what others think of you ✋🏻 2️⃣ Having abs is not everything 🙅🏽 3️⃣ You don't need to diet, cut carbs, go on juice cleanses or eat boring food to be healthy 4️⃣ Weights will not make you bulky (protein also won't make you bulky) 5️⃣ You don't have to prove yourself to anyone - exercise to make YOU happy 🤗 6️⃣ You don't need to excessively exercise every day to be 'fit' 7️⃣ You are beautiful whatever size or shape you are 8️⃣ Don't compare yourself to others - everyone makes progress in different ways and at different times 9️⃣ You can reach your goals by eating MORE food.. yes really 😏 🔟 Your weight DOES NOT matter!! . The scary thing is, some of the above things I was still worrying about last year! As soon as you gain a little confidence within yourself it's amazing how much healthier and happier you can be 🙌🏻

A post shared by Lucy Baker (@fitlifelucy) on Jun 18, 2017 at 12:47pm PDT

Skinny ≠ in shape.

47KG ➡️53KG 🤷🏽♀️ Always been on the petite side, didn't know what a deadlift was, ate awful, never really exercised (apart from ballet). I was told that I 'didn't need to' go gym or change bad eating habits because I was small anyway. Now here I am, plus 6kg and lovvvin' life🏋🏽♀️ P.S. I don't know why my skin looks grey'er 🌚

A post shared by MAIKEN 🐳 (@maikenf) on Jun 20, 2017 at 12:53pm PDT

Three years and a whole lot of body changes later, you'd never know this mom is at the same weight she started.

While there are 3 years separating the first and fourth photo, I've been on this fitness journey for two whole years now. It's made me realise that working out will always be a priority for me no matter what. Over the journey my goals have changed, my strategies have changed, I've chopped and changed the programs I follow more times than I can count, I've tracked macros, I've not tracked macros, I've adopted intuitive eating and I've also dabbled with intermittent fasting. And with all that, it would appear I'm back to square one 🤣 But in all seriousness, my focus these days is to keep my workouts simple so that I actually enjoy them, learning that concept of 'eating to live' a little better (and not the other way around 🙄) and to love where I'm at no matter how I look ✨

A post shared by 33yo Mumma (@cass.fit.healthy) on Jun 13, 2017 at 5:29am PDT

It took ten months for her to lose fat and gain muscle.

Body recomp is changing the shape & the muscular structure of your body. 💗 it's a process... the left is not my "before" but a "during" so it's not as dramatic but it was about when I REALLY got into heavy lifting. 10 months between these pics, 10 months of consistency w #heavylifting + eating all the food + #intermittentfasting Same weight of course🙄, but my legs and Glutes are bigger, my hips, waist and stomach a lot smaller, lats, biceps, chest muscles all bigger and stronger. When adding muscle & losing fat the scale may not change much...so take progress pics, eat your protein, trust the process and don't quit. #notdoneyet #keepgoing #transformationtuesday #fitfam #weightlossjourney #liftheavythings #strongmom #strongisthenewskinny #bodybuilding #bodyrecomposition #girlswhopowerlift #girlswhosquat #girlswithmuscle #momsthatlift #thickfit #futurenurse #gymislife #weightlifting #weightlosstransformation #squats #iifym #iifymgirls #intuitiveeating #flexibledieting

A post shared by ↠a d r i e n n e o s u n a↞ (@adrienneosuna) on Aug 9, 2016 at 12:28pm PDT

The only thing this hottie's saying to the scale: #byefelicia.

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 post shared by KELSEY WELLS (@mysweatlife) on Jul 26, 2016 at 8:55am PDT

Her stomach looks so much tinier, but there are an extra 13 pounds on her frame.

"Weight is just a number" | This picture of me caused some serious fuss on the internet lately ☝🏼️ Thanks for all the awesome and inspiring comments you guys 💕 Never imagined that so many people, blogs and newspapers would write and repost about it. Original caption: "3 years, 6 kilos and a new bikini 💁🏻 I was scrolling back in my phone and found this 'old' (non-flexed) picture. Weight is just a number 😉" - and that's about it 💪🏼

A post shared by Y O L A F O R T H E W I N (@yolaforthewin) on Oct 22, 2016 at 1:43am PDT

Guess what the more-toned girl on the right is eating? Cheat meals.

💪😝 #GAINS!!!!! #skinnyVSFit&strong.. .this is my proof that it's not all about the scale!🙅 ... Left picture was when i was prepping for a show and on a very strict program, which i completely understand since i am competing, but i felt weak🙈 .. Right picture is last weeks progress😆 more food!!!🙌 and cheatmeals! lol.. i eat clean most of the time and train 6 times a week! Im happy and a lot stronger!!💪..The more food, the more i lift, the stronger i get, the better my progress!!!👊👊 this is for you coach!!!!!💗💗 i seriously have the best coach! her guidance is always appreciated!💕💗 love u!❤️ #girlswholift #progress #strongisthenewskinny #lindafit #teamlindafit @lindafiteam

A post shared by il0vejlin (@il0vejlin) on Jul 20, 2014 at 1:25pm PDT

Follow Delish on Instagram.

You Might Also Like