I was checking out a list of blogs I follow over the weekend and happened upon an update of The Wild Mind’s New Year’s Resolutions. Her measuring and weighing got me to thinking. I do not bring out the measuring tape ever! I do weigh myself about once a month and it was time.
Back in October of 2007, shortly after starting to run, I wrote about measuring progress. Looking back, I have come a long way since then.
I can no longer wear three of my bracelets that I always have on when I run. They fall off. As a matter of fact, I found one on the kitchen floor Sunday. It had fallen off while I was doing dishes. I have shirts that I have only owned a year that do not fit properly any longer. These are the ways I measure day to day progress.
My miles are increasing while my times are decreasing – as a general rule. Another way to measure what progress I make.
Then, I did the one thing I have always hated. I stepped on the scales. I have always, even at my skinniest in college, had a love-hate relationship with scales. This relationship continues to this very day. Yet, once a month, whether I need the re-enforcement or not, I get on them.
Well, this past weekend was the month and on the scales I hopped. When I started getting fit, the goal was not inches or pounds, it was to be fit. I feel fit now and am probably in the best shape since I was in college. Unfortunately, I have always, in the back of my mind, wanted to get back to what I weighed before I had my first child. This is not an uncommon weight for a woman of my height and build. It would not make me skinny. It is just a number. At one point in my past, I weighed almost 80 pounds more than that number. Now, I am less than 25 pounds away from it.
I am not going to starve myself. I am not going to obsess over my running. I am going to continue to live and run and eat and lose hopefully.
Did you make resolutions? How do you measure success in your resolutions?
Nicki's Nook 
I’m so proud of you and I want to be just like you! I’ve been wrestling with this issue for the first time in my life. I’ve never had to thought about my weight until recent years. Your groundedness on this issue brings me hope. 🙂
Thanks, Jane. Today I am flaking. It poured yesterday big time and now is snowing. I am worried about ice so am thinking an evening Rail Trail run even though I do not like it in the dark if the snow lets up, maybe an afternoon run here.
oops…that would be “think” about my weight.
Good for you!! That is so excellent!!
I can’t think about my weight right now. I have too many things on my plate to consider exercise. So, I eat healthy and hope it works for me!!
Thanks, Amber. It took me a long time to get to this point in my life. Couldn’t think about it when the babies were little. Too much on my plate then so I do understand.
Herky for Nicki! I cannot own a scale. It takes me to a very dark, very wrong place. But at least I know this about myself.
I don’t own a scale. I go to a friend’s to weigh myself. And I will try a herky later tonight. I think I can still do one.
I have some extra weight to lose and I am finally to a place where I actually would like to exercise and get into shape. I think a focus on being healthy is the best way to look at things. And the recipe for long term success because it is a life style change not a quick fix.
Being healthy is the best way to look at things. It is a life style and once that is embraced, it is easier. People say “oh, you lost weight” and I generally respond “yes, over the course of two plus years.”
I have changed how I look at what I do and what I eat so the change is not just a weight loss but a life change.
Congrats Nicki! You are on the path to your goal. And I agree, I just like my clothes to fit well and to feel fit, not so worried about the scale. But there is always that number you want that floats around!
What’s a Herky?
A herky is a cheerleading jump – http://www.cheerleadingcoachescorner.com/jump_and_tumble_definitions.htm