For women, gaining weight can be just a tad disconcerting. Sometimes you join the gym or start a fitness program to solve the problem and you lose weight. In fact, right now there are a few of my mom’s club friends who are doing P90X and losing weight successfully.
But other women may see the scale stay the same … or even up … yet their clothes fit better. That’s because muscle weighs more than fat, yet takes up less room. And even thought I know that my goal ever since I started my fitness program was to gain muscle, it can be SCARY seeing the numbers on the scale go up. But I also am documenting my progress to make sure I stay on track – and to share with you guys! So it will help you realize that the number on the scale is not everything.
I started out at 106 pounds last July. Now 9 months later I’m at 121 pounds. That is a healthy weight, actually. But you have to wonder … what do the extra 15 pounds look like? Especially for all those women who are trying to “slim down” and see the scale go up instead of down and wonder if it’s fat or muscle? Well – here is a picture of me when I started in July 2009, 106 pounds:
Pre-Workout - July 2009 - 106 pounds
Here are the updated pictures of me taken in March 2010, 121 pounds:
March 2010 Photos, 9 months of working out. 121 Pounds. 6 Months from Contest.
So what do you think? Weight is just a number, right? I look more fit at 121 pounds than 106 pounds, I think.
I am now 6 months from my Figure Contest. I should gain about 4 more pounds of muscle … and then will probably lose 5 pounds during contest prep to compete at 121.
Questions and comments welcome, as always!
You are looking great! I wish my extra weight I’ve gained since starting a workout routine looked that good on me!
You look great, Erin! So proud of you!
Awesome Erin! You look great.
Keep it up, you will do fabulous at the contest.
WOW! I think this is the best post I have seen in a while! Way to go! You look amazing! Who knew 15 ponds could look so good!
You look fantastic. You go girl! Rooting for ya!
Thank you for the posting the pictures and providing insight to the numbers on the scale. They’re not always everything. I always encourage my friends to tape themselves and see the inches difference when the scale wont’ budge for them.
You look fabulous!
Loving the socks by the way!
LMBO! I know – mismatched. But close enough!
You look so awesome! Go you!
Damn girly! You look great! I know all your hard work will pay off.
You look great! I wish I had motivation and the will power that you do.
Good luck with the Figure Contest!
You look wonderful!
You look great!
You look absolutely wonderful!!
You look awesome and so strong! I want to be stronger but lean – you look great!
you look awesome! Congrats on your hard work!!
Wow you looks awesome! Well done!
You look fantastic!
You look great. Wondering how tall you are?
Hey Donna – I am 5’6″. I know you are trying to figure out the weight/height thing. 106 was considered underweight, but my dr has seen me with my boys and told me I was running around a lot with them. And you see I didn’t look sick in the top pictures – just flabby/loose skin.
The gym, which you think would be the opposite of what you want to do when trying to gain weight, has actually given me the weight I needed to be considered normal now. Amazing. So I had just NO muscle tone. I was 119 pounds prior to getting pregnant with each boy. It was just after Lochlan the weight came off scary fast.
LOL! Ask a simple question, get a long answer.
Happy Buzzing!
Erin T.
You look awesome!
Wow! You are one hot mama!
You go girl! I don’t see ‘weight gained’, I see toned muscle
I’m sure you’ve worked hard, and it shows. I can really see a difference in your shoulders, arms, and thighs. I wish you luck in your contest.
I gained when I was sick and it is five pounds I don’t want. Hubby and I do a strenuous up and downhill walk every day and honestly, my booty has gotten muscular! Oh my! I am working on the extra weight to get it off cause I think I want a smaller booty in my jeans, but at least it isn’t flat! LOL
You look good!!!
Hi! Gosh I haven’t been to your site in months. Wow. The extra pounds look really good. It’s crazy how people’s perceptions of healthy or so different, Isn’t it? 2 years ago I would have said you look good in the before pictures but now healthy to me is adding a few extra pounds and pumping iron to make them muscle. I’m glad I stopped by.
Dana,
I am still no where close to you though. :sad-for-me: LOL. I think 15 pounds isn’t a bad muscle gain for under a year? But I am getting close to my first competition and freaking out about my lack of quads. I will keep reading your site for inspiration. Love your move to WP!
TTFN!
Erin
http://www.themombuzz.com
wow! you look amazing! You go girl!
A.W.E.S.O.M.E Seriously. You look FANTASTIC. So refreshing to see a mom actually trying to put on muscle. Really. What a great example you are!
Thanks, Jenn, but I don’t look as fantastic as you. I love your kettlebells. LOL! I might need to get some, with all the buzzing you do. I also love your site – very inspirational. I found it ages ago … and keep lurking.
I saw your other comment – I am still planning on competing this year in September. I had absolutely no muscle when I started. (Okay, enough to lug my bones around) so I am self-conscious of how “small” I will be on stage muscle-wise. Or that my butt will be too saggy. LOL. But I made it my goal to do it … so I will.
Thanks for stopping by!
Erin T.
http://www.themombuzz.com
WOW! I wish I had your figure! How inspiring to see what you have accomplished in gaining muscle. I can see the “new” muscle in your upper legs, arms and back.
Very nice and good luck!
I remember when you very first started. you look AMAZING! It is truly amazing that this is 15 lbs of muscle and all that hard work can do!!
You definitely look better with the extra pounds. I see a big difference in your shoulders. Keep up the good work!
actually, it is easy to get a healthy weight if people are just careful on what they are eating
It’s not diet alone! Definitely exercise needs to play a part to to be fit and not just “skinny”.
Happy Buzzing,
Erin T.