This Woman Proves That Weight Doesn’t Matter

This Woman Proves That Weight Doesn’t Matter ©Instagram/Kelsey Wells

It’s natural to sometimes feel plagued by the scale — if we cut down calories and get a workout in, that one pound increase we see in the morning makes us feel a little hopeless. While weight loss is always a positive thing if we’re trying to be healthier, we need to remember that numbers aren’t everything. In fact, it’s the way we feel that can reveal to us how much healthier we’re becoming.

Case in point, fitness blogger Kasey Wells. Kasey began working out roughly eight weeks after giving birth — with a pre-pregnancy weight of 130 pounds, she set a goal of 122 since she wanted to really prove that she could bounce back and then some. Her main goal? Fitting into her skinny jeans again.

“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,” she wrote on Instagram alongside comparison photos of her progress.

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 photo posted by K E L S E Y W E L L S (@mysweatlife) on

But just look at her. Even with a weight increase, she looks absolutely fantastic — in fact, even better than when she hit her lowest weight. These undoctored photos prove that the number on the scale really doesn’t mean anything at all. “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,” Kelsey said.

Ladies, we can learn a lot from Kelsey. In fact, her photos are a refreshing view on how health should truly be measured. While having a scale isn’t a bad thing, it’s not the be-all, end-all of your diet and fitness routine. Health isn’t measured by a number, as much as how you feel on a daily basis, how you choose to fuel your body, and how confident you are inside your own skin. Health shouldn’t be a goal weight, as much as a goal “feeling” — and if you have increased energy and a positive mindset, you’re doing great.

If you’re freaking out since you didn’t meet your summer goal weight this year, just remember how incredibly strong your body is — and if you had a fitness routine in preparation for bikini season, there are probably a lot of changes in your body composition that you’re not even realizing. Just because the scale mentions an increase doesn’t mean that you haven’t become fitter.

Kelsey is truly an inspiration, and we’re so happy that she posted her photos to help set the record straight. When you’re aiming to be more fit, a scale shouldn’t be what drives you — your abilities, self-confidence and healthy new attitude should.

Karen Belz is a New Jersey native who is currently living in Maryland. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communication with a focus in Broadcasting and Print Media Studies from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Since graduating, she has written for sites like LittleThings, HelloGiggles, and Scary Mommy and is currently an e-commerce editor at Bustle.

When she's not writing, she enjoys making her phone run out of memory after taking too many photos of her dog. You can find her on Twitter @karenebelz or on Instagram @karenbelz.
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