Sunday, April 6, 2014

You are not fat. You have fat.

I came across a saying the other day that really touched me.  It goes like this:


What a great way to look at things!  And how obviously true is this.  We put so much worth into the amount of fat on our bodies, but we don't pay nearly as much attention to the other parts.  How many eyelashes do you have?  I bet there are people out there who have far more or fewer than you.  Have you ever taken the time to look at someone and say, "I wish I had as few eyelashes as that person!"?   Of course you haven't!  That's silly.  

However, day after day, we compare our fat to other people's fat.  We look in the mirror and see fat.  We put on clothes and feel fat.  We leave the house and wish we weren't fat.  And that's the thing.  We aren't fat.  

In fact, if your worth is found in the amount of fat on your body, then your mindset could use some serious readjusting.  Adjusting is what many of us need to do.  We need to make a change to our perspective.  I'm not sure where along the line such a huge emphasis got put on our fluffly parts.  I remember being in 5th grade the first time I felt "fat", however I don't have any recollection of who made me feel fat.  When did I get that idea that I should feel fat?

How do we change our thinking from fat vs. skinny to healthy vs. unhealthy?

Maybe our generation will be good for something.  Maybe that is our purpose.  Our job might just be to prove to those younger than us that skinny isn't something you want to be. Heck, a size 2 is great, if you are healthy.  In fact, a size 14 is great, if you're healthy.  Take care of yourself!

You can't help the value you were taught. You can't help the foods your parents fed you.  You can make yourself the best you possible.  You can make yourself better.  That better could be smatter, funnier, stronger, happier, or more loving.  Being skinnier will not make you better.

Your worth is not found in your fat.  You aren't fat, you have fat.  You also have fingernails, does that make you fingernails?

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Check Out My Workout!

Today I did a 45 minute HIIT Tabata Workout.  Lucy napped FOREVER today and I could have run a 1/2 marathon, if only she had told me she was going to sleep so long.  I recorded bits of my workout so you can see it in action.

The link to the video I followed is posted under the "Workouts" tab, but I will give you the gist of it.

  • 6 minute warm up
  • 20 second exercise, 10 second rest x8 (34 minutes)
  • 4 minute cool down stretch



Thursday, April 3, 2014

Measuring Progress

The scale is easy.  It's tempting.  It's a liar (somedays).

It is way too easy for me to jump on the scale every morning before I get in the shower.  But when I jump on the scale first thing in the morning, the tone for my day is set.  Even though I know weight can fluctuate greatly due to a variety of circumstances, the scale can still make or break my day.

The scale is tempting.  It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to jump on the scale.  I'm already taking off all my clothes to shower.  I might as well jump on the scale, right?  WRONG!  See previous paragraph for why it's a bad idea, when done daily.  It takes no effort though.

The scale is sort of like keeping your regular life style.  It's easy.  It takes no work.  That's why I'm taking measurements as well.  I don't really know why I didn't think about it before.  At my tiniest adult size, I took measurements regularly.  In fact, I was obsessed if a body part got 1/4" bigger.

The great things about measurements is they are reliable and don't lie.  So I started taking measurements  as shrinking person guideline.  I still weigh myself every now and again, but I mentally prepare myself. Before stepping on the scale I think of the last number that I saw, and I add about 5 to that number.  I tell myself that I could see up to that number and it will be okay.

That keeps me realistic and doesn't set me up for disappointment.  So far it has worked out well for me. Inch-wise I'm down 3 inches overall.  Weight-wise, I've been consistently in the 130s again.

Seeing progress is important.  What do you do to measure your weight loss/shrinking progress?