Exfoliate the Scale

I used to weigh myself everyday, and every month I would do several measurements and report them on the side bar:  BMI, belly fat, fat %, etc.  The scale messed with my mind.  I'd lose weight, see the number go down and think, "That was easy," then not be diligent.  Or, I'd feel like I should have lost weight, (worked hard, felt good in my skin, happy), then I'd see the number higher than expected and feel like giving up.


I stopped weighing myself several months ago as a challenge from Jarah (Eating for Your Soul - a program about intuitive eating/exercising and spiritual growth).  This is an action about being more kind and respectful to myself.


Here's a quote from Jarah, "Getting on the scale is all about judgment, and it brings you back to the diet perspective you learned about in Step Two.  You are letting the numbers determine your day and once you get on the scale, the thoughts of calorie counting, good vs. bad food, and exercise for the sake of weight loss return and there you go!  To stop the cycle and the diet perspective, you need stop weighing yourself.  It's about giving up the need to control the body so that you can start to listen to it."


It's been an empowering experience after packing away the scale.  I pay more attention to how tight or loose my clothing are instead, and  I take other cue's from my body.  If I have been exercising and eating quality foods, I feel great.  I don't need a scale to throw me off track.


This step also included getting rid of clothes that didn't fit (posted about it here).  That was really tough for me, and I didn't do it the first time I went through the program/steps.  I felt like I was some how giving up ever being size I want to be, again, by getting rid of the clothes.  This time I compromised and instead packed my favorite too-small clothes away in the garage.  Now, every item in my closet fits me, and it's no longer depressing to go in there.


Do you have any non-scale victories (NSV)?

At Least My Closet Lost Weight

As per the homework from EFYS's Step 3 that I mentioned in the last post, I cleaned out my closet, ridding it of clothes that don't fit -- too big, too small, goal pants, and unflattering stuff I hate.

Hansi helped me.  "Can't we keep this one?"

Some items still have tags on them.

Hansi kept positioning himself in front of the closet doors
or directly under in the doorway.

Some things I donated; the rest I'll store away.
I threw in my bathing suit before closing.

I had a few things left that fit -- but only one pair of jeans and one pair of nice black pants.  Oh, well.


You know what's weird?  I noticed I had a few nice blouses that I never wear.  You know why?  I don't wear them because I feel I would have to put on make-up and spend extra time on my hair to balance the look.  If I don't feel like "dressing" my face and hair nicely, then I just throw on a t-shirt.  Just a little Ah-Hah moment.


I had this tune in my head today:  "I'm sorry Mama!  I never meant to hurt you.  I never meant to make you cry, but tonight I'm cleaning out my closet...closet."  It's from Eminem.  You can see the radio version here if you so desire.

Update: Sx, Jogging, Computer Allergy

Working Out Pays Off

It's been two weeks since my mom had her surgery (hip revision). She's doing great and was sent home early. Her recovery is going incredibly fast this time compared to her other hip revision last year. Why the difference? SHE TRAINED. She strengthened her upper body to prepare lifting and skootching herself around. She strengthened her leg muscles, especially the one having the surgery. She practiced not being able to put support on one leg. She also reduced her weight. All of this payed off as the hospital staff and we looked dropped-jawed in amazement at what she has accomplished.

Did she look tone and buff like Jillian Michaels? No. She's petite and has had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was two. Every joint in her body is affected. She doesn't have full range-of-motion in shoulders, elbows, nor wrists. BUT SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD WITH WHAT SHE HAD. Her efforts were rewarded.

Here's my point: you don't have to look like weight-trainer to be a weight-trainer. You may not see much of a difference in the mirror, but your body is reveling in the fact you're being good to it, and it will be good to you. Don't give up nor compare yourself to others.

Jogging

I kept my running up while in Arizona, although I've missed a week since being back home. It's funny, while jogging here in Utah, it's usually dark or cloudy. I never see my shadow. I have this athlete-image in my head of myself while I feel my muscles working. Then in Arizona, I caught a glimpse of my shadow while jogging. "Who's that big, bubble-butt woman following me?" (sigh, then I tell myself, I don't have to look like a runner to be a runner).

Computer Allergy?

It's been nice to unplug for a while. I didn't have much of a choice, though. Responsibilities and priorities are mounting. And, I have this incredible case of spring fever where I want to pull weeds, wash windows, get my vegetable garden ready, and plant a few flowers. I haven't been able to focus much on putting complete sentences together for a post. I've also been testing the computer allergy thing: sure enough, my first two fingers begin swelling and stiffening after computer use, some sort of contact dermatitis. I don't know what is in the computer, maybe nickel or triphenyl phosphate (more info here). Triphenyl phosphate is a flame-retardant used in computers. When the computer gets hot, its gas is emitted. Interesting because I usually don't have allergies to anything.

Well, blogging friends, I hope the universe is treating you kindly, and I hope you are treating you kindly, too.

C25K Report - Week 6 and Comparisons

C25k-Week 6: Done!

One morning, someone was baking something wonderful, and it filled the neighborhood. On Wednesday, someone must have hit a skunk on the main road...not so wonderful.

On that same morning, I was so proud I got my keister out of bed and was actually running. Then two walkers passed me. For a moment, I was discouraged. Then these words shouted in my head: Don't compare yourself to others!!! I will only compare myself to myself. I am making great changes. Although my jog is just a putt-putt jog, I am using different muscles than if I were walking. And, I'm improving. I can feel it.

This morning I looked at my watch after my first mile. It said 7.5 minutes. What? Really? Oh, wait. That's 22 minus 7.5 which equals 14.5 minutes (my neurons don't fire quickly at o-dark thirty). That's nothing close to a 7.5 minute mile. Then it hit me: Gina, you just jogged 14.5 minutes straight, and you're still doing it. Your legs haven't fallen off. You haven't coughed up blood. You're doing it! (goofy little dance)

Compare yourself only to yourself.

"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."

Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)

You are that worthy purpose.

Update: Dr.'s, C25K, Meal Planning

Image Credit: Levi Boree

Isn't that a fun picture? I see little images of me

running around this week. Sometimes I was hot,

and sometimes I was cold, but I was always moving.

Whew! What a week! Doctor appointments are complete (except for mammogram and dental). So far, so good. No calcium deposits in the heart, and I'm told the blood work is all normal (I'm waiting for my copy of the report). I'm still waiting for pap and sonogram reports. I'm really happy about the healthy heart. The chest pains were probably just anxiety. Now I feel I can push myself a little harder during exercises.

Speaking of exercise, the computer couch-to-5K is back on as well as the resistance training. Yesterday, my legs were saying, "What the heck are you making us do? We didn't get the memo!" They rebelled at first then said, "All right, all right, we're going."

I had a really busy week, and guess what! I did not eat at a fast-food restaurant once! In spite of the full week, I took the time to make home-cooked meals. I am so happy with the meal planning worksheets I cranked out a couple of weeks ago and am using.

I'm trying not to be discouraged by the scale. It's not moving, but I know I'm moving in the right direction with better choices and more activity.

Well, the week isn't over, more on my to-do list. I just wanted to report I'm here, I'm alive, and I'm going to keep it that way.

Image Credit: Levi Boree

May your world be filled with flowers, butterflies, and color.

Have a great weekend.

Here a Doc, There a Doc, Everywhere a Doc Doc

I mentioned before that I have been putting off going to the doctors' for several years. I told myself when I turned 40 that I would get all the necessities done as a gift to myself. Now I'm 41 (yeah, a little late, but I did get checked for melanoma - negative).

So, this is doctor week. Yesterday, I saw my primary care physician for a physical (sans pelvic) and blood work. Today I saw the gynecologist. Tomorrow I'm having a CT scan of my heart (heart disease runs in my family). Thursday I'm having an ultrasound (ordered by my gynecologist). She also wants me to get a mammogram - my first.

Thank you, everybody, for your suggestions for what tests I should ask for. I wrote them all down, and they were very helpful.

And, yes, Leah, the dentist is soon on my list. :) I am taking my son tomorrow, though.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Is there anything you are putting off?)

(P.S. Okay, I know the picture doesn't really have anything to do with doctors directly. It just reminded me of how we support each other here in the blogging community and also how I had great experiences so far this week with my care-givers - they actually gave a care).