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28 Before & After Photos That Prove Your Weight Is Meaningless
Most of us worry about some pounds gained and probable weight loss from time to time, and usually, this is very much related to the number we see on the scales.
Well, sometimes weight is truly just a number, and these strength training lovers will prove it to you. Compiled by Bored Panda, these before and after photos show that weighing yourself isn't always the best way to see whether or not you are actually getting a toned body, and you definitely don't need to starve yourself or go on a very strict diet to see the actual difference.
Even though these photos show that you can maintain your weight by weight lifting and some serious muscle gain and still look stunning, some people did choose the other path, and their results are inspiring nonetheless. Different physiques require different choices!
Scroll down to see how incredible these women look without losing a single pound, yet gaining incredible muscle tone!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Scale Doesn't Measure Sexy
Latausha Brown 5 years ago
She looks good but I'm trying to figure out what products are they offeribg
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Bored Fox 7 years ago
I have improved mu life style very much this year and I have not lost a single kilogram. But still I can now wear some of my old clothes that were too small in December 2017 so definitely something positive has happened to my body. :)
John Fernlund 7 years ago
This is so stupid. “Throw out your scale” and “weight is just a number” advocates to people of the fat acceptance movement. They will never understand that the women in the pictures worked VERY hard to convert fat into muscle mass (which is much heavier). They probably also eat very healthy food. Its only then you can stop worrying about the number on the scale. When you are obese, those number are actually significant to you health and even to your life!
Evan Casey 11 months ago (edited)
It is not how much you weigh that ever counts. What counts is your body fat percentage, and the lower the better, up until about 7% or less.
Kate Jones 1 year ago
Why did they alter the photo on the right? Totally defeats the purpose of this story. You can see the weird white line at her back beside her left elbow. It's not lighting, it looks so fake. She would've looked great without doing that.
RELATED:
#2
For Anyone Fretting Over “Holiday Weight” This Is Your Reminder To Screw The F***ing Scale!
Echo 7 years ago
I don't know what is going on in this picture. I just know my brain says the one on the left is much more appealing.
Kate Jones 1 year ago
Fake. The one on the far right, did she get some ribs removed? Some really weird shading going on on the abdomen, too. You can get skeletally thin but the width of your ribcage doesn't get narrower, how dumb do you think we are?
Long Joan Silver 7 years ago
According to my tattooist, finger tattoos can fade. Either that's what happened, or it was a fake tattoo.
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Cristina Loayza 7 years ago
What's done, sorry, didn't get it. She looks great anyway, 125 lbs. is normal weight!
DOD2557 1 year ago
We've been fed a simplistic idea that "healthy" and "fit" are all to do with weight. BMI is no longer considered a good indicator of fitness either. Athletes are often not height and weight proportional. More muscle equaling more weight. If you start doing some good exercise including modest weights (you don't have to be a power lifter!) the fat on your body is lost and you have more muscle. The same volume of muscle weights significantly less than the same volume of fat. The fat is disappearing and the muscle definition is more pronounced. It's not a mystery. It's just contrary to the way most of us grew up thinking about weight.
Load More Replies... #3
Nothing Quite Like A Reminder That Weight Can Be Deceiving, Age Means Nothing And Healthy Looks Different
Phillip Shepard 1 year ago
It is because of the ratio between fat and muscle and how the fat is distributed. That's why BMI is not a good measure of obesity. Better to use skin fold thickness and electrical resistance.
Beth Taccia 7 years ago
I never realized the hip measurement was so low I thought it was up maybe 2 inches higher Beauty is in the person not the weight not the measurements but the person. Kindness is the most beautiful thing in the world.
Surya Amriza 7 years ago
The extra weight most likely coming from her increased muscles' mass but I can't see which muscles...
Roger Bird 7 years ago
Notice that lifting is better than cardio. It is all about the hormones.
Agnes Jekyll 7 years ago
Irregular eating--does that mean starving yourself intermittently? Yes that messes with your body
Liz dJ 7 years ago
In the other picture it states her cal intake, so perhaps she meant that her intake varied more before, say between 1500 to 3000, so not yet starving herself but just the difference from day to day
Load More Replies... #4
Pleaseeeeee Stop Getting Hung Up On The Number On The Stupid 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
Louisa Johnson 7 years ago
I like how you can see from her smile in each photo that she becomes a more confident version of herself.
Donna O 7 years ago
I was just thinking the same. They're so low down that I can't see how they could even cover her bum properly!
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Iris Jessup 1 year ago
Thank you for this post. It reminded me that I shouldn't judge my progress based on a number on the scale. Instead, I should look at the facts and how I feel.
Maggie Dougherty 7 years ago
WOW!!! I aspire to look like her! I went to the gym three or four times a week, and I got down to the middle pic, but it's so hard to keep off, and maintain!! I had a gym buddy, and to me, that makes a huge difference, and so much better, at least for me it did...Sigh!
Evan Casey 11 months ago (edited)
I was going to say yes, but then I looked at the perspective. Yes, her bellybutton moved down a bit with the fat-loss, but look at what moved up.
Load More Replies... #5
Same Weight - Different Year And Shape
Cristina Loayza 7 years ago
Naw! The after is something because she WORKED for it. That is worth everything, the effort!!! Congrats on that!
Lynne Newell 1 year ago
The person on the left is attractive. I see nothing wrong with her body. The person on the right is not the same person that is on the left. Fake tattoos are easy to apply.
Surya Amriza 7 years ago
Now in this pic, I can see which muscles have increased their mass...
thebridget 7 years ago
She does look fine on both. But she likely wanted to be strong, not just slim.
Load More Replies... #6
Stop Letting The Scale Determine Your Success - It’s Literally Just A Number!
Kirsten Miranda 7 years ago
For people confused, it's a loss of weight and gain of muscle mass (which is heavier than fat obviously)
Tina Rhoades 7 years ago
Muscle is leaner than fat, however a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle and a pound of bricks and a pound of feathers... everyone need to quit saying that fat is heavier, its not, its just more mass than a pound of muscle
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A.R. 7 years ago
I wish someone had explained that too me a long time ago. I use to go to the gym faithfully, every single day but my weight stayed the same so after 6 months I gave up. Looking back at my pictures, I can plainly see the huge difference in my body shape while I was going thru this. I should have kept it up!
ChickyChicky 7 years ago
You can start again right now! Find a youtube video for a 10 minute workout, do it, do it again tomorrow. Keep doing it!
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Kirk Mckeever 1 year ago
NO...those are NOT the same REAL weight #'s.....most of these pics are VERY suspect numbers-wise......
Jennifer Smith 3 years ago
a pound of muscle is SMALLER than a pound of fat but still weighs the same. Like a pound box of cotton balls versus a pound box of rocks. One's gonna be bigger in size but they weigh the same. Obviously as her photo proves, fat takes up more space than muscle mass.
noitall man 7 years ago
for those confused, those people aren't muscular enough to pack on that much weight
Cristina Loayza 7 years ago
Great work, I admire that, the effort put in to having a good healthy body
#7
Throw Away The Scale!!!!!!!
Kireina 7 years ago
I'm sorry but I just don't think abs on women look right. Our bellies are meant to carry babies... not a 2-6 pack XD But you do you I guess. I'm 100000% okay with being squishly XD
Jennifer Smith 3 years ago
you can be toned like that and still have children, before and after.
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Marta Puig Orriols 7 years ago
yuk! another post about the need to be "beautiful" or sexy outside. The best gifts always come wraped in newspaper. When there are ribbons and flowers on the outside, it usually means that that person only focuses on how she/he looks. The best people I have met and I have to say, I really envy, are not sexy nor "beautiful" ouside but their faces have a GLOW that comes from within, THAT I ENVY A LOT.
Maggie Dougherty 7 years ago
Marta, that was very beautiful, and so thoughtful! Thank you, for posting that, and I'm sure the girl in the first pic, would think so, if someone had said that to her, back in 2012! We all need friends like you around!! :D <3
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Nikki C. Rockafella 7 years ago
Ladies- i gotta tell u, every single onr of you look amazing. Sizzlin' hot. You all inspired me. Maybe ill add my before and after picture soon.
#8
Now This Is A Very Common Question I Always Get Asked. “How Much Weight Have You Lost Since The Start Of Your Fitness Journey?!” Uhmmmm. The Truth Is That I Have Stayed Almost The Exact Same Weight As When I Started
Evan Casey 11 months ago
Right?! The lower, the better, until about 7% or less.
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Jennifer Smith 3 years ago
No, it does not. a pound is a pound is a pound. a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. I'm so tired of seeing that remark in fitness and weight loss articles.
Load More Replies... Phillip Shepard 1 year ago
BMI can be inaccurate to diagnose obesity. Skin fold thickness and electrical resistance measure ratio fat and amount of fat.
Cristina Loayza 7 years ago
Well, she certainly looks better after the fitness programme... her work is good, for as long as she is healthy.
Elena Joyce 7 years ago
Hard to believe that the first one is a 50 kg girl . This is not a body of 50 kg it is much more her weight there... unless she is too short.
Rona Hunnisett 7 years ago
So it's only acceptable if you're skinny looking? What's wrong with the first picture?
#9
I Weighed Myself Today For The First Time In Forever...i’m Exactly The Same Weight As When I Started Last June!
Deborah Nolan Gregory 7 years ago
Might have been a better representation to have the waistband at the same level in both pictures rather than on the widest part of the hips in one and on the narrowest waist area in the other...
Cristina Loayza 7 years ago
But she certainly does look better after the training, all for the GOOD HEALTH girls, that is all that matters...
#10
Age 26, 5'8'', 137 Lbs. My Weight Has Stayed Constant Since I Began Lifting
Niall Allen 7 years ago
Don't you find your quality of life is restricted with big black discs on your head? :p
Craig Wright 7 years ago
You know nothing about the latest fashion, Niall. Get with the program.
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Greta Toločkaitė 7 years ago
girl's got a nice body, but her underpants look just like those my male cousins used to wear in late 80s
Rafaella Bueno 7 years ago
Was never overweight, just flaccid muscles that are gaining definition now. This is my problem too.
Phillip Shepard 1 year ago
A bit odd that it's apparently a female wearing men's briefs with a fly.
Kate Jones 1 year ago
Why does the outline of her body on the right look like a cut-out paper doll then? Where is the shadowing? So fake.
Jennifer Smith 3 years ago
toning up also helped her posture which made her look taller as a bonus
#11
This Is A Little Reminder That Number On The Scale Is Just Number. Your Weight Doesn’t Equal Your Progress!
Surya Amriza 7 years ago
Wow, beautiful pics and thigh muscles! If I didn't see the thigh, I'd have thought it was before and after dump.
#12
Would You Care If Your Weight Stayed The Same, If Your Body Composition Completely Changed?
Nini 7 years ago
I'm sorry but why does it looks like their faces are aging so much when get more muscles?? This is confusing.
Tiari 7 years ago
They win muscles, but lose fat. But fat tends to fill the wrinkles in the face. And less wrinkles and a slightly rounder face make everyone look younger.
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#13
And This Is Why The Scale Should Not Be The Main Measurement Of Progress Or Health. The Scale Does Not Differentiate Between Muscle, Fat, Water, And Organs
Beverly Smalls 7 years ago
Muscle weighs more than fat, hence, she loses Bodyfat through sweat and carbon dioxide, and gains lean mass in turn. :)
Miranda Denisko 7 years ago
Actually, pound for pound they are the same weight. Muscle just takes up less space than fat :)
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Jon Yahraus 7 years ago
okay, so how are they gaining muscles without losing weight? I'd really like to know!
Ashley Say Wha?!? 7 years ago
Not sure why you've been down voted for just an innocent question, but it's weight lifting! My husband is a personal trainer.
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#14
Screw The Scale, Seriously.
Susan Forbes 7 years ago
My former SIL said it was the last place to gain weight and the first place to lose it
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Ulla Leonard 6 years ago
She looks much better. She does not look like she is over 60 Kilos, however.
#15
I Get Asked All The Time "How Much Do You Weigh?"
Bway_Gonnabe11 7 years ago
you look great, but that's still rude for people to ask that... I mean, come on. but great work, you look wonderful!
Hellysal 7 years ago
They are probably asking if she eats, if she's not anorexic, something like that.
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Caroline Driver 7 years ago
Someone with an actual thigh gap, even before she worked out. I didn't think they were real.
Megan 7 years ago
Women with wide hips always have thigh gaps naturally. However if they are achieved unnaturally through over exercising or starvation then it's a health concern
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Kate Jones 1 year ago
Your answer should be, "none of your business!" Who asks such a thing? So rude!
_WEIRD_ONE_ 7 years ago
i get asked that a lot too.... BUT ONLY BECAUSE IM A 13 YEAR OLD 7TH GRADER THAT WEIGHS ONLY 75 - 80 POUNDS?!?!?!?!?!
Seb Cebien 7 years ago
Clearly better on the left picture! Eat a little, instead of drying on feet
#16
It Was Never My Goal To Be Skinny
RaroaRaroa 7 years ago
Camera angle and distance from the camera are different. Otherwise she's pretty much the same shape.
Mae Mosse 7 years ago
There seems to be a slight change in waist and hip size. But it is a very small change. Camera angle doesn’t make that change.
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#17
Scales Versus Pictures
Xai 7 years ago
the size of your boobs is dependent on how much fat is on your chest. so, surprise surprise, when fat is oxygenated your boobs may shrink
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#18
By The Scales Standards And My Old Way Of Thinking, I'm Failing At This Weightloss Thing.
Lindsey LaMeyer 7 years ago
That's the kind of thinking they have on those weight loss shows like Biggest Loser. They dont have a clue how fitness works...they're so focused on the scale.
Jo Bebe 7 years ago
but in all fairness those contestants are extremely obese, not just out of shape or slightly overweight
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Annie Bennett 12 months ago
you were fine the way you were and your fine now. I cant believe girls always see fat when they are perfectly normal.
Ulla Leonard 6 years ago
I do not believe she weighs more on the right. Her face is bigger on the left, she has much more fat around her belly and thighs, and he muscle mass doesn't appear more developed.
#19
Guess What, Exactly The Same Weight In Both!
#20
It's A Comparison Of Over A Year. This Transformation Could Be Done Within 3 Months
#21
In Both Of These Pictures I’m The Exact Same Weight, Normally I Would Be Devastated And Feel Like I’ve Failed. One Of The Biggest Things I’ve Achieved On This Challenge Is To Ditch The Scales And Learn To Feel And See The Changes I’m Making To My Body
Cristina Loayza 7 years ago
She is pretty in both, but she looks better as a whole in the second one, after the hard work.
#22
Some Things Change: 2014 And 2016
thebridget 7 years ago
The woman to whom this body belongs can decide what is better
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#23
I Feel Like I Haven’t Posted A Transformation In A While, So Here You Go! Same Weight And Such A Difference
Carole Dose 7 years ago
I appreciate the confidence of her second smile. That's a lot of dedicated lifting done!
Bobby Brady 7 years ago
She looked much better in the before, including her face and hair. A real shame about the tattoo also.
#24
This Is My Proof That It's Not All About The Scale!
Kireina 7 years ago
Why so many downvotes for that person XD Post a pic of your a*s on the internet, yeah, people are going to comment about what they see. Your a*s. I don't even see that much of a difference XD
Parmeisan 7 years ago
It's not a huge difference, but she's more defined in the second one - and 10 whole pounds heavier.
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#25
Don't Be Fooled Or Ruled By The Number On The Scale!!!
Ellie Ragsdale 7 years ago
I kind of life that. Very little difference in body, but wet matters most is that you're taking care of your body
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#26
Same Weight But Different Body Fat!
Nathalie Hidalgo 7 years ago
More muscle definition is the difference. It's crazy hard work...so I'm told. I don't have that kind of devotion.
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Ulla Leonard 6 years ago
OMG! She looks so cute in the left photo. She looks seriously weird in the right.
Seb Cebien 7 years ago
For a man, it must be nice to have the impression of waking up next to his gym buddy... Not to mention the sexual intercourse very... manly.
#27
Transformation
Hollie Newton 7 years ago
Its more as you exercise the chest muscles they get toned and the boobs become more lifted as the muscles tighten so her boobs may have not gotten bigger its just the muscles have pulled her boobs up and made them sag less than before
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_WEIRD_ONE_ 7 years ago
damn those legs!! theyre so big (NO OFFENSE Its just that i come from a short, SHORT family...)
Danielle 7 years ago
She probably doesn't give one single f**k what your opinion is...
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Add New Image
What do you think ?
John L 7 years ago
BINGO!! This is not Rocket Science either. Muscle is much denser, and takes up less space. Why are people so surprised at this revelation? 00-banghea...083768.gif 
William Teach 7 years ago
OK, this is the type of post on weight that I love. People working to get healthy. Great job, ladies, and men.
JillVille Child Care 7 years ago
Great job ladies! The scale is very deceiving, if anyone asks how much you weigh, there's a simple answer: "One hundred and Sexy!"
mbergen 7 years ago
I was always told when you are dieting and/or working out (whether to lose weight or gain) never use a scale, use the mirror, mirrors never lie. Go by what your eye finds appealing not what a number says.
Tinpot 7 years ago
For me it was the way clothes fit. I lost 40lbs and then started working on muscle tone. I went from a size 12 to 4. Haven't stepped on a scale in a year and don't plan to any time soon. On the negative, when you do tone up you do notice every extra lb. No scale necessary.
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stellermatt 7 years ago
so from my understanding, muscle weighs more than fat, but it's more condensed so takes up less space. I reckon if you compared waist size you'd see the difference, they all look great though (before AND after).
DannyG 7 years ago
muscle weights around 6 times more than fat in equal volume.
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Carol Taylor 7 years ago
But have you noticed that all these chicks were skinny to begin with before they toned themselves, if I, who is actually obese, were to do the same thing the scales WOULD show that I'd lost a lot of weight before it started coming back on as muscle tone
Chuck Bartowski 7 years ago
You're absolutely right- results will vary. But I think the message here is to not just focus on weight, instead, focus on improving your health. Exercise, eat right, and don't worry about the stupid scale.
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Anouk 7 years ago
Wow - this thread could not have come at a better time! Thank you!!!! I have been working really hard to lose weight and more importantly, tone and slim. I've not been doing it for very long but I have been careful with what I eat and doing a hard 90 minute workout every other day for the last 2 months. And I've been starting to get seriously disheartened because my weekly weight is just not changing. I have lost about 3lb in all that time. But.....I feel better...I can see my tummy starting to tighten, and I can feel my clothes getting looser. I just never realised exactly HOW much of a change there can be in your body shape, without actually changing your overall weight. This thread has made me realise that my weekly weigh-in is not the ultimate measurement of my progress. I honestly don't care how much I weigh, as long as I feel fit and healthy and can wear the clothes I like. Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this has helped with my morale!
Tiffany Zhu 7 years ago
I have a flat stomach when I stand up straight and a considerably 'fat' stomach and double neck when I slouch. Fun fact, posture also changes everything.
John Smith 7 years ago
All of these comments; "don't care about the scale!" ...... yet they all obviously do, obsessively.
Jonathan Eatsalot 7 years ago
Your weight is IMPORTANT, not meaningless. Well intentioned slogan fails miserably.
John L 7 years ago
BINGO!! This is not Rocket Science either. Muscle is much denser, and takes up less space. Why are people so surprised at this revelation? 00-banghea...083768.gif
William Teach 7 years ago
OK, this is the type of post on weight that I love. People working to get healthy. Great job, ladies, and men.
JillVille Child Care 7 years ago
Great job ladies! The scale is very deceiving, if anyone asks how much you weigh, there's a simple answer: "One hundred and Sexy!"
mbergen 7 years ago
I was always told when you are dieting and/or working out (whether to lose weight or gain) never use a scale, use the mirror, mirrors never lie. Go by what your eye finds appealing not what a number says.
Tinpot 7 years ago
For me it was the way clothes fit. I lost 40lbs and then started working on muscle tone. I went from a size 12 to 4. Haven't stepped on a scale in a year and don't plan to any time soon. On the negative, when you do tone up you do notice every extra lb. No scale necessary.
Load More Replies... stellermatt 7 years ago
so from my understanding, muscle weighs more than fat, but it's more condensed so takes up less space. I reckon if you compared waist size you'd see the difference, they all look great though (before AND after).
DannyG 7 years ago
muscle weights around 6 times more than fat in equal volume.
Load More Replies... Carol Taylor 7 years ago
But have you noticed that all these chicks were skinny to begin with before they toned themselves, if I, who is actually obese, were to do the same thing the scales WOULD show that I'd lost a lot of weight before it started coming back on as muscle tone
Chuck Bartowski 7 years ago
You're absolutely right- results will vary. But I think the message here is to not just focus on weight, instead, focus on improving your health. Exercise, eat right, and don't worry about the stupid scale.
Load More Replies... Anouk 7 years ago
Wow - this thread could not have come at a better time! Thank you!!!! I have been working really hard to lose weight and more importantly, tone and slim. I've not been doing it for very long but I have been careful with what I eat and doing a hard 90 minute workout every other day for the last 2 months. And I've been starting to get seriously disheartened because my weekly weight is just not changing. I have lost about 3lb in all that time. But.....I feel better...I can see my tummy starting to tighten, and I can feel my clothes getting looser. I just never realised exactly HOW much of a change there can be in your body shape, without actually changing your overall weight. This thread has made me realise that my weekly weigh-in is not the ultimate measurement of my progress. I honestly don't care how much I weigh, as long as I feel fit and healthy and can wear the clothes I like. Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this has helped with my morale!
Tiffany Zhu 7 years ago
I have a flat stomach when I stand up straight and a considerably 'fat' stomach and double neck when I slouch. Fun fact, posture also changes everything.
John Smith 7 years ago
All of these comments; "don't care about the scale!" ...... yet they all obviously do, obsessively.
Jonathan Eatsalot 7 years ago
Your weight is IMPORTANT, not meaningless. Well intentioned slogan fails miserably.
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