As someone who has been overweight for the better part of 25 years, I’d guess I’ve stepped on a scale thousands of times. I didn’t really pay that much attention until I started doing something about my health roughly six years ago, but I’ve spent a good part of my life doing so since then. I, like many people who are attempting to be less fat, went through periods of obsessing about the number I saw. I was ecstatic when I lost the first 30 pounds, then struggled for years just to yo-yo up and down with the next 10 pounds. I knew my diet and exercise regime were insufficient and suffice to say, I got stuck in a rut (on a plateau?).
Then I started CrossFit and as my body started to change, people kept asking me how much I’ve lost. The answer? Nothing. Well, I’ve actually fluctuated up and down about five pounds over the last few months, but I weigh just about the same as far as I’m concerned. That’s right, three dozen visits to a CrossFit gym and the scale continued to taunt me with the same numbers over and over again.
People had a hard time believing this; none more than I. I feel different, I look different and yet the scale refused to agree. Then something interesting happened. I went to wear a sport coat I’d gotten a few years ago, one that was a wee bit tight last year, and it was entirely too big. Not an “oh it just needs to be taken in” big but a “stop wearing your father’s Sunday best lest you ruin it” big. I was truly dumbfounded at just how big it was, so I decided to compare sizes with my recent thrift store purchase. The old jacket was a 52R. The new jacket? A 46R.
That’s six inches with zero weight lost.
So where did all the fat go? It was replaced with muscle. Lean, healthy muscle that helps me live a better life and burn calories. So, I’m stepping off the scale in favor of measuring my health in other ways. I encourage you to do the same.
What an accomplishment… It’s truly discipline… Angela has tried to show me the way…. not working for me…. walking is about all I can get this lazy body to do. Keep up the good work. ( I hope you don’t mind that I read your blog routinely). Just a retired co-worker of your sister’s…. Thanks for sharing your wonderful travel news…