I'm posting this early, because I will probably be out and about tomorrow. Plus something Isabel said has inspired me.

Homework:

The number on the scale. We place so much value on that number. Sometimes it can make or break our day in less than 30 seconds. That number is made up of the weight of our bones, muscle, veins, blood, water, and the brain.

Of course... let's not forget, our cushy friend, the yellow fat residing, on our tummies, thighs, arms, butt, and any other place it can lay claim to real estate and shout out. "I'm here".

For some or most, that number overwhelmingly tells us the gap we have to matching the societal norms. Whether it be too skinny, too fat, or just right. It can be a measure of our successes and our failures. It can be a measure of our health. It can be the trigger for depression or heartache...for not fitting in. The number that prevents us from shopping off the rack. It can be the number that makes us invisible to others because we don't meet those norms.

However, in the grand scheme of things, it's just a number. A number reflecting a value of a point in time. It has no feelings. It's just there.

Today I did

60 minutes on the elliptical or 3600 seconds
10 minutes on the rowing machine or 600 seconds

3 wall sits between 30 and 45 seconds long
3 sets of 12 bicep/hammer curl using 15 lbs. or 76 reps * 15 lbs = 1140 lbs lifted
3 sets of 12 stationary lunges w/10 lb dumbells or 36 reps * 10 = 360 lbs lunged (not including my own body weight
3 sets of 15 bench press at 60lbs or 45 reps or 900 lbs lifted
3 sets of 15 chest flys at 15 lbs or 45 reps * 675 lbs lifted
3 sets of 12 single leg press at 95 lbs or 72 reps(36 reps * 2 legs) * 95 = 6840 lbs lifted
3 sets of 15 shoulder raises at 25 lbs. 45 reps * 2
30 crunches
5 full situps
48 obliques w/10 lb medicine ball = 480 lbs
etc....

Totaling the numbers that I have listed:

4200 seconds for cardio
3600 seconds for weight training

11,520 lbs lifted

If one was to compare my weight to the 11,520 lbs lifted, it is about 2% of the 11,520 (and I excluded a couple of exercises). That number beats my weight number any day! In fact, I almost feel superhuman. Not to mention, all those numbers contribute to my increase in strength, increasing my metabolism, keeping my blood sugars in check, maintaining a lower heart rate, reducing those fat cells, being able to climb a flight of stairs without feeling like I'm going to die for lack of oxygen and more.

It's hard not to look at that number and just feel the void between where you would like to be and where you currently are. It's hard to change that perception. There are days, I just want to chunk the scale at the wall, but I try to remember there are lots of other more wonderful numbers that will add up to get you to the point you want to be. It takes time(another number). Look upon it as journey.

So, if you made it this far are wondering..."how many more of the 2,000+ characters is she going to type before she get's to the homework...."....

Well, here it is. Your homework is to post some of those other numbers: E.g. Calculate the total # exercises that have been done over the past day(s), the number of times temptation was resisted, the number of step you have taken, the number of minutes spent reading and posting in this forum for the past month, the number of words posted to provide support and help to lift you through those rough times, etc...

The numbers are infinite...We haven't even looked at the non-numbers.

And if your not quite ready to tackle the numbers. Just try to remember that it's only a number. A measurement of a specific point and time, like a dot on the radar screen. We all have the power to change that number.


Serene

quote:

Originally posted by Serene:
It's hard not to look at that number and just feel the void between where you would like to be and where you currently are. It's hard to change that perception.

When I was 106, and gained 30 lbs, 136 seemed “fat”. When I was 160 and had lost 24 lbs, 136 seemed “skinny”. Different perceptions about the same exact number and the same body.

quote:

Your homework is to post some of those other numbers

Walked about 9 miles over Wed, Thursday, and Friday. Mostly to the groc store and to my brothers house. Was up at Tahoe and the change in elevation is 366 feet. It is just about 1 mile downhill to the groc store… and 1 mile uphill home again from 6,421 ft to 6,787 ft.

You can plot your walk and find the mileage and elevation at:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

(The elevation is easier to read if you plot it from lowest to highest.)

Wow! Way to put some "frequent walker miles" on the Sneaks!
what a super metaphor for sucsess. one step at a time. now, those numbers i could embrace.

I walked 11.16 miles yesterday in 3 hours and 28 minutes (give or take a few minutes) I would have never figured I could have walked that far!

creative math! I love it. so many words, so many numbers...all add up to great wisdom.

today, i was blessed with seeing two friends at the gym at 8am. I did 55 minutes on the elliptical, practiced yoga for 40 minutes, did 30 minutes of abdominals. Then, I had an enjoyable breakfast with 6 friends at our favorite local coffee shop. I gave and received at least 8 hugs before 10am today.

By 7am, I had done at least 8 sun salutations. In downward dog, i looked behind me and saw the puppy lying on her back with the chew toy in her mouth (in a dying cockroach position) twice.

I believe I have posted at least 5 messages on this forum today, and I have been impressed with the postings of others at least 8 times today. I stayed away from insane crowds at shopping malls and department stores for the 5th year in a row.

For the first time in 6 years, I did not overeat on Thanksgiving. I went to bed thursday night with a pleasant feeling in my tummy (neither full or empty) and read a wonderful book. Last weekend, I did not overeat for the first time in more than 2 years (probably 3). I am aiming for the same success this weekend.

As my best friend says, you forget the number. you remember the experience. She is almost as wise as Serene. thanks for the fresh perspective. goodie goodie.iz

I hear you about the numbers on the scale - they used to depress me too.

I'm better now though, especially if I know I've been staying on plan with my food and exercise. I just don't let some water retention or hormone fluctuations make me feel badly when I've had an "on plan" week.

My critical numbers right now are calories. Yesterday, I ate roughly 1550 calories which I think is awesome for a holiday. Today, it will be 1200.

Boy, I have to say you are more of a mathmetician than I will ever be.

I used to get all upset about the number on that scale. But after the summer I had with gaining 29 lbs because of a diabetic med, yet knowing that I had followed program, was exercising, and drinking water and really watching my carb intake....I learned that that little red bunch of lines is JUST a number. What if I lived on Mars, the number would be different, or closer to home, if I lived in Australia, the number would be in metric and I would be heavier. OMG!

The numbers that are important to me are my A1C which measures my blood sugars for three months.
I have a beautiful A1C....the number of laps I can do when I can swim is up to 50 a time rather than 1 when I started. Another number that is important is my blood pressure 108/76 I love it! And the FACT that my pants and clothes are getting too big that's a good number.

It's just a measure of something that someone years ago developed by putting rocks on a dish and balancing it out with a maiden or corn. I am not a maid, and a sack of corn I definitely am not.