Monthly Measurement–The Secret to Success

First before we start answer these questions:

• If you gained 1.6 pounds from 4 weeks ago what would you say about the last 4 weeks?
• How would it make you feel?

Today at next level was measurement day.  So there I stood with Lu-Lu both of nervous as hell.  It took me back to the MVBW days of weigh in night!

Someone walked up and was shocked at how nervous we were.  Yep, we are nervous just like everyone else.  Here is the deal after we walked away from the scale and the measuring tape someone said “so how much are you down now?”  People assume we are going to lose, lose, lose.  We don’t always lose weight, in fact I gained 1.6 pounds.

I am not an expert of losing weight, I am an expert at sticking with it.  I am battling thru the bumps in the road because in the end I will reach my destination.

Like everyone I have my vices….Chocolate (no matter what time of the month kills me), today I ate a cider donut before I even realized I did it.

Like everyone else I have my bad weeks.   I don’t throw in the towel, I take a deep breath, email my support team and get back on the wagon right then and there. I don’t wait a day or two.  I salvage what I can.

Like everyone else I have expectations, but I also have special glasses that let me see reality.  Its not realistic for me to expect amazing numbers when I was not really a good girl this month.  I know that, I accept that and so when Bri was done with my measurements I moved onto my workout.

So how do I feel about my gain, it sucks but not the end of the world.  I also know I have done a lot in these 4 weeks, my 10K run, my KB weight, My burpees.  I have certainly improved in those areas – areas that a scale can not measure.   I also lost 2.75 inches mostly from my waist and thankfully .25 from my fat ass arms (yes I hate them I always have, always will – unless I win the lotto and can get plastic surgery). 

Sorry about that arm vent, the fact is I can not say the last 4 weeks were a failure because I saw changes that I really liked.  I am going to continue to push forward.  Because the secret  to success has always been moving forward and staying with it!

Mind over Matter

How do you describe success?  Do you go by the scale, by your clothing fit, by your mood, by your ability?

The fact was 2 weeks ago I realized I was struggling. I was working out, and very happy with my efforts and abilities.  I was not so good with my food. I was eating snacks, chocolate, and just not being as good as I wanted.  So I decided to challenge myself, here is what I wrote:

“its always possible just takes motivation, determination and discipline. If all else fails challenge yourself. I have been feeling out of it for about 2 weeks. not focused like i wanted, not doing what i should but getting by. Today i signed up for the most challenging 10K in CNY. Its 13 days away and its been 21 days since i last ran. I have no choice but to eat right, i have no choice but to be Next level disciplined”

It made sense, I hate to fail.  Running in public would motivate me to get on it and get focused.  The only problem was I knew I could do it.  I knew I could run 10K I had done it before.  And that hill was not going to be as bad as the 1-20 burpee ladder we did a few weeks ago.  So late last week I set my mind to bettering my 68 minute time. 

Yesterday was the run.  It was so hilly.  My legs were so tight by mile 3, before the steep part of the hill to SUNY Oneonta.  Finally I made it to the top, having to walking only twice on that freaking hill.  I ran the rest of the way to the finish.  I wanted to stop many times but I wanted to beat my time.  Finally the finish line, those last 30 seconds I sprinted my ass off and came in at 62minutes!!  I was happy, and very tired!

The facts are:

• I weigh the same as I did 8 weeks ago.
• I wear the same size jeans as 8 weeks ago but they feel better
• I am swinging a heavier KB
• I have more energy
• I rocked my 10k time

Does the scale matter? only if your mind lets it.  Last  year I set my mind to a goal and I did it.  That goal is not to lose weight, but to get healthy.  I have been getting healthier each day.  There are side effects to this: I have lost weight and I have gotten fit.

So has your mind set itself to a goal that matters?