When it comes to monitoring our health, many of us often turn to the scale as our ultimate judge of fitness. However, one woman’s empowering Instagram post is making waves, reminding us that the number on the scale is far less significant than how we feel in our own bodies.
Fitness influencer Emily Harper recently shared her journey on Instagram, revealing that her quest for weight loss began just eight weeks after giving birth. “Before my pregnancy, I weighed 135 pounds, and based solely on my skewed perspective, I set a goal weight of 125 pounds, hoping to squeeze into my smallest jeans,” she wrote in her post. Fast forward several months, and Emily has gained nearly 20 pounds. What changed? She focused on her health.
“Forget about the scale!” she exclaimed. “Please, everyone, stop fixating on that ridiculous number. Your weight does not equate to your progress, and for heaven’s sake, don’t let it dictate your self-worth, like I used to.”
In her post, Emily explained that she did reach her target weight — as shown in the middle photo — but as she continued to work out and embrace healthier habits, she started to gain muscle mass. “I’ve added 20 pounds and gone up two pant sizes. In fact, I recently tore my favorite skinny jeans just trying to pull them on!” she shared.
She continued, “If I judged my success by my old standards, I would consider myself a complete failure. Thankfully, I’ve learned to track my progress through more meaningful metrics — strength, endurance, health, and overall happiness. I’ve never felt better in my own skin, and if I hadn’t said #forgetthescale long ago, I might have given up on this journey.”
I resonate deeply with Emily’s words, especially as I navigate my own postpartum weight loss journey. My son is now two, and while the scale hasn’t budged as much as I’d like, I’ve noticed real progress. Just eight months ago, I struggled to do a single push-up; now, I can easily complete 25. I used to feel winded carrying laundry upstairs, but now it feels like a breeze.
We often use arbitrary metrics to measure our health, worth, and value — whether it’s the scale, our clothing size, or the presence of thigh gaps. Emily’s body is remarkable at any size, but her message is clear: no external measure of health holds as much weight as how we feel and what our bodies can achieve. There is no ideal weight or perfect dress size that will grant us confidence or fulfillment, and we shouldn’t allow numbers to bring us down.
As Emily wisely stated, “To that nagging little voice in my head that questioned my worth when I saw 150 pounds on the scale last week, I say forget you. I think it’s time you do the same with your scale.”
For more on empowering journeys like this, check out this post on Cervical Insemination. And if you’re exploring options for at-home insemination, consider visiting Make A Mom for reputable syringe kits. Additionally, you can find valuable information at ASRM on pregnancy and home insemination resources.
In summary, it’s essential to prioritize how we feel and what we can do over the number on the scale. Remember, real health and happiness come from within.
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