What is an NSV?

Non Scale Victory.

HUGE.

You are going to be hard pressed to make it to your ultimate weight loss goal if you don't acknowledge your non-scale victories. These are the positive changes that are happening due to your hard work that haven't got a thing to do with the number on the scale.

I am the director of a non-profit organization here in the town where I live. Lately I have been feeling quite discouraged and inadequate because things haven't really been going how I had envisioned. Sometimes it seems as if the goal of the organization has been lost and the F-word starts popping up in my mind. Failure.

This week I was blessed to talk with two people who helped me recognize all that God has done with this organization. Stuff I never thought about or even dreamed of. Though the positive outcomes I hope to see aren't always there--others are. Same with weight loss...

My latest NSV was actually doing the workout from running club ALL THE WAY TO THE END. I was jumping up and down, high fiving everyone! The trainer was laughing so hard and I was almost crying because I did it. I DID IT! Was a moment... -Kate

My best NSV was going into the bra store and walking out two cup sizes smaller!! It has been at least 5 years since I have been that cup size!! -Googie

My greatest NSV was running a 5K this weekend and even surpassing my own expectations by getting it finished in 45 min. instead of the 1 hr it took me in training. =) -Deb

A NSV for me - this week I would struggle to say - I would have to be wearing clothes that I've been waiting to wear, that in January I couldn't even get on! -Molly

Favorite NSV for me is being able to go into a store and try on clothes and feel good about it instead of tearing up !!! -Kelly

Having the energy to keep up with my CRAZY ENERGIZER BUNNY of a child :) -Miz

How awesome are these!? You go girls! Thanks to all these friends for sharing their NSV's on my last post. It is so motivational to read about these successes! You can click on the comments to check out some awesome blogs! (If any of the links are wrong please let me know. It took me about 24 hours to create those links and toward the end I got a little hostile...)

When I first began I had no interest in the non-scale victories. That term seemed like an oxymoron to me. If the scale wasn't showing the progress then nothing else mattered. But the longer I hang in here, the more precious those non-scale victories become.

If you are struggling today, sit down with a pen, paper and maybe a pal. Start making a list of all the victories you have experienced along the way. Big or small, you will be see that this really is worth it. True victory comes when we realize it's much more about the journey than the destination.

So here's to the GETTING THERE!

Weigh-In: 2 lb. Loss

177 lbs.

The drought is over? I don't know but I am going with it. I hope to gain mental momentum from this week's loss. I currently have no sense of smell therefor no sense of taste. I will use this to my advantage in ways such as eating salad without dressing and toast with out butter. Coffee without cream and sugar...because it all tastes the same.

This photo is poor quality but it displays my shorts. I have 3 pairs of these shorts; one in khaki, black, and brown. They are from Ann Taylor. I love them and they have been my summer clothing staple. A friend of mine the other day commented, "Wow. You're wearing shorts. I've never seen you in shorts." Yeah. Just another one of the many non-scale victories that I cherish. Also the slight definition that is beginning to appear in my midsection...

One of my FB friends posted about one of her favorite NSVs--being able to share clothes with friends. I thought that was a neat one. How about you? Let's hear some of your best NSVs!

Knock on Wood

I know I have been saying this for several weeks now and it never pans out...but this week, I really feel, is going to be a losing week. (Insert knock on wood, if I were superstitious which I am not). This is usually the point in the week when I start to let the scale heavily influence my attitude. But this week I don't have a scale at home so that is proving to be interesting.

Regardless, after several weeks of wrestling with God, I can now say that even if I don't lose I am content to stay where I am until the Lord sees fit to change me. And He does promise to do so here and here. Oh, and here. But it's always in His timing, and it's always in His perfect way, not mine. Or yours.

Speaking of God, I started a book last night called Women, Food and God, by Geneen Roth. She has written several bestselling books on food, weight loss, etc. My mom saw her promoting this newest book, the one I am reading, on Oprah not too long ago and told me about it. I haven't had much time for reading lately and when I do I try to make it be the Bible or my magazine subscriptions (Better Homes, and Southern Living) but for this one I'm making an exception.

I am into the first couple of chapters. It is quite interesting. There are lots of cuss words which I find annoying. They totally distract from the essence of the book, in my opinion. At any rate, I am predicting that my conclusion after finishing the book will be that Ms. Roth is so very close, yet so very, very far away from the TRUTH. (Not because of the cuss words:) I will let you know though. As I said, I've only just begun...

I'm really interested to to hear thoughts about the book from anyone who has actually read it (not just seen on Oprah). I know someone suggested it to me a while back. Please leave a comment and if you wish, include your own personal beliefs about "God" so I will have a frame of reference from which to better understand your thoughts. I would love to do a post after I finish the book and include insights from other readers.

Thanks in advance!

Photos Never Lie

You know when it is okay to see yourself in a picture like this?



When you don't look that way anymore!

Today my mom was looking through some pictures from last summer. She handed the camera to me and said there were a couple of "interesting" pictures of me on there. I knew what was coming and I was actually excited, believe it or not. I love the comparisons...



I always tried to avoid the camera, as I'm sure most overweight people do. Or we try to strategically place items in front of the belly (throw pillow anyone?) Yeah, well...whatever methods we try, they usually don't work. As I've said before--the camera doesn't lie.



I am thankful for these remiders of where I've been--and where I never want to return.

Weigh In: Maintenance

BO-RING.

:)