You are more than that number!

Inspiration from this post came from a friend last night expressing her frustrations with the scale not showing results. I have been there. Many many MANY times myself. That scale is an awful piece of machinary! There are days I despise it and want to throw it out the window. For a while I had to hide it. I was obsessed. I was checking morning, noon and night! Not good. It plays with your head. You become chained to that scale and letting that scale define who you are. When in fact you are not that number that scale flashes at you. You are so much more than that. You are beautiful. You are kind. You are unique. You are loved for who you are and not by the number that that scale reflects.

Stepping on that scale and seeing no change is frustrating. I completely understand that. I still have days where if I step on the scale and see a number I don't like I feel a little bummed. But I turn to the mirror and just look at myself. My face has thinned out. Wow! My short sleeve shirts look longer. Jeans are looser. I then proceed to get a few activity points in by doing some standing abs exercise, maybe use the sink for push ups...I am serious! You laugh, but I do. And I some how feel better and forget about that number and move on with my day. Because I know, that even though that scale says one number, I still know that I have other changes going on that reflect that hard work I am doing. Like loss of inches, eating healthier and my mental health. Not to mention the fact I am setting a much healthier lifestyle for my children and becoming a much better role model and Mom for them. It makes all the difference.

Weight loss does not happen over night. And during every weight loss journey, you hit a plateau where your body just stops losing. But don't give up. Use it as a challenge to maintain. A challenge to try something new. A challenge to spice up your meals and try new things. A challenge to find new inspiration. A challenge to pay it forward and encourage someone else who is struggling.

Some things I have also done in the past to help me reach goals, hang a piece of clothing that is too small in your bathroom or bedroom in plain sight that you will see everyday. Now don't get to crazy and make it a few sizes, one size down will do. Baby steps! ;) (Do a before pic and a current one side by side. I have been thinking of doing a current one here pretty soon myself.) You don't have to show the world if you don't want to. It's just so you can see for yourself the changes you have undertaken. We see ourselves in the mirror EVERYDAY! We don't notice the small changes like everyone else. So it's good to once in awhile do a side by side comparison. I set up a photo shoot for myself as I had mention last week. That really was an awesome experience. Don't feel like doing a boudoir, that's okay. What about a glam session in a pretty dress? It's a way to celebrate you. To capture you to show you how everyone else sees the beautiful you!

Weight loss has it's ups and it's downs. The key is to not look at it as a diet. It's a lifestyle change! You are changing your ways and your habits for a healthier you! Don't let that scale define you. You are awesome! You are beautiful! You are are so much more than that number! :)