Let's talk Lifting

I joined the gym on July 6th. The left pictures were taken July 1st and the right pictures were taken October 3rd. If I only relied on the scale to judge my progress, I might be discouraged because in 3 months, I only lost 16.8 lbs. Prior to joining the gym, I was losing an average of 2 lbs per week, so this was definitely a slow down in weight loss. However I also take measurements and pictures, and I can see a huge difference in the pictures on the right and the pictures on the left. My back and stomach have both smoothed out tremendously. My arms are smaller. My legs are more toned. I even actually have a waist! The best part, I've lost 30.5" in three months! This is what happens when you burn fat and build muscle. So don't let the scale be your only measure of progress. Sometimes the scale might not be moving but your body might be recomposing itself.

Joining the gym was the best decision I ever made, and I only wish I had done it sooner. It's the best therapy I've found. I used to eat my emotions, but now I go to the gym when I am feeling down. I always come out feeling better than I went in. I feel so accomplished when I can up my weights or do more than I used to. I've fallen in love with the squat rack. Gym time is definitely my me time, and it is paying off in spades. I originally decided that I would reward myself with another tattoo when I lost another 50 lbs, but now I've decided that I am going to go ahead and get my next one (a chest piece). My appt is scheduled for November 13th. I may not be losing lbs, but my body is getting smaller and I am building muscle. That is clearly evident here.