In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and chains. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale. Stephen Phillips
The scale sucks.
I've been on this journey of health and fitness for two years, this month. I started in April of 2011, needing to get "back on the wagon". I hired a personal trainer, for 5 weeks, who came to our home for workouts 2x a week. I needed someone else to help me be accountable, to get started.
The way the trainer began was with photos, and taking measurements, including weight. It wasn't pretty. Five weeks later, the scale had barely moved. I mean - barely (less than two pounds lost). I had been working out regularly and watching my food. I felt discouraged and frustrated. Why bother? The trainer wanted me to focus on the fact that in 5 weeks, I had lost about 2% body fat, and 2 inches off various measured parts. I didn't care. I wanted that scale to be lower!
While a big part of my mind wanted to quit, an even bigger part of me wanted to succeed. So, when my personal training sessions ended, I joined a local gym in June of 2011.
One of the most important lessons I learned from the personal trainer was to "mix it up". I had always run, but I had gotten into a rut of running about 3 miles or 30 minutes (never more), 2-3 times a week, and that was it.
The trainer helped me learn how to incorporate weights, various cardio, and strength.
So, at the gym, I made it a point to utilize the weights. I started changing up my running. Sometimes I would run at the same pace for 30 minutes, but other times, I would incorporate sprints and walking into a session. In stretching my personal-self (remember Charlotte 10-Miler post? anti-social introvert), I joined the early morning spin classes. It was difficult at first. I didn't know anyone, and the workout was more challenging than I anticipated. By the end of the summer, I knew the instructor very well, and a few of the regular classmates. At this point, two years later, I count these people as some of my best friends, and fitness supporters.
Said fitness instructor (she teachers all the morning spin classes), has become one of my best friends, and health and fitness resources. Over the past couple years, she has helped coach us on all things fitness and nutrition. One of the best lessons? Get rid of my scale.
Yes, get rid of the scale. . .The Scale of Lies.
Now, seriously, the scale doesn't lie. My weight is my weight. However, my weight does not define me, OR my level of fitness. This can be very discouraging, because most doctors (and most people in general) use weight as the main guideline of "fit". No one ever asks for body fat percentage! No one ever asks for measurements! The focus is generally on weight.
Initially, I used to keep track of every bite of food that went into my mouth (this is a great way to lose weight, by the way. I highly recommend tracking your food, if you have never done it). However, I have an OCD personality - and I tend to go at stuff 110%. It was really messing with my head to keep track of every calorie, gram of fat, and number on the scale. It would ruin my whole day if I got on the scale in the morning, and had gained .1 of a pound.
The fitness instructor pinches our fat every few months. She is trained, and uses calipers to "pinch" three areas on the body, and then has some formula that, fairly accurately, measures body fat percentage. THIS is a better indicator of fitness, than just numbers on a scale. In addition, a few times a year, I check out my measurements (upper arm, chest, waist, hips, thigh, calf). The body measurements and caliper body fat percentage are how I measure MY level of fit.
From April 2011 to April 2013, I have lost only 7 pounds. That's right, I am only 7 pounds lighter than when I started this journey 2 full years ago. BUT (and it's a smaller butt, ha ha), I am rocking 15.5% less body fat and 8 3/4 " less in body measurements.
Strong
is
the new
Skinny
Holy cow!!! 15.5% less body fat?! Amazing!
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