Progress Beyond the Pounds

If you looked at the scale, and nothing else, it would look like my health journey has been stagnant since I hit 53 pounds lost.  If you were only looking at the scale, it would seem like I have been going no where fast since August.

There is so much more to this journey than the numbers on the scale.  Yes, I still have lots to lose, and yes, there is a numerical range I have in mind as a goal over time.  But . . . over time.  Over time!  Over time.

It took me 30 years to get to 312.2 pounds.  In the last 10 months, I have shed 53 pounds. But let's look at what I've gained:

    - I've dropped three sizes and gotten back into clothes I haven't worn in years.
    - I've trained for and run my first 5K in a super-speedy-for-me time.
    - I've shrunk enough around my hips so that I can comfortably slide into a yoga chair to practice supported backbends, like this:

Image from www.fullcircleyoga.com

     - I've come to think of myself as an athlete.
     - I've inspired other people.
     - I've taken my "easy" level on the elliptical machine from 65 RPMs to 140 RPMS.
     - I've taken my "hard" level on the elliptical machien from 135 RPMs to 212 RPMS.
     - I've zumba'd and loved it!  I've bellydanced and loved it!

It's harder to bullet-point my non-scale food wins, but they are around, too.  I am so much more conscious of what I am putting into my mouth.  I am way less likely to use food to numb myself than I was a year ago.  And I am much more aware now that there is always a good choice available.  Let me give you a for instance.

One night last week, I came home late.  I fed the dogs and dealt with the days dog-related mess.  I changed into gym clothes, started a load of laundry, and headed to the gym for a good old-fashioned sweat fest.  I headed home by way of the grocery store, which is always a mistake.  I know better than to go in there when I'm hungry, but I do it anyway!  I needed a pumpkin.  I was tempted, though, by the prepared foods in the deli case.  It was late, so a lot of them were marked down.

My beloved chicken wings were there, delicious, lathered in honey barbecue sauce, oh yeah.  They were so sweet, lying there in their little plastic container.  We're only $2.99!  You'll enjoy us with fat-free ranch!

I love you, barbecue chicken wings, but you are dirty hussies, you know that?

Anyway, I stood there for a long time, picking up the chicken wings and putting them down again.  Hmm, maybe I should reread the ingredient list.  Hmm, I can't pronounce that word.  Oh, you're teriyaki spiced?  Hussy competition!

After lingering an indefensibly long time, I finally saw it: my healthy choice.  There was a rotisserie chicken marked down to $2.99.  I can take the skin off of that and voila! Ready to eat, reasonably priced, and a way better choice than the barbecue wings - a girl next door rather than a wanton hussy, if you will.

I never would have made that choice a year ago, and I'm so grateful that I made it that night and that I make a dozen choices like it every day. That is real progress, progress that cannot be measured on a scale.





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