Non-Scale Victories

Hi everyone :)

First, thank you all for so much support yesterday. I am continually blown away by the motivation and support that I receive from all of you as I weigh in weekly!

Now, I have some news!

I admitted that I was disappointed with my .6 loss. I think the majority of us get like that. We want to see that 1+ lb loss each time we step on the scale. But, the truth of the matter is that it just doesn't always happen. It isn't for lack of effort, it is just how it is. We can't have perfect weeks all the time.

Recognizing how down on myself I personally get with small losses, and after reading how so many of you all also get that way, I thought of an idea: a link up to celebrate our non-scale victories!

One of my favorite dieting quotes is from the book I've just given away "Finally Thin" by Kim Bensen. I know I've posted it before and you all may be tired of it, but I think it is such a great quote. So I'm sharing it again to really illustrate the idea of non-scale victories.

"We measure the progress of our diets by the numbers on the scale. For that brief moment in time, this is what this machine on this particular floor in a room with this specific air pressure says. That's it. Nothing more. 

The scale can't measure behavior or determination, two things that are much more important to long-term weight loss than the numbers themselves. So the scale cannot be the only measure we use to feel successful."

We are all making a lifestyle change here! Even when the scale isn't moving we are constantly making positive choices and those are all victories that deserve to be celebrated!

"The scale can't measure your will, your drive, how much time you put into your food plan, or how many temptations you said no to. It can't tell how many old habits you broke or new, healthier habits you started. It doesn't know the effort you put in at the gym , and it doesn't care. It won't  heap praise on you because you chose the stairs over the elevator or know that you passed on a slice of a colleague's birthday cake even though you wanted it with all your heart.

Most of all, the scale doesn't have any idea how hard you're trying, or how many times you overcame a slip and got back on track when you felt like giving it all up together. Only you know that."

I think it is time that we all support each other just as much for the non-scale victories as we do when we drop the lbs!

So, I've teamed up with another Pittsburgh gal, Lex over at Lifebylex.com, and together we are going to host a Non-Scale Victories Link Up every Thursday!  

I wanted to provide some notice so that you can think of all the non-scale victories you are achieving this week to create a post to link up with us this Thursday. Whether you lost a pants size, said no to that office birthday cake, walked on the treadmill for the first time, ran a 5k, etc. . . we want to hear about it and celebrate it!

I will remind you all before Thursday again and provide our lovely link up button for you to include in your posts :)

If you like this idea and want to participate please comment and let us know!