This Instagram Fitness Model Just Destroyed One Popular Myth About Weight Gain

July 27, 2016

A popular Instagram fitness model known for her workout photos recently shared a revealing progress photo showing why numbers on a scale aren’t real indicators of a person’s health, strength or beauty.

Kelsey Wells is a new mom and an inspiring fitness fanatic with over 300,000 followers on Instagram. On Tuesday, she uploaded three telling photos of herself at varying stages of her fitness journey.

In the photos, Wells appears in a bikini weighing 145 pounds, 122 pounds and 140 pounds. She bares all for people to see as she is unafraid to share with people the truth that she’s discovered. She wrote:

“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 YOUR WEIGHT HAVE ANY AFFECT WHATSOEVER ON YOUR SELF ESTEEM, like I used to.”

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 Jul 26, 2016 at 8:55am PDT

Wells, who is 5’ 7” and 140 pounds, is currently completing the 12-week Bikini Body Workout Guide developed by Australian fitness star Kayla Itsines. The new mom weighed 130 before getting pregnant, but had gained 15 pounds after having her child. Similar to many people, she thought being lighter on the scale was an indication of how in shape she was. Post partum, Wells said:

“[…] 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.”

Said goodbye to the incredible @loewsregency (seriously too good) but I’m not even sad cause ALL THE FEELS CAUSE WE ABOUT TO SWEAT WITH @kayla_itsines !!!!!!!!! SEE SO MANY OF YOU SO SOON! . . . . . . #girlswithmuscle #fitness #fitmom #fit #fitspo #girlgang #workout #bbg #bbgbabes #bbgsisters #bbgcommunity #bbggirls #bbgmums #bbgmoms #bbgfam #mysweatlifetravels #mysweatlife #nyc #brooklynbridge #loewsregencynyc

A photo posted by K E L S E Y W E L L S (@mysweatlife) on Jun 25, 2016 at 7:07am PDT

Though Wells weighs more now than she did with the baby weight, she has never been happier. Wells wrote:

“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. […] 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.”

CURRENT FAVE BREAKFAST of a large fresh peach diced/in milk/drizzled with honey + 1 egg and 3 egg whites scrambled with red pepper/spinach/tomato sprinkled with cheese then SWIMMING TILL LUNCH TIME is on repeat over here. After lunch is naptime (dicey these days) then after nap we’ll be off to the gym for #BBG #arms ! SUMMER WE FREAKING LOVE YA. || Also before I forget! A bunch of you have asked what fitness tracker I’m currently using- it’s the @fitbit blaze and it’s pretty chill I guess. Haha 100% honest I LOVE IT- although lately I have started to notice that sometimes the HR isn’t super accurate during HIIT. It is really accurate for LISS and my BBG workouts, but it seems like it has a hard time picking up when I go from “zero to sixty” if you will. I’m not too worried about it because I can feel when I’m at my max, but for anyone who needs precise HR in the moment, I would recommend a fitness tracker that has a HR strap (in my opinion @garmin is the best brand for that.) || NOW LET’S SLAY WEDNESDAY SHALL WE!? . . . . . #getoutandsweat #bbggirls #bbgmoms #bbgmums @bbgsisters #bbgbabes #bbgfam #bbglife #bbgcommunity #sweat #mysweatlife #sweatwithkayla #thesweatlife #girlswithmuscle #fitspo #fitspiration #workout #fit #fitfam #fitness #fitmom

A photo posted by K E L S E Y W E L L S (@mysweatlife) on Jul 6, 2016 at 9:59am PDT

Many people seem to have an obsession with numbers on the scale, but it isn’t a true measurement of one’s strength or beauty. It’s not about being skinny, but rather about being fit and healthy. Wells concluded:

“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.”

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