I did something today that surprised me and made think of success. Jeff and I are taking a last minute trip to Virginia. We stopped in the rest area to grab a coffee and switch driving. He ran inside and it was my turn to drive. I hopped over from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat.
I hopped over from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat.
Two years ago I was driving a Kia van. Even with the seat all the way to the back my stomach still touched the steering wheel. On longer drives it would be irritating. I’m still amazed at how far away I am from the wheel now. I never dreamed of moving seats inside the car.
As my husband slept I started thinking of all the other ways to measure weight loss success that are not dependent on whatever the scale says. Here are some I thought of today:
When I tie my shoes the knot is in the center. It used to always be on the side. I can also bend down to tie them!
I can maneuver through stores with close closing racks without freaking out. I’m looking at you, Walmart!
I can fit in movie theater chairs and restaurant booths but truth be told I still tug on a chair before I sit down to see how sturdy it is. I’ll probably do that forever.
When people hug me they can reach all the way around. My husband can now grab his elbows when before he could almost touch his fingertips… almost.
I experience a sense of fullness when I eat. Before I could eat an incredible amount of food and never feel satisfied. I’ve eaten an entire loaf of bread with butter taken a deep breath and went right back in. Experiencing satiety is a gift.
There are many more. Sometimes we get so focused on what the scale says that we miss the little things that really mean a lot. The height weight chart and BMI are certainly indicators but they only tell part of a story. These Non Scale Victories tell so much more and you take you farther on you road to wellness and healing.
No matter where you are with your goals or what weight you feel you have left to lose think of those things that you couldn’t do before and celebrate them. They’ll mean so much more than numbers on a scale ever could!
Do you have a Non Scale Victory?
5 Responses
I am pre-op but these are the things I am most excited for. Especially all the seating issues. Airplanes, concerts, sporting events, booths, amusement park rides, kayaks. I am prying my Ins co approves my surgery asap…It may be 6mos since I started the actual process but its been 5yrs of getting up the courage to do it.
It took me 9 months. I had a delay after approval because I had h. pylori but I’m glad it took as long as it did because I was really ready emotionally. Had it been faster I wonder if I would’ve been. I’m so excited for you!!
I haven’t had surgery yet, but I’m not near my highest weight anymore, but yes! The steering wheel – my arms are fully stretched out and I could put a small dog on my lap if I were so inclined (I’m not!). It’s funny you mentioned the shoelace knot. I do notice that when I’m a bit heavier or my pants are too tight. It’s fun to notice the “little things” like those.
Isn’t it wonderful to see those tiny changes! I forgot the towel! Wrapping a towel around my body still seems surreal! Keep celebrating Tracy!
My girlfriend isn’t happy with her weight, but she is wearing a size smaller. Cudos to you both