DEXA results: 27 F/5'3"/142 lbs/27.4% body fat

[legendforlife]

@122r This is so encouraging! I tend to fixate on the fact that my bminis borderline overweight at 5 3, 135lbs. I'm pretty muscular though, so I'm so glad too see someone else is in the same boat!! Keep lifting

 

[122r]

@legendforlife tbh part of my motivation to pony up the cash for a DEXA was that I finally hit an "overweight BMI," so I know that feel. Wanted some more data to provide context!

 

[legendforlife]

@122r Thanks!! Also, I followed you on insta XD look forward to seeing them gainz

 

[jennbaby]

@122r I don't have much to add, but thank you for posting this! I am very close to your size - 5'4", 146lbs, 38-28-38 - and I rarely see people with my size and build represented in the fitness community (at least compared to the more slender Instagram-model type). I am kind of speechless right now. All the things I complain about (my "big" arms, for example) look AMAZING on you and that makes me really appreciate my body more. My lifts are nowhere near yours (still trying to break the 100lb bench plateau) but you are great motivation to keep working! Do you have an Instagram or something? This is def the type of fitspo I could get into.

 

[122r]

@jennbaby this makes me happy! My instagram is @trainhardpizzaharder. Not strictly fitness stuff, I post a lot of lifting videos but also cats/books/food/etc.

I don't like following a lot of fitness-instagram-model-types either, they generally don't post content relevant to my goals and yet somehow also make me feel bad about myself! I do like following other powerlifters, especially all the girls in my own weightclass who kick my ass. For other powerlifters around our size, check out megsquats (friend of mine who used to train at my gym, now has a pretty successful and awesome youtube channel!), ejanss, victoria.liang, jenthompson132 (basically the GOAT, benches 300+), alice_lifts... and many others I can't think of off the top of my head. But if you look at pages like girlswhopowerlift or search related hashtags you'll probably find a lot more great posts from strong women!

 

[dawn16]

@122r Followed! Love your cats

 

[jennbaby]

@122r Thank you so much! Def following you and those other ladies. Keep up the awesome work!

 

[truthseeker05]

@122r Oh man, your before stats and situation are eerily close to mine... I've been "bulking" since mid January partially to get my period back, and although I have made some slight strength/aesthetic gains I haven't put on any significant weight (or resumed my menstrual cycle). I really do need to bulk moar. Reading this post is oddly reassuring, thank you for making it.

 

[122r]

@truthseeker05 glad to help! Yeah, I had to stop weighing myself for awhile and basically just stuck to some daily meals I knew would add up to 2500ish plus whatever snacks I wanted. In the years since I've started tracking more closely, but I'm less emotionally affected by the numbers now.

 

[shonab]

@122r Congratulations on your dexa results! You look WONDERFUL, strong, and I'm sure happy as well. Glad you got your head right and are now sharing how beautiful a strong, well muscled woman looks. You're an inspiration to others and I wish the best for you!

 

[denice65]

@122r Thank you for posting this! I love seeing the variety of sizes and shapes that the healthy human body can assume, and I think the mindset you have about your body and training could use more airtime around these parts.

 

[godlovesariel]

@122r I have nothing to say other than this is a very interesting post.

 

[flamingrose65]

@122r you look great. I wouldn't have expected you to be 27% bf from that pic. you look lean and strong

 

[staywithme]

@122r Here is What I Look Like in Spandex should be the title of your autobiography.

I think good hormonal health and top tier bone density are pretty good consolation prizes for missing your 100 pounds of lean mass goal. Super interesting - thanks for sharing!

 

[122r]

@staywithme subtitle: a lifetime of navel-gazing on internet forums

 

[godknows]

@122r Wow, this.

 

[cynicalviking]

@122r Wow...I cannot believe you weigh 142! You look great!! I would have guessed your weight and bodyfat to be much lower: this shows the difference having a good muscle base makes.

I think this pic proves that the number on the scale is just a number.

 

[coconutprincess]

@cynicalviking I agree!! You look great OP!

 

[122r]

@cynicalviking thanks! one thing to note is that DEXA bodyfat measurements are always going to be higher (and more accurate) than other methods. I've used those bioelectrical impedance machines and calipers and been measured in the low 20s, but I was pretty sure they were low balling me.