I bought new clothes today.   I bought them because I needed too.   As the season is changing, I realize that my wardrobe is not up to snuff.   The reason being is that things that fit me last year don’t fit me as well this year.   Luckily it’s because somehow they have gotten bigger not me.   Besides having a “justifiable” reason to go shopping is always a good thing.

Now, I am by no means tooting my own horn.

Toot. Toot.

I will say that I often get asked not if I’ve lost weight, but how much weight have I lost.   I’m not sure if people are just saying that because they know how hard I’ve been working or if they really think I’ve lost weight.   Now if I lost a lot of weight this question would make me feel great, but the truth of the matter is that I really don’t like this question and here is the reason why.   Since I’ve started my journey (and it’s been one), I have only lost 5 pounds.   Yup, you heard that.   When I started, I weighed 1X5 and now I weight 1X0 (Did you really think I was going to give you the number?   Silly people).   So when I am asked the question “How much weight did you loose,”   it just reminds me that I haven’t really lost much.   It used to make me sad, but I embrace it now.    So now, when asked I reply, “only 5 pounds, but the rest shifted and I’ve gained more muscle.”

I am not exaggerating either.   I may have only lost 5 pounds, but I have gone down  3 jean sizes.   Yup, you heard me.   I went from double digits down to single digits.

Exhibit A

Before

September 2013

This picture was taken at my first Sprint Triathlon before I was really bitten by the bug.

The I like running bug.

I am number 708.

So as to create a true before and after picture,

I give you

Exhibit B

Same outfit, same event one year later

September 2014

Now I would like to first of all say there are very few people who can pull off a Two Piece Tri-suit.   I am, obviously, not one of them either before or after.   I share these though to prove that the scale really doesn’t matter.   What matters is how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how muscular you are.   Patting myself on the back, I will admit that my arms are more toned now.   My legs are more muscular too.

Exhibit A

Now, please don’t get me wrong I know I’m still a work in progress.

I see the love handles and the pouch.

But sometimes you have to look back to see how far you’ve come.

I will also tell you that when I first started that I obsessively weighed myself.

I very rarely get on the scale now.

I encourage you not to get on yours either.

(unless your doctor thinks you should).

To me the scale doesn’t tell the full story.

It doesn’t tell anything at all.

Except a number.

It doesn’t take into account percentage of body fat vs muscle.

It doesn’t take into account my cardiovascular health.

It doesn’t take into account, how much weight I can clean at the gym.

It doesn’t take into account how many miles I can run.

It’s just a number.

It no longer defines me.

Don’t let yours define you.

Can you step away from the scale?