Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
When people try to get fit, they often use a bathroom scale to track their progress. There are, however, a number of reasons why it's not a good idea. Probably the main one is that your weight only tells how heavy you are, and nothing about your body composition, which is the proportion of fat and fat-free mass in your body. And to make our argument even more convincing, Bored Panda has collected a series of before-and-after photos of people at the same weight but in a very, very different shape. You'll see, there's no need to starve yourself to achieve great results. All it takes is just good old-fashioned dedication. And after you're done scrolling through this list, check out these 28 Before & After Photos That Prove Your Weight Is Meaningless for more inspiration as well.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
"If You're Consistent At Lifting And Exercising And Hitting Protein, Don't Quit Because Things Are Happening Whether The Scale Reflects It Or Not"
Rachelle 6 years ago
THIS is truly inspirational! I've been eating clean and exercising for just over two months now and was disappointed about only losing 10 pounds. My SO took pictures on day one & day 60 and there is definitely a noticeable change for the better! Keep up the great work - you look amazing!
#2
The Number On The Scale Doesnt Tell The Whole Story
#3
You Know What The Main Difference Is Between These Two Photos? Besides The Underwear It's My Confidence
#4
"Screw The Scale, It Legitimately Means Nothing. It Has Never Reflected My Healthiness Or Fitness Level At All"
Blackjack JK 6 years ago
people need to understand that weight means nothing when you are fit. it just means muscle which weighs more than fat but when you are bigger i mean morbidly obese weight means a whole lot. just saying
#5
Reminder That Long Term Consistency Trumps Short Term Intensity
Laura w 6 years ago (edited)
Except that cardio (about 20 mins per day) helps your heart and lungs to stay healthy, makes you less prone to several types of cancer and most likely will help you avoiding neurodegenerative diseases when you're older. Not saying you shouldn't be doing weight lifting, but looking fit isn't the same as being fit and healthy.
#6
Don't Forget That The Scale Means Absolutely Nothing
#7
We Are Giving The Scale Too Much Power Over Us
#8
Heavier, Healthier And Proud
#9
The Scale Doesn't Always Tell Us The Truth, But Pictures Do
#10
My Body Composition Is Completely Different Through I Weigh Eight Pounds More Now
Patty cake ;3 6 years ago
It doesn't matter what you look like, as long as you're happy! Also good for you! :)
#11
They Say It Takes 21 Days To Create A Habit. It’s That Habit Of Discipline And The Determination Of Wanting To Create A Healthier Life For Myself That Has Been The Backbone Of My Training The Last Two Years
#12
2014- Burnt Chicken Nugget 2018- Gardein Chicken Nugget
incoherent screaming 6 years ago
Actually really like your face on the first pic, nice tattoos though
#13
"There Was Nothing Wrong With My Body. But There Was Everything Wrong With The Way I Viewed It, And How I Treated It"
#14
7 Years On, 7 Rounds Of Bbg Down And About 7 Kg Heavier
#15
What You See On That Scale Is Not A True Indicator Of Your Health
#16
2 Years Later And An Entirely Different Body Composition. Just To Prove That
#17
I Started To Care Less About What I Weighed, And More About How I Felt
SunflowersAreGold 6 years ago
And that is the key to a healthier, happier body. Focus on how you feel.
#18
Don't Be Afraid To Gain Weight, Build Muscle And Eat More Food
#19
Eat Healthy, Train Hard, Sleep Well And Give Your Body The Time It Needs To Transform From The Inside Out
#21
Why Are We So Hung Up On How Much We Weigh?
#23
So I’ve Been Working On My Nutrition For The Last 13 Weeks
#24
"One Year Ago, Weight Was Everything. But Honestly, My Perspective Is Shifting "
#25
Proof That Just Because You Weigh More Doesn’t Mean You’ve Got Fat
SunflowersAreGold 6 years ago
Does anybody have any tips on how to start a habit and stick with it? Especially healthy eating and running. I've been having a hard time sticking to them.
#26
It Gave Me Routine That Still Embodied Balance And Diversity
#27
I Started This Program As A Birthday Gift To Myself And It Was The Best Thing I Have Done For Myself All Year. January 1 I Set Out To Lose 20 Lbs. I Haven't Done That. This Is What I Did Instead
#28
Yeah, I’m Gonna Stop Using A Scale
#29
"Three Years Ago I Decided To Make Fitness A Priority Because I Was Tired Of Looking In The Mirror"
#30
"Throw Out The Scales. Your Weight Doesn't Matter"
#32
Transformation
#33
Weight Is Just A Number, You’ll Be A Happier Person Once You Realize That
#34
"I've Been Able To Track My Journey And Every Time I See Old Pictures It Gives Me So Much Perspective!"
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Nora H. 6 years ago
Hmm.. well, I actually think most of these women look perfectly fine and NORMAL in the before pics. It's great to be in good shape, but I think this post is making a lot of normal healthy women look (and maybe even feel) bad. The after pics are of women, for whom fitness is a lifestyle, who have the time, money and opportunity to focus a whole lot on their training. Obsessing over fitness is not necessarily healthy. And women are meant to have a certain amount of body fat by nature. Just stay healthy and happy, and maybe stop focusing so much on your looks.
Nia Loves Art 6 years ago
I agree that the way you look isn’t the most important thing. I do admire these women though for the work they put in and am glad that they did what made them feel happy about their bodies.
Load More Replies...
Randomcthulu 6 years ago
Muscle is 3x denser than fat, so of course you weight more once you shift to fit vs skinny fat
George Beckingham 6 years ago
I've seen ads for weight loss/muscle gain products where they use every trick in the book to exaggerate the difference. In the before pics, the people are always pale, slouching, shot in harsh direct light. In the after pics, they're flexing, spray-tanned, shot in light that enhances their muscle tone. The difference in appearance far exceeds the actual fat loss/muscle gain.
Full Name 6 years ago
I watching a YouTube video where a shredded guy does the "after" pic, then stuffs himself with pop and salty/fatty chips and then takes the "before" photo a couple hours later and looks way worse.
Load More Replies... incoherent screaming 6 years ago
I actually have no idea how much i weigh, so there's an avoidance tactic
Daria B 6 years ago
The first time I did the big change and lost so much weight that people wouldn't recognize me on the streets anymore, I did it with sports and change of habits and my way of measuring my progress was not a scale and kg, it was a sewing ruler and cm.
Load More Replies...
BusLady 6 years ago
In the after pics, many of these women look far too thin. Muscle is great, and they worked for it. But they also look starved, even anorexic. And a lot of them have strange poses in the after pics.
diane a 6 years ago
Alot of the thighs look way too much - guess it is the "watermelon challenge" thing.
Load More Replies... CbusResident 6 years ago
None of this makes weight meaningless, the women are all low in body fat, haven't gained much weight and the gains are muscle. If them women had gained 100 pounds, we'd know that's not all muscle, it would be from getting fatter and that would create massive but preventable problems for their health and life expectancy. Weight means a lot. Doctors use scales for a reason, they know more than the fat acceptance bloggers. If we insist the world listen to the consensus of expert scientists on climate change we also have to listen to the consensus of expert doctors on obesity. Fat acceptance is a path paved with good intentions that leads straight to hell.
diane a 6 years ago
Drs only use scales to a point. I worked in an eating disorder service - the scales lied
Load More Replies...
Enuya 6 years ago
I know that's probably only my opinion, but in most cases I prefer "before" photos. Most of those girls are not fat or even overweight - they look healthy, beautiful and (usually) fit. The right ones have too much muscles. I can't judge, maybe it is good for them, but they look too concentrated on their new lifestyle to be truly happy and confident. Also, I don't really like too muscular people (general, not only women) - while I do appreciate their determination, for me (in most cases) they look more attractive on the left photos.
Magdalina777 6 years ago
I happen to actually dislike most if the 'after' pics:( I mean, they do show great work and determination and respect goes to these girls for that, I just feel like a slightly curvy(slightly:P) female body looks much better than absolutely angular op muscular one. Naturally if these girls feel happier that way though, they're going the right way. To me when you can clearly see abs on a girl it looks like someone's done wayyyy too much bodybuilding (I'm a girl) XD
Full Name 6 years ago
I couldn't agree more. They after pics are the equivalent of the guys who overdo the muscles. Fit/strong/healthy is good for a man but a gun show isn't. With the girls, thin/lean/healthy is good but having a lean man's body fat isn't good. Just tone up and get rid of the muffin top and that's enough. Soft curves are very feminine.
Load More Replies...
A Dyke From The Dreamworld 6 years ago
People are looking to lose FAT, not WEIGHT most of the time.
Emily Waterpony 6 years ago
I'm about 140lbs overweight, I feel like I have to do cardio to change this, not just weightlifting. I had a trainer and she said I had to do cardio, but she also had a lot of outdated ideas about body work... None of these people started out overweight so I don't know what to think...
Lime 6 years ago
First of all, I'm no expert, this is just my personal experience - I used to be pretty chubby myself. I lost about 23 kg over ¾ of a year by just eating better (not necessarily a diet, just better food on general and limiting very unhealthy food) and cardio (ton of walks with my dog! and an occasional visit to the gym), with close to no weightlifting. So I think cardio, for starting when your main goal is weight loss, is sefinitely good. I see lighting more as a way for people who are already at their desired weight to kinda... Tone their bodies? I believe this is what most people in this article were doing :) Whether you decide to start with cardio, weightlifting, or both, I believe in you! You got this girl 💖🎀☺️
Load More Replies... Full Name 6 years ago
This is such b******t. I can't believe people still fall for this myth. Do ANY of you personally know of someone who lost a considerable amount of size, yet weighs 20lbs more? No, you don't. You can stay about the same size and weigh more of you lean up and gain muscle, but if you're losing all kinds of size then you weigh less, period. I've been around fit people my whole life and it's never once happened where a girl whose a normal, thinnish weight hits the gym, goes down multiple pants sizes and ends up weighing 20lbs more. I'm not buying it for a second. Same for men. Look at those ultra muscular male gymnasts, they are about 5'4 and 150lbs. A normal 5'4 guy at 150 lbs is quite a bit smaller. They are lean as s**t, but ripped and somehow don't gain all kinds of weight. Hmmm.....
diane a 6 years ago (edited)
Due to health issues I cannot now really excercise in any meaningful way. At one point in the past, when fit, active and exercising for 1 hour daily, my waist measurement was 25". I currently weigh 15lb LESS, however my waist measurement is 5" larger. Excercise really can have a massive impact on body shape regardless of weight.
Load More Replies... diane a 6 years ago (edited)
Weight is only important when you get above or below a healthy level, which can vary immensely depending on body type, bone structure and fitness. A 5ft 6", large framed woman can weigh 12st and be supremely fit and healthy, or - be unfit, small boned, and carrying 25lb of excess fat, externally and internally. Even BMI is meaningless regarding body health.
Paul Dixon 6 years ago
Some of these looked photoshopped. Regardless, being healthy doesn't mean being thin and weighing less. Being toned is better. Having large oversized muscles can also be bad - in some cases it can lead to mental conditions because some people end up becoming overly obsessed with training etc. A bit of fat won't hurt ya.
Ola Polowczyk 6 years ago
So true. Body composition and the way you look and feel are the most important factors. Ever since I started following the diet my coach has written for me, I gained 2 kilos. But my body fat percentage dropped and I look much better. And I dropped two clothes sizes :)
Whatevers not taken 6 years ago
I scrolled right to the bottom because none of these pictures actually show people on a scale and the number.
Nora H. 6 years ago
Hmm.. well, I actually think most of these women look perfectly fine and NORMAL in the before pics. It's great to be in good shape, but I think this post is making a lot of normal healthy women look (and maybe even feel) bad. The after pics are of women, for whom fitness is a lifestyle, who have the time, money and opportunity to focus a whole lot on their training. Obsessing over fitness is not necessarily healthy. And women are meant to have a certain amount of body fat by nature. Just stay healthy and happy, and maybe stop focusing so much on your looks.
Nia Loves Art 6 years ago
I agree that the way you look isn’t the most important thing. I do admire these women though for the work they put in and am glad that they did what made them feel happy about their bodies.
Load More Replies... Randomcthulu 6 years ago
Muscle is 3x denser than fat, so of course you weight more once you shift to fit vs skinny fat
George Beckingham 6 years ago
I've seen ads for weight loss/muscle gain products where they use every trick in the book to exaggerate the difference. In the before pics, the people are always pale, slouching, shot in harsh direct light. In the after pics, they're flexing, spray-tanned, shot in light that enhances their muscle tone. The difference in appearance far exceeds the actual fat loss/muscle gain.
Full Name 6 years ago
I watching a YouTube video where a shredded guy does the "after" pic, then stuffs himself with pop and salty/fatty chips and then takes the "before" photo a couple hours later and looks way worse.
Load More Replies... incoherent screaming 6 years ago
I actually have no idea how much i weigh, so there's an avoidance tactic
Daria B 6 years ago
The first time I did the big change and lost so much weight that people wouldn't recognize me on the streets anymore, I did it with sports and change of habits and my way of measuring my progress was not a scale and kg, it was a sewing ruler and cm.
Load More Replies... BusLady 6 years ago
In the after pics, many of these women look far too thin. Muscle is great, and they worked for it. But they also look starved, even anorexic. And a lot of them have strange poses in the after pics.
diane a 6 years ago
Alot of the thighs look way too much - guess it is the "watermelon challenge" thing.
Load More Replies... CbusResident 6 years ago
None of this makes weight meaningless, the women are all low in body fat, haven't gained much weight and the gains are muscle. If them women had gained 100 pounds, we'd know that's not all muscle, it would be from getting fatter and that would create massive but preventable problems for their health and life expectancy. Weight means a lot. Doctors use scales for a reason, they know more than the fat acceptance bloggers. If we insist the world listen to the consensus of expert scientists on climate change we also have to listen to the consensus of expert doctors on obesity. Fat acceptance is a path paved with good intentions that leads straight to hell.
diane a 6 years ago
Drs only use scales to a point. I worked in an eating disorder service - the scales lied
Load More Replies... Enuya 6 years ago
I know that's probably only my opinion, but in most cases I prefer "before" photos. Most of those girls are not fat or even overweight - they look healthy, beautiful and (usually) fit. The right ones have too much muscles. I can't judge, maybe it is good for them, but they look too concentrated on their new lifestyle to be truly happy and confident. Also, I don't really like too muscular people (general, not only women) - while I do appreciate their determination, for me (in most cases) they look more attractive on the left photos.
Magdalina777 6 years ago
I happen to actually dislike most if the 'after' pics:( I mean, they do show great work and determination and respect goes to these girls for that, I just feel like a slightly curvy(slightly:P) female body looks much better than absolutely angular op muscular one. Naturally if these girls feel happier that way though, they're going the right way. To me when you can clearly see abs on a girl it looks like someone's done wayyyy too much bodybuilding (I'm a girl) XD
Full Name 6 years ago
I couldn't agree more. They after pics are the equivalent of the guys who overdo the muscles. Fit/strong/healthy is good for a man but a gun show isn't. With the girls, thin/lean/healthy is good but having a lean man's body fat isn't good. Just tone up and get rid of the muffin top and that's enough. Soft curves are very feminine.
Load More Replies... A Dyke From The Dreamworld 6 years ago
People are looking to lose FAT, not WEIGHT most of the time.
Emily Waterpony 6 years ago
I'm about 140lbs overweight, I feel like I have to do cardio to change this, not just weightlifting. I had a trainer and she said I had to do cardio, but she also had a lot of outdated ideas about body work... None of these people started out overweight so I don't know what to think...
Lime 6 years ago
First of all, I'm no expert, this is just my personal experience - I used to be pretty chubby myself. I lost about 23 kg over ¾ of a year by just eating better (not necessarily a diet, just better food on general and limiting very unhealthy food) and cardio (ton of walks with my dog! and an occasional visit to the gym), with close to no weightlifting. So I think cardio, for starting when your main goal is weight loss, is sefinitely good. I see lighting more as a way for people who are already at their desired weight to kinda... Tone their bodies? I believe this is what most people in this article were doing :) Whether you decide to start with cardio, weightlifting, or both, I believe in you! You got this girl 💖🎀☺️
Load More Replies... Full Name 6 years ago
This is such b******t. I can't believe people still fall for this myth. Do ANY of you personally know of someone who lost a considerable amount of size, yet weighs 20lbs more? No, you don't. You can stay about the same size and weigh more of you lean up and gain muscle, but if you're losing all kinds of size then you weigh less, period. I've been around fit people my whole life and it's never once happened where a girl whose a normal, thinnish weight hits the gym, goes down multiple pants sizes and ends up weighing 20lbs more. I'm not buying it for a second. Same for men. Look at those ultra muscular male gymnasts, they are about 5'4 and 150lbs. A normal 5'4 guy at 150 lbs is quite a bit smaller. They are lean as s**t, but ripped and somehow don't gain all kinds of weight. Hmmm.....
diane a 6 years ago (edited)
Due to health issues I cannot now really excercise in any meaningful way. At one point in the past, when fit, active and exercising for 1 hour daily, my waist measurement was 25". I currently weigh 15lb LESS, however my waist measurement is 5" larger. Excercise really can have a massive impact on body shape regardless of weight.
Load More Replies... diane a 6 years ago (edited)
Weight is only important when you get above or below a healthy level, which can vary immensely depending on body type, bone structure and fitness. A 5ft 6", large framed woman can weigh 12st and be supremely fit and healthy, or - be unfit, small boned, and carrying 25lb of excess fat, externally and internally. Even BMI is meaningless regarding body health.
Paul Dixon 6 years ago
Some of these looked photoshopped. Regardless, being healthy doesn't mean being thin and weighing less. Being toned is better. Having large oversized muscles can also be bad - in some cases it can lead to mental conditions because some people end up becoming overly obsessed with training etc. A bit of fat won't hurt ya.
Ola Polowczyk 6 years ago
So true. Body composition and the way you look and feel are the most important factors. Ever since I started following the diet my coach has written for me, I gained 2 kilos. But my body fat percentage dropped and I look much better. And I dropped two clothes sizes :)
Whatevers not taken 6 years ago
I scrolled right to the bottom because none of these pictures actually show people on a scale and the number.
Related on Bored Panda
