Non-Scale Victories

[findingterry]

Hello fellow WW-ers,

Thought I'd share with you the tips from my leader this week.

The topic: How do we celebrate Spring?

We all have different ways to ring in the change of season, gardening, walking, hiking, ect... The question is, do you need a calander to know it's spring? Not really right? The days are longer, the flowers are sprouting, the birds are migrating back.

SO...

Do we need a scale to know that we are getting healthy? Nope, there are other indicators. Non Scale Victories are energy, looser fitting clothes, not wheezing after a flight of stairs, compliments, the mirror and I'm sure lots more.

So, why do we go crazy when we loose a pant size in the same week that the scale shows no weight loss or gain? Isn't the fact that we lost the pant size, something worth celebrating? I do believe it is!

The scale can only show a little bit of what's going on in your body. One pound of muscle weighs the same as one bound of fat, but looks like a lemon as oppose to a grapefruit! Do you see what I'm saying???

TIP: Instead of using a tape measure (more numbers), take a ribbon and mark the date of each "measuring". Do the waist, hip, thigh, bust ect. Every month, month remeasure and either cut of the part you lost (to keep in a jar as a reminder) or mark that spot with a date to guage your progress!

This was a good meeting for me. Let's celebrate every victory!

Have a great OP weekend!

[lilbit]

Thanks for posting, we had this as our theme as well, good meeting! :)

[no ka oi]

Thanks for posting this, Terry. Thursday I weighed in and was up .8 even though I was total OP and working out. Boy, was I a mess that day. Need to keep reminding myself that there are NSV's and that's just as good as the scale.

[Newliferva]

Yea!! for nsv's. We love them and rejoice in them!!I went shopping this week and actually bought a skirt that was a 10. This coming from someone that 18 months ago wore a 26!!:o
Katie

[findingterry]

Good for you Katie! That is absolutely FANTASTIC!

[Newliferva]

Thanks Terri,

You are moving down the scale nicely yourself.:bcbsalute Keep up the good work. Now I must go home and run on my treadmill. I am trying to increase to 40 minutes, have been running for 30 minutes since Nov 19th.
Katie

[Trimbound]

Yes I like those non-scale victories too! I like that ribbon idea, I used yarn. LOL and I just can't wait 'til my thigh one fits around my waist! :)

[Alanisjunkie2]

Wow - what a great topic and I truly love the ribbon Idea, and I want to get some ribbon at the store now LOL!!!

I absolutely LOVE to read non-scale victories...it makes you really realize that Everything IS NOT all in the numbers...looking forward to getting my very first Non-scale victory!!!!

Congrats to everyone here who has lost the weight, kept it off, and is losing the weight and taking it day by day - that right there is a non-scale victory in itself :)!!!

[psst-itsme]

Ha!.. never thought about a string. Darn that is a good idea!!!!

Thanks

[mccloud]

I think "non-scale" victories are the best kind.

Last night I was sitting on the sofa with my legs tucked up to my side. I had my hand resting on my bare ankle and blurted out loud "oh my gosh!...my ankles are skinnier...I can feel it!!!"

Katie: I bet you were doing handstands when you were able to buy a size 10! I wore a size 14 jeans the other day---I could barely breathe, and they were uncomfortably tight, but I HAD 'EM ON! :headover: I think I'll set 'em aside for 5-10 pounds from now, but it was a moment of victory.

[pammigirl]

That's a great tip = and keeps your mind out of the numbers game - it's not about how small the number is but that you are making positive choices for yourself.

[dgjp8991]

Great Idea thanks for the post! Ginah

[manx]

I actually weighed in today and was up .8. I know exactly why and as the program says, I must take responsibility for my actions. I partyed for 2 days and didn't exercise as much as I should have. Well, the scale has given me a slight jolt but now it gives me more motivation. I am proud though of the fact that 2 months ago when I started I was in a size 16. I just went out and bought a new dress for a banquet I have to go to and not only did I fit into a size 12 sleeveless dress, I look darn good in it!!!!!!!!!!!! I also am finding that my feet are shrinking. I do have to admit that I am thankful I went to one of those parties because for the first time in years, a really handsome man, as I was leaving, slipped his phone number into my hand and said to definitely call him. Need I say more!!!

[Kimi78]

I went home yesterday and did the ribbon idea. I posted all of my ribbons on a board in my exercise room and next month I am going to check my progress. What a fun idea!! If I would have used an actual tape measure I would have pulled those things so tight to get a smaller size! :D

I have to say... yesterday I was on the verge of quiting... and with all of your comments and suggestions I feel so much better about why I am doing this. I feel more like I have a community of people who understand how I'm feeling and will help me get on with this journey.

I really appreciate everything that everyone had to say!

Thank you again!

Kim

[Determined2Succeed]

I like the ribbon idea too! My problem when I measure myself is that I forget what spot I measured exactly at! I write down in my journal how many inches down from my waist, or at what beauty marks I used. I get frustrated when the number doesn't seem to go down or is higher! Not sure why this is.

[Melissa73]

Great ribbon idea!!! I'm going to do that today. I love NSV's as well. I have been regularly going to the gym now for about 2 1/2 months and have not seen the scale change at all. But what I have seen is a smaller waist and leaner legs and more musucular arms.

This past week I kicked it up a notch on the cardio portion and kept up with the free weights and I also really focused on what I was eating and the scale actually moved for the first time in months. I lost 6lbs this past week.

I do believe that the fact that my jeans have become looser and my waist a little more prominent have been the key factors to making me continue to go to the gym and not give up.....because I haven't been able to see a change in the scale for 2 months...that can be very frustrating...BUT there were other pluses that kept me going. *smile*

Thanks for sharing......great thread!!!

I"m going to buy ribbon today! hee hee hee

[kickin]

My NSV was when the back of my shirt crept up and I didn't panic because I knew that chunks of fat weren't showing, just a slim lower back!

[KerryDM35]

I had a NSV of my own about two weeks ago. We were on vacation and I went shopping at a local outlet mall with my mother, daughters and SIL. We browsed in a few stores and we came across the Gap outlet. Now, I love the Gap, but in the past I have only shopped for the kids there. Well, after picking up a few things for my toddler son, my mother dragged me over to the women's section. I said "Why bother, I haven't fit into the stuff from this place in 10 years! Nothing will fit me!" God bless Mom, she said "Try it- you never know."

I tried on a size 16 denim capris. And they were TOO BIG! I tried the 14's and they were also roomy. I tried on the 12's and they fit me just right...(channeling Goldilocks here LOL!) :exercise2

I actually stood there in the dressing room and shed happy tears...quietly, mind you, but tears nonetheless. I couldn't believe they fit. I had lost 17 lbs at that point and while that's a great number, I didn't think it would make that much difference in my clothing size.

Sorry for rambling, but I still can't believe it. In fact, I have had to buy two pairs of shorts and more capris from the Gap just to prove it to myself :kiss:

Thanks,
Kerry

[brandywine23]

Kerry-That is a wonderful story. Congrats:bcbsalute But I can tell you now that there is no way I could have cried silent happy tears. The whole store would have heard me.

Here is my NSV I was bummed this week when I started exercising consistently and stayed OP all week and had no change on the scale.

I have the greatest neighbors anyone could ask for. They are all really great. But I have been so busy this summer I have not really talked to them much. Well this morning I realized DH had forgot to shut and lock his side of the garage and I pulled back in the driveway to do it. My neighbor was sitting on her porch and she yelled over "Girl, you have lost so much weight--you are looking great" and "I just told Jack the other day to look and see how skinny you are getting" (me and skinny still should not be used in the same sentence but I appreciate it)

Amazing because they did not know I was on WW, and I have only lost 11.5# since starting May 25th. But I have gotten down a size smaller in jeans. So I am over :sobbing: and whining about the scale being the same as last week. And today the metal monster loses and I am feeling smart and sexy. All thanks to my wonderful neighbor.

[Mummoth]

I think I like NSVs better than the numbers. They're more tangible to me. This week my used-to-be-too-tight wedding ring nearly got sucked off my finger & into the shop vac!