It's Not Just the Number

I will be the last person to ever say the number doesn't matter. To me, the scale is an important part of living healthier, and either losing or maintaining the goal weight. When I hear people say they don't care about the number, or the number doesn't define them, I bristle a little bit. It almost makes you feel guilty to disagree. I mean of course the number doesn't define you. But saying that also gives you an excuse to ignore reality. The number is reality whether we like to admit it or not. 

That being said---there are so many other ways to judge weight loss progress or increased health (in addition to, not instead of the scale). We all know the "how clothes fit" one. There's also measurements. It is amazing to see inches disappear even when pounds seem to hang on for dear life, and grudgingly reduce by a fraction of a pound here and there.  

I was pleased to come upon another one today during my yoga workout from the video I mentioned the other day. I haven't done this workout in about a four days since I have been swimming on the days in between. Today I did it again and wow... there was one exercise in the routine that I just couldn't do last time. I managed all of the others fairly well since it was a very beginner workout, but the knee lift and circling the leg (with knee up) from the hip I just COULD NOT do. I couldn't lift my thigh off the chair much less circle the leg around. Nope. I did some other leg stretches while that short section was on after I attempted it and just couldn't do it. 

Guess what? I did it today. Okay, I only got my knee up a few inches, but my thigh was off the seat of the chair and I was able to circle the knee in the air, both legs (one at a time, lol). Minor accomplishment? Yep... but it sure made me feel good. What a boost in incentive.