So often we (ok, mostly I’m talking to myself here) get super focused on the scale. The scale is our source of weight-loss happiness. If it goes up, we feel discouraged. But if it’s going down we feel validated. However, there is so much more than just what the scale reads as we start to get healthy. We all know this. But we forget. (Again, I’m talking mostly to myself here.) 😉
Enter, Non Scale Victories.
This is not my original idea–I can’t even remember where I read it first. So, I claim no credit to this. But it’s still great. It’s the little things that we notice as progress in our getting healthy endeavor. Sometimes it’s VERY little things. Other times it’s big. But these are things that have nothing to do with what the scale says.
I actually have a calendar in my bathroom where I log my exercise and weight and N.S.V. as well as my hopeful N.S.V. It’s been really helpful to look at those achievement and see that, even when I don’t feel like I’m making any progress, I actually am. And sometimes those N.S.V. are more wonderful to me than a number. For example, I can’t wait until I fit into my non-maternity jeans again. And while that has a bit to do with the weight I am, it also has to do with muscles growing and hips shrinking, etc.
Here are some of my current Non Scale Victories:
- Standing through most of my lessons again. When I started back after having Levi I had to sit b/c I was so out of shape.
- Being able to go all the way up the stairs without being winded.
- Not being sore after workouts.
- Noticing my maternity pants are getting loose.
- Being able to speed walk through stores again.
- Not having ice cream the other night when Tim did. 😉
It’s nice to be able to look at these things when I want to give up and remember that my weight loss adventure is more than just my weight–it’s about living a more full and happy life in the body I have.
I know, it’s a pretty grand sounding post. Believe me, it’s a work in progress and some days I still give up even though I can see those N.S.V. right there on the paper in front of me. But it’s a process. And I need to give myself grace and remember that tomorrow is a new day full of new possibilities. And maybe today I just really need that fudge brownie.
What an encouraging post, Erica. I’m going to make a list of NSV for myself, too. It is so true that these things can be more encouraging than the weight loss, because we notice them time and again. One big one for me is always when I can see my collarbones. I know it is a little thing, but I notice it whenever I look at myself in the mirror, so it is an ongoing encouragement. And, no, I’m not there yet!!