NO SCALE VICTORIES

    

    Now let me begin with saying that I am not certified in any capacity, so this is not professional advice, simply a fitness routine that works for me, derived from a lifelong commitment to moving my body.  Because I love reading actual facts and numbers when it comes to people’s fitness shares here are mine: I am 31 years old, 6 feet tall and weigh 150-155.  I do not follow any type of diet.  I think there is a time and place for a diet, but I find it more important to create a reasonable and sustainable lifestyle.  5 pounds will never be worth the sacrifice of carbs and sweets for me.  I would say that my norm is an overall healthy, well-balanced diet without any specific restrictions and lots of room for enjoyment.  I eat carbs, have cream and sugar in my morning coffee, eat sweets, have a cocktail... you get it.  I certainly overindulge sometimes, but that is my exception, not “the rule”.   In my opinion, life is too short to say “no” to the occasional shot of whipped cream! 

 

    Anyway, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a friend and I committed to a no scale challenge until January 1^st.  I suggested this to help her move away from number shame and toward recognizing fitness victories off the scale.  I realized that I too used the scale with some frequency, but I often used it to excuse bad behaviors.  Yes, I realize this makes very little sense to most, but this momma loves to late night snack.  Few things sound more indulgent to me than eating alone when I can fully enjoy my food without any tiny people pestering me for bites.  It is often that you can find me on the couch, watching Netflix, snacking on a bag of jalapeño kettle baked chips and a ½ gal of ice cream into the wee hours of the night.  I fully realize that that is not a sustainable nor a healthy lifestyle and I found myself using the scale to rationalize those behaviors; if I was still in my typical range, I excused those choices.  It’s really kind of disturbing how much power that number can hold over you, huh?  In the weeks leading up to thanksgiving, nearly every evening was spent staying up too late with Netflix and processed snacks and I started feeling crappy.  Sluggish, tired and bloated.  This challenge helped me focus on how I felt and looked, not on a number.  I committed to exercising for 20 mins each day.  I think I only missed 3 days from November 25^th- January 1^st, which alone felt like a victory.   This exercise ranged from HIIT(high intensity interval training) workouts (like the one posted on my IG account) to walks around the neighborhood.  I didn’t push myself on days I was tired; on those days I just walked.  I was amazed by the difference in how I felt.  When I would late night snack, I woke feeling yucky and without a scale to rationalize the actions I was left to focus on the way my body felt.  It was a great mental switch for me.  Feeling uncomfortable led me to eat differently.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I still indulge is this late-night ritual from time to time; but the frequency has drastically reduced.  I did take a couple (low quality) progress pics and was surprised how a commitment to just 20 minutes a day led to changes in just a few weeks.  These pics are from Dec 1^st and Dec 23^rd .

    The changes aren’t insane, but I could feel that I was getting more toned and could see more definition in my muscles and that totally propelled me to keep it up.  Not to mention, setting aside that “me” time each day was such a mental booster.  After the challenge ended, I weighed myself to find that I had only lost ~2lbs.  Had I not noted the emotional and physical impacts of my new routine, that small difference could have been really defeating.  But instead, the scale lost some of it’s power over me!  I knew I made awesome progress despite what that number said.  I think the biggest change came from moving on the days where my energy was low and I didn’t want to do my usual HIIT workouts.  In the past, I would just skip all together, now I walk.  Some days that’s literally a walk while the kids scooter, but it’s SOMETHING and that’s made all the difference for me. 

 

    I’m not saying everyone should strive for my routine.  But, I do encourage you to consider your weekly movement habits.  Are you carving out space for intentional movement?  Not running around chasing babies (which CAN get you those steps, no doubt), but time just to focus on your own emotional and physical well-being?  I am a happier person when I exercise.  Yes, because of endorphins, but also because at the end of the day when it can feel like all I did was pour myself out to my littles, I know that I claimed that time for me.  It’s easy to get lost in motherhood, or the work grind, or winter blues or covid chaos.  But you won’t regret the effort to claim space for you own self-care.  In fact, I would venture to say it will make you more successful in all the other areas of your life.  Not to mention, a happier version of yourself! 

    I would seriously LOVE you support your journey if you’re ready to try something new, so if you want an accountability partner, I’m your girl.  Text, email or comment below.  And for more workouts follow along at @_overflow30_

❤ Christine