These three photos show why weight really is just a number

An increasing number of fitness professionals are advocating lifestyle change as a way to health, rather than regimented weight loss programs.

Earlier this month, we wrote about this trend which emphasises the importance of healthy eating and building muscle mass, rather than obsessing over the number on the scale.

Founder of the blog My Sweat Life Kelsey Wells uploaded the following images to her Instagram account, demonstrating just how arbitrary weight can be:

The first image on the left shows her with her post-baby weight of 65kg (145lbs), followed by her target weight of 55kg (122lbs).

The third image has her back at 63kg (140lbs) – just five pounds off her starting weight – but her body has been completely transformed.

How?

Muscle burns more calories than fat, and it is denser. This means building muscle might not have a huge impact on weight loss, but it does shed inches from your frame.

Writing for SELF Michaela Devries-Aboud, an exercise physiologist at McMaster University says:

When you lift weights, you overload the muscle and it works to adapt to be able to lift more weight. The way the muscle adapts is by increasing something called myofibrillar size (the contractile units of the muscle).

Creator of The Fit Body Guides Anna Victoria is also advocating diverse body shapes, and encourages women to normalise “stomach rolls” which are healthy parts of even muscle-bound bodies:

The founder Nerd Fitness, known only as Steve, lists three vital reasons to emphasise the workout, rather than the weight loss:

1. Your weight fluctuates

Water weight means your weight can vary wildly – sometimes as much as 5kg from one day to the next.

2. Your weight doesn’t tell the whole story

You could have a naturally higher muscle mass but still be unhealthy in your eating habits. Similarly, just because you weigh more than, for example, your Body Mass Index (BMI) expects you to weigh, doesn't necessarily make you unhealthy either.

3. Your weight doesn’t define your health

The most important part of an exercise routine, according to this emerging trend, is maintaining your health.

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