There is a 21lb difference in weight between the above two photos and it would be easy to think that the numbers were on the wrong photos.
The before photo was taken back in March 2010, when I had stupidly entered a figure competition with only 8 weeks to prepare. As you can see, I was in no way ready to even think about stepping on stage and within a week of entering, I had come to my senses and pulled out.
Looking back, I am so glad that I did as I was nowhere near even close to being stage ready. Yes, I was slim but there isn't any real shape on me. I'd dieted pretty aggressively and done a lot of cardio in order to shift around 50lbs but it left me skinny, still flabby and pretty shapeless.
Compare the before photo to the after - my mid section was bigger, I had no real curves and my butt was flat. I'm not putting myself down or belittling how I looked but this shape was not appropriate for a figure competition, where muscles and curves = murves and are what the judges are looking for.
Fast forward to 6 years later. Lots of heavy weight lifting, lots of dieting/growing cycles and whole lot of patience, consistency and hard work and maybe, just maybe, I could think about entering a competition at some point in the next year or so, if I worked my ass off for it.
Not that I have any aspirations to step on stage these days. Back then, I think I was seeking validation by entering a competition and I don't really feel like I need that now. Plus having a history with Binge Eating Disorder, any kind of super strict dieting is a trigger for me, and having been binge free for 5 years, it's not something I want to risk happening again.
But I digress. The whole point of this post was to say that the scale, though important when tracking progress, should not solely be relied on. If I didn't understand about body recomposition I would still be aiming for a goal weight of 138lb, because that's how light I used to be. Theses days, I track my weight and follow the downward trend but I have no "goal weight" in mind because I'm more interested in how I look in the mirror/photographs. After all, who can tell what the number on the scale reads just from looking at someone? The above photo is proof of why it would be impossible.
Below are a couple more photos for comparison purposes...
After photo shows a more defined waist and abdominal definition. Also 21lb heavier.
After photo shows a more defined waist, better developed glutes, back definition and more shapely legs. Also 21lb heavier.
Take home lesson - if you strength train with any regularity over a prolonged period of time, you may gain weight but your shape will change for the better!
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