small victories

I've been thinking about progress the last few days, ever since I read (I forget where) someone saying that they had lost 50 lbs. in 8 months, and how that may not seem like good progress to some people, but for her it was good. Like she was apologizing for only losing 50 lbs. in less than a year. And my 37-pounds-in-a-year-and-a-half ass was all, "She thinks that's slow?"

So to combat that seething jealousy and urge to compare, I started to focus on the "lifestyle change" aspect of this, rather than the numbers on the scale. I looked at things that had changed about me in the past year and a half. To my surprise, I came up with quite a few of them.

-I always select the low-fat and/or sugar-free option when available.
-I only eat pizza once or twice a month, v. 2-3 times/week.
-Ditto on the buffalo wings, but it's more like every 3 months on those.
-I almost never want "fries with that".
-I have all-but eliminated "candytime" in the afternoon.
-I never get breakfast from the vending machine.
-I have learned to love salad.
-I check nutritional information on the food I eat whenever I can find it.
-I get mad when I can't find nutritional information on something.
-I modify old recipes to make them healthier.
-I have developed a pretty good eye for portion size.
-I don't always want dessert.
-I drink a lot of water every day.
-I eat at home a lot more.
-I buy/read books on nutrition--for pleasure.

-I take the stairs more often.
-I have earned more fitness points at work in the last six months than I had in the previous two years.
-I have more energy.
-I have tried more types of exercise in the past year than I have in the rest of my life.
-I am slightly more coordinated now than I used to be (hey--can't fight that clumsiness gene).
-I'm considering giving Pilates another try.
-I have biked 40 miles in less than 3 hours.
-I'm considering joining a gym so that I can swim laps.
-I have started a training program to run a 5k.
-I find myself thinking that a triathlon might be fun.

-I care more about my appearance than I used to (groomed eyebrows, skin care, nail care used to be foreign concepts to me--why bother?).
-I am actually considering a bikini wax.
-I buy more girly clothes.
-Sometimes, I even feel pretty.

That isn't so bad, eh?

Very good, in fact :)

It isn't always about numbers Joy!
I'm in the same boat as you...been at this since Sep 02 and fighting daily to stay and increas my 50lb mark. But I'm still doing it, I'm not done yet. If someone gets there faster than me, congrats to them, but I'm not them...I don't have their body. I'm doing this for me, not for anybody else.

P.S. Bikini waxes aren't that bad! It's kind of strange...someone staring at your nether regions, however - it gives great maintenance free results for at least a month or two :)

I love that little list! It made me recognize certain stuff in it that I can very much relate to. I often focus too much on the numbers as well, and doing that is only good when they are actually going down! Which is not my case since a very long time...

That's a great list and a huge amount of improvement and change. The numbers aren't as important really.

I'd say it's a pretty damn fine list you have there, girl.