My weight is up and I'm feeling fat, discouraged and disappointed with myself. At times like these, NSVs are SO important in making me realize that there are still ways to move forward when I'm feeling discouraged about the scale.
For those who don't know, an "NSV" is a non-scale victory--something that lets you know that you have improved in some way even if the scale isn't moving (or isn't moving in the right direction). For example, being able to run faster or farther, lift more weight, or fit into a favorite pair of pants...those are NSVs.
So I think that this being a holiday weekend, it's time to celebrate...and why not celebrate NSVs? So come on, share with us an NSV that has brought a smile to your life whether or not the scale is moving in the right direction.
Here are some of mine: 1. Finishing an hour-long, incredibly intense step aerobics/sculpting class not only not tired but energized to keep exercising. A year ago, there were days when I felt that I was lucky to make it from the class to the shower room because I was so exhausted.
2. Being able to get through the above class holding hand weights. A year ago, I could do the step but adding the hand weights, even very light ones, would drive my heart rate up dangerously high. As of 2 weeks ago, I can now get through the whole class with 2-lb. weights...not much, but still an NSV. I use 4-lb. weights for sculpting work when we're not stepping.
3. Getting through the abs section of the above class with my head and shoulders off the floor the whole time (except perhaps for one or two seconds-long breaks, depending on intensity). A year ago, I couldn't keep up with even half the abs part of the class--I would just lay there like a lump after a few reps of each exercise and had to rest my head on the floor between every repetition. Yesterday, the abs section was the most intense I think it's ever been...people were moaning...and I only had to stop for maybe 30 seconds during the most intense part at the end (triple-time scissors crunches). I felt like a million bux getting through that!
4. The last two times I've been to BJs (wholesale club like Costco), I have stood up from loading cases of water into my cart to find people staring at me. I think it's because I'm really little (not to mention not a spring chicken LOL) and I think people are surprised to see me lifting those cases into the cart with no trouble. Getting the cases into the apartment (up 5 stairs) used to be an ordeal. Now it is so much easier. I love feeling strong at my age!
Okay, who's next? Let's celebrate some NSVs!
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
When I started, it took every muscle in my body to squeeze into a pair of 33" waist jeans. The amount of effort required was comical. I wouldn't be surprised if, at the time, my actual waist size was 36".
Today, I bought a new pair of 30" waist jeans, and they fit nicely. That's a new adult-lifetime low.
Originally posted by p7eggyc: Completed a nearly 10 mile hike yesterday with 1400 ft. elevation gain. I'm really psyched. I have hiked that far one other time last summer but am really glad to report I woke with little muscle soreness and just enjoyed the heck out of the day.
WOW, Peg! You are my hero. That is an AMAZING achievement. And the place looks absolutely amazing from the pix on the link you provided. That had to be an exhilarating (but tiring!) day!
Posts: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Completed a nearly 10 mile hike yesterday with 1400 ft. elevation gain. I'm really psyched. I have hiked that far one other time last summer but am really glad to report I woke with little muscle soreness and just enjoyed the heck out of the day. Turned out we were on the trail for about 9 hours total including an hour at the 1/2 frozen Black Lake in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park at timberline. It was sensational.
Originally posted by Lisa in Wisconsin: Today I was clothes shopping and a woman said to me "Don't they make Misses clothes smaller than size 6?" I said, "Gosh, I don't know, I'm an 8." She said, "Oh, sorry. I thought you were my size."
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Lisa
Whoo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!
How fun is that! Good for you.
90 Day Challenge Goal: 8 glasses water and post plan and actual daily.
Originally posted by p7eggyc: I was the first one up the stairs of the 3 of us, wasn't really breathing all that hard and wasn't sweating like crazy.
Aw man, doncha love that??? This reminds me of something that happened on vacation in Florida last week. My family and I were visiting Fort Clinch, an old fort that protected the entrance to the river between Florida and Georgia. Most of what there is to see is on the ground level and easily accessible but, if you want to see the cannons and the view, you have to go to the upper level via various ramps or stairways. The one we happened to take was a claustrophobic stone spiral staircase in one of the buildings.
I was about midway in the family (some in front of me, some behind) and, when I got to the last part of the staircase, I just started bounding up it, running. I remember my brain going "Whoa, girl, what are ya doin'?" but it felt SO GOOD to do it! When I got up to the top, I felt like I had just run through the tape at the end of a marathon as the winner. Kinda silly, but it just made me feel so good!
In the past, I would try to be at the BACK of any group of people going up any sort of incline because it made me feel SO embarassed to be holding everyone up while I was huffing and puffing. I remember a particularly awful experience with my friends at Busch Gardens Williamsburg when we were walking up this REALLY steep hill and they all had to stop and wait for me. I was so humiliated!
Posts: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Some NSV's for me from yesterday: 1. I went to a concert at a beautiful ampitheatre in Denver and there are lots (like I would guess 100 or more) stairs that we had to climb after walking up a fairly good sized hill. I was the first one up the stairs of the 3 of us, wasn't really breathing all that hard and wasn't sweating like crazy. A year ago, that would've had the potential to spoil my evening because I might have been feeling so icky afterwards.
2. Shopped for new clothes and easily fit mostly in 10's and mediums. I did wind up with some size 12 shorts but that's ok. In one store, their sizes seemed for me to need a small! Unfortunately they didn't have what I wanted in a small. Oh, well! It was nice anyway.
As most of you have probably concluded, I love NSV's. Any to share?
Originally posted by Lisa in Wisconsin: Today I was clothes shopping and a woman said to me "Don't they make Misses clothes smaller than size 6?" I said, "Gosh, I don't know, I'm an 8." She said, "Oh, sorry. I thought you were my size."
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Lisa
Whoo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!
Today I was clothes shopping and a woman said to me "Don't they make Misses clothes smaller than size 6?" I said, "Gosh, I don't know, I'm an 8." She said, "Oh, sorry. I thought you were my size."
Well, I know the holiday weekend is past... but I have some NSVs to celebrate
1. I can barely flex my bicep muscle and I can actually feel that there is muscle there instead of the jiggle.
2. On certain types of stairs, I think it depends on the height and width of the stairs... I can walk down without having to hold on to the railing for balance
3. Knee pain continues to decrease. I rarely have a flareup these days.
4. Side lateral squats (I hate this exercise) are actually starting to get a little bit easier.
5. I'm down to meeting with the trainer just once a week and I haven't slacked off except when sick from my workouts.
Serene
Summer Se7en Challenge Goals
1. Binge control: no more than 2 times per week 2. Think positive and give credit for all the little successes 3. Go swimming
Originally posted by GoingSkiing: OOOOOO! I almost forgot...
I had to take Jamie to Dr. on Thurs (he is fine).
While I was there, I asked the Dr. if I could have a cholesterol test, since my last test was in March '04 and I've been working to bring it down.
He pulled my bloodwork and said, "OMGosh! your last test was great!"
I didn't think that it was that great... total chol. was 193... but compared to 300 something a few years ago!!
He said that I could go on the one test every 5 years plan now...
I was both pleased and sort of bummed because I wanted to see how much it had improved since March '04 since I've lost 15 lbs since then.
Congratulations, Denise! Once I've been doing the exercise/losing weight again for 3 months steadily, then I need to make another appt to get my bloodwork done again. I was supposed to have gone in in Feb, but I didn't figure there would have been any change because I hadn't been doing what I was supposed to be doing
BUT now I am, and I'm not afraid to go in now
Blessings,
Lori
Re-committing myself to a healthy lifestyle that will include regular (and increasing) exercise, and following the baby steps rule on food. 6/17/08
Posts: 3149 | Location: California | Registered: March 11, 2004
Originally posted by Emailjen: I am excited today, I went to the gym and ran a 12 minute mile on the treadmil. I know this might not be a big deal, but it is the fastest I have ran a mile I think ever. Good job to everyone in improving your workouts have a good day Jennifer
Jennifer, that is great! Good job!!!!
Blessings,
Lori
Re-committing myself to a healthy lifestyle that will include regular (and increasing) exercise, and following the baby steps rule on food. 6/17/08
Posts: 3149 | Location: California | Registered: March 11, 2004
Darn, I don't get to enter my "new improved" weight on my driver's license until 2007. I also have to endure an old driver's license photo with a double chin until then.
(Aha! Another maintenance goal!)
I won't be able to change the weight on mine until AT LEAST 2010, possibly 2015. CA keeps changing the amount of times that you can do the mail in extensions. My last picture was at my all time heaviest, in June 2000, when I was 8 months pregnant with my Rachel! My weight is still listed the same as it was when I got married in 1990....because I was pregnant, they didn't want me to change my weight on my license. The good thing is, it is my goal weight...so if I hit my goal, then my license will finally be correct
Blessings,
Lori
Re-committing myself to a healthy lifestyle that will include regular (and increasing) exercise, and following the baby steps rule on food. 6/17/08
Posts: 3149 | Location: California | Registered: March 11, 2004
Originally posted by Terri: We tried EVERYTHING on...two things fit..both capris....but I'll take them for now...after all ..something is better than nothing.
Boy, Terri, I sure can relate to feeling like you have to take what you can get because you can't find anything else that fits. It is SO demoralizing. I have been there many times. Not just because I was heavy, but because I'm unusually short, so the combination of the two made shopping absolutely nightmarish.
I am so sorry to hear you felt so horrible, but I'm glad that your mood has lifted some. I really hope that you will continue coming to the board and make use of the wonderful support system that exists here. The folks here have made an immeasurable difference in my being able to stay with my journey for almost 2 years and I wouldn't trade that experience (or them)for anything.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by cate: My latest is a somewhat painful one.
Went for a walk, wearing a skirt, yesterday.
A long walk.
My thighs are now chafing together...
Owwwwwwwww....
Ouch indeed!! I've been wearing skirts for the past couple of weeks. Why is that? Cause I can't find pants that fit me...seriously! I used to have this pair of jeans that fit me perfectly...then eventually the legs wore away (oh I hate that lol)...and I needed to get a new pair. I went to the store I bought them at...well..they said the jeans are the same..but there is about 3" difference in the butt (it's lower rise now..yikes)...and about 1" diff in the thigh area..smaller. I thought..hey..maybe this is just the one pair ... so I went to another store ..same thing. This was on Tuesday, Wednesday I went shopping for a dress...nothing fit. I hit my breaking point....I've never felt so low in my entire life. I came home..after two days of shopping and finding NOTHING...I sat here and cried for a couple of hours. I can't believe I let myself get this way...and now I need to crawl out of it. I lied to myself a lot, "oh..I'm not gaining weight, I shrunk my clothes". Umm no...I gained a few inches. Sure, I've always known that i need to lose weight...but this was reality hitting me in the face hard, and it broke me.
Yesterday, I went shopping again (hey I don't have any pants after all!!)...to another store where I knew the girl that worked there..it was late at night so it was just me and her. We tried EVERYTHING on...two things fit..both capris....but I'll take them for now...after all ..something is better than nothing. So it may seem strange, but to me this was a big victory..as I was soo low. I'm still pretty down.. but hopefully that will stop soon.
I am excited today, I went to the gym and ran a 12 minute mile on the treadmil. I know this might not be a big deal, but it is the fastest I have ran a mile I think ever. Good job to everyone in improving your workouts have a good day Jennifer
Originally posted by GoingSkiing: I had to renew my drivers license... I didn't have to lie about my weight ...
Darn, I don't get to enter my "new improved" weight on my driver's license until 2007. I also have to endure an old driver's license photo with a double chin until then.
So come on, share with us an NSV that has brought a smile to your life whether or not the scale is moving in the right direction.
Oh, well! It was nice anyway.
