Trust the Process

This truly is a process that is going to take both time and effort. I didn't expect to see results overnight nor did I expect to see the results that I desired in month or two months. I knew that it was going to take a while to see something but I have to trust in myself and not get discouraged by what I do or don't see / achieve.

I took a look at my measurements since I started recording them in March. Since then I have lost some considerable inches. I am not saying this to toot my own horn or to gloat, but it shows me that although I may not see it when I look in the mirror, something is changing.

Since March I have lost:

• 3 inches from my bust
• 3 inches from my chest
• 5 inches from my waist
• 2 inches from my hips
• 3.5 inches from my thighs
• 2 inches from my calves
• .5 inches from my upper arms
• 1.5 inches from my forearms

Looking in a mirror, I wouldn't have been able to tell that. Lately, I have noticed some shirts fitting me differently in my lower midsections, which was a major NSV for me, but I know that I can't stop and get overly excited by what the numbers the tape measure are showing me. 

If I continue like I have been, who knows how many more inches I can lose or gain via muscle definition. Essentially, I have to trust this process and see where it takes me.

Weigh In Day

My weigh in today has just made my birthday even more special. According to the LoseIt! and the scales I am down another 1.2 pounds from the last time I weighed in!! This just shows me that when I really buckle down and focus on what is in front of me I can get the ball rolling again and the numbers will keep coming down. For this month my ultimate goal is to drop 5 pounds. Not sure how reasonable that is, but as long as I lose something I will be happy.

Total loss for this week: 1.2 pounds
Total loss for the month: 1.2 pounds 
Total loss since the start of this journey: 17.2 pounds

Since I was already thrilled with the numbers on my scale, I decided to see if there were any changes in my measurements.

Since today is the first Saturday in June, these measurements will serve as my end of May measurements as well as beginning of June measurements.

Neck - 14 1/2
Bust - 45
Chest - 41
Waist - 43
Hips - 50 1/2
Thighs - 26
Calves - 16
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 11

Overall I lost inches in my neck, waist, hips and thighs which is pretty good for me.

Since today is my birthday, I have vowed that I will not focus on the calories consumed but will focus on the good time that is scheduled with my family today. Since I am not counting calories, that probably means that today will count as my cheat day and the second one I have had on this journey.

Either way, thanks to my hard work this week, my day is already off to an amazing start.

Weigh In Day: Measurements

I knew on Monday that today was going to be the day that I updated my measurements, especially since I didn't do it last week like I wanted to.  Since I gave myself a break this week, it is also fitting to give myself a break from the scales today. On this journey, I expect that my measurements will fluctuate like my weight will fluctuate, but the only way to know what is going on, is to update them.  On to the measurements now.

Final Measurements for April
Neck - 15
Bust - 45
Chest - 39 1/2
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 15 1/2
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10

Beginning Measurements for May
Neck - 14 3/4
Bust - 45
Chest - 39 1/2
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 27 1/2
Calves - 16 (left) 15 1/2 (right)
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 11

Some areas saw a decrease in inches, some saw an increase; but that's just how it goes on a weight loss journey. Check under the progress tab for all of the measurement you may have missed.

Weigh In Day

Today's weekly weigh in shows a 0.8 gain. Surprisingly, I am not mad at seeing that at all, mainly because I didn't have the best week but I also didn't gain a pound, only .8 ounces. Therefore, I am actually pretty pleased with today's results.

Total gain for this week: 0.8 pounds
Total loss for the month: 2.2 pounds
Total loss since the start of this journey: 15.2 pounds (this is why I am not mad at today's weigh in, because I am still holding at over 15 pounds lost)

Since April is coming to a close, I decided to take final measurements to see how I compared from the start of the month to now.

Here are measurements from Saturday, April 6:
Neck - 15
Bust - 46
Chest - 41
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 16
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10 1/2

Here are measurements for Saturday, April 27:
Neck - 15
Bust - 45
Chest - 39 1/2
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 15 1/2
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10

Overall, for the month as a whole, my inches went down, which is a large non-scale victory, I had a slight 1/2 inch increase in some areas from last week, but again, that is no problem because these things happen. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you don't. I have never had a week where I saw a substantial loss (like last weeks 3 pounds) followed by another substantial loss; it just doesn't work like that for me. What works for me is knowing that I feel better as each day moves on, not the number on the scale.

Weigh In Day

Luckily for me, I didn't gain anything this week but I also didn't lose anything. I would have loved to have lost   the 1.2 pounds that would put me back at my lowest weight since the start of this journey, but taking baby steps is what it is all about and as a baby sometimes you fall but you get right back up. Earlier this month I fell on this journey, but I got right back up and worked on losing that weight. Although I still have another 1.2 pounds to go before I am back to my lowest weight on this journey, I am still proud of the no gain.

Total weight loss this week: 0 pounds
Total weight loss this month: 3 pounds
Total weight loss since the start of this journey: 16 pounds

On the weeks where I don't lose any weight I figured I might as well check my measurements to to see if any numbers changed, so although the scale didn't go anywhere, the inches hopefully did.

Measurement from April 6:
Neck - 15
Bust - 46
Chest - 41
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 16
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10 1/2

Measurements from April 20:
Neck - 15
Bust - 45 1/2
Chest - 39 1/2
Waist - 43 1/2
Hips - 50
Thighs - 27
Calves - 16
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10

Thankfully, I did lose inches which has made this week another non scale victory which is something to be proud of.

Weigh-In Day

After writing yesterdays post, I felt that my entire week was a huge non-scale victory. This entire week I have actually felt lighter and I think my brain has finally caught up with the scale and realized that I am losing weight. Since I felt lighter I decided to change up today's weigh in day and update some measurements.

It has been 3 weeks since I updated my measurements and looking back on it, I can see why some people take measurements weekly so they know what has or has not changed (I could never do that though, I would be fixed on these numbers and probably obsessed with them).

For reference, here are measurements from March 16:
Neck - 15
Bust - 47
Chest - 41
Waist - 46
Hips - 51
Thighs - 28 (both)
Calves - 17 (both)
Upper Arm - 14 (both)
Forearm - 11

Here are measurements for April 6:
Neck - 15
Bust - 46
Chest - 41
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 16
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10 1/2

This months measurements show a loss in inches from my bust (-1 inch), waist (-2 inches!!), hips (-1 inch), forearms (- 1/2 inch) and calves (-1 inch). Talk about excited, these numbers actually mean more to me than the numbers on the scale and I actually think I could go the entire month of April just updating measurements without stepping on the scale because at this point, these non-scale victories are what keep me moving forward because it actually shows that my body (not my weight) is reaping the benefits of working out.

Weigh-In Day

Since today's weigh in resulted in no change, I decided to take some new measurements. There may not be much of a change (if any) but as long as I'm not gaining inches, I am fine.

Here are January's measurements:
Neck - 15
Bust - 49
Chest - 42
Waist - 47
Hips - 53
Thighs - 28
Calves - 17
Upper Arm - 14 (left) and 15 (right)
Forearm - 11

Here are March's measurements:
Neck - 15
Bust - 47
Chest - 41
Waist - 46
Hips - 51
Thighs - 28 (both)
Calves - 17 (both)
Upper Arm - 14 (both)
Forearm - 11

I was pretty bummed to see my weight didn't change but I was very excited to see that I lost inches in my bust, chest, waist and hips areas. That has left me with a permanent smile for the night and lets me know that I am doing something right.

Next week it's back to taking the time to record every meal I eat on Lose It! and exercising (going to the gym and taking at least 30 minutes for myself when I can't make it to the gym), this weight loss journey won't be (and hasn't necessarily been) easy but in the long run it will pay off.