Weight Loss Wednesday: Non Scale Victories

Lets be brutally honest here about weight...

When we don't see a loss on the scale we freak out. We've all done it...so don't even pretend. It happens...we get into our heads. The added insult to injury is when we know we've been eating better and/or we've been working out a lot more than we ever have. Yet that number doesn't budge.

That stagnant number has sent me into a tailspin more times than not. I've cried, raged and just flat given up when my weight just won't budge. But a lot of times we are so blinded by the lack of weight loss that we don't notice that our jeans are fitting better...that a climb up the stairs feels like less of a hike...you can work out longer and harder...

Yet that number finds a way to hold us back. Sometimes there's just one number... I like to call it "the hurdle number", because it's just that one number you need to get past. Mine is 180 lbs. I can work my butt off and get to 180 lbs and then I can go for weeks not seeing a budge in my weight. It's my hurdle.

So what do we do when we're stuck? Look elsewhere. Sometimes we need to look at the simple things to see a change. Something that has nothing to do with the scale. I call those things Non Scale Victories (NSV). Now I can't take credit for that name or idea, as my husband told me about it. He saw it on a weight loss forum, but you better believe that I am going to be using it!

Pretty much NSVs are all of the good things that happen beyond actual weight loss. Things like fitting into an old pair of jeans, noticing you look thinner, being able to run faster/longer, not craving a food that was a staple...and so on.

As I was putting together my NSVs goals I tried to incorporate both looks, feeling and strength. But that's just what I wanted and everyone's NSVs will look different.

Here are my NSVs:

Non Scale Victories:

~ Fit into a pair of Gap jeans (they say that they are a 12...they are lying)

~ Be able to wear high heels for more than a half hour (this sucks for a shoe lover)

~ Be able to do 3 "girlie" pushups in a row (I can't even do one)

~ Look in the mirror and actually see change

~ Be able to run a full mile without walking

~ Be able to do one pull up

I will definitely be adding to my NSVs as I think of more, but this is a good start for me. And to go along with my NSVs I'm adding incentives to them. Just small things, like buy a shirt to go with the jeans I just fit into. Or get a pedicure to were with the open toed shoes you can wear for more than an hour. By no means do incentives have to be added, but for me it's an added little push.

Have you ever done something like NSVs before? If you have, did they help? If you haven't do you think you will give them a try? What would some of your NSVs look like?

Crafts: That dreaded rug

Remember that one time when I said I was going to make a rug?

No?

Well I can't blame you as that was 8 months ago.

But it's almost done, I just have a very small handful of squares to fill. And while it didn't turn out how I wanted (I had to cut down on the size because of a lack of fabric), I can at least say I did it. And Emmett absolutely loves it and that's enough for me. I'll be posting the finished product within the week. So keep and eye out!

Manicure Monday:A sneak peak

So here it is...Monday and my nails are very much naked. Not really a good thing for manicure Monday's. But fear not, here's a photo of some recent polish acquisitions to tease you...

Keep an eye out, because these will be showing up on my nails very soon. I promise!

If you are curious about names, comment and I'll get back to you with their names/brands.

And don't forget to sign up for my Konad nail stamping kit giveaway if you haven't done that already!

Weight Loss Wednesday: Starting

Weight loss has been a topic that has popped up on this blog many...many...many times. It's also something I have failed at many...many...many times.

The intention is there, the follow through it lacking.

So here I am on attempt number I don't care to count. But this time...this time something is different. Actually a few things are different. I have a solid plan and I have it written down. I have goals, measurements, incentives, Nate and my friend Cassie as well.

So this time around I am keep a journal of sorts. I'm not using it to track my food or anything like that. Instead I am using it to keep track of my weight, measurements, goals and incentives. I wanted to start tracking my measurements, because I tend to freak out when I see no weight loss...even if it's apparent that my thighs are thinner or my pants are looser. So taking measurement gives me another way to see the changes my body is going through.

Along with that I have weight goals and matching incentives. The bigger the goal, the bigger the incentive. On top of that I am doing Non Scale Victories. Again this is so that I am not basing everything on what the scale says. It's just as important to celebrate fitting into that pair of jeans as it is celebrating a 5lb weight loss.

I am also long distance weight lossing with my friend Cassie. We're both working on losing weight and we are both helping press each other to keep going. Because honestly, knowing that I'm not the only one with weight loss issues is refreshing. When we are feeling down, we get/give a pep talks. I'm also lucky in the fact that I have my husband, who is like my own personal cheering squad. He pushes me and keeps me honest.

Having all of these things written down has helped a lot already. I can't lie about my weight. I can't ignore my goals. It isn't an option this time around. I'm being honest about my body and what I need to do to get to my happy place. And seeing as I am being honest, here's my starting stats:

Week 1

1.10.12

Weight: 187.6 lbs

Bust: 42"

Upper Arms: 13"

Waist: 35"

Hips: 45.5"

Thighs: 27"

Calves: 15.25"

So here goes attempt whatever this is...also known as my most successful attempt.

Life: A very merry birthday to Nate!

Today I have a hard choice to make. Do I bake my husband a cake or just go buy him one? He's the baker in the family and I get rather mean when he offers to bake things for his special occasions. And even though I have contemplated allowing him to bake, I never let him. Especially not today, on his birthday. I'd rather him just be able to come home, relax and celebrate.

While I'm making this hard choice he's off as school getting smarter. Much, much smarter. I never expected to be married to a Physicist, but life is funny that way. Even though we are so totally different, we are also very much the same. He balances my crazy, never leaves me feeling dumb (unless I accidentally see a homework problem of his) and always tries his hardest to keep me smiling. He is my perfect, brainy, goofy, loving match.

I'm glad that I get to celebrate so many things with him, especially his birthday. As I honestly don't know what I would do without him in my life. I can't help but smile when I see a mischievous smile cross his face, or when he goes running off to play with something that has caught his eye. Every day he reminds me to just have fun.

So here's to my wonderful husband, whom I hope to share many more birthdays with!

Happy Birthday Nate!