Non Scale Victories

[Over50Newbie]

For those of us trying to lose weight, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the number on the scale is not the "end-all" of being healthy.

I thought it might be fun to list some of our NSVs (non scale victories) that show that we are becoming fitter and healthier even though the number on the scale is not exactly where we want it.

I will start - please join in!

Some of my NSVs:

I can now fit comfortably into my size 8 jeans.

I was picking up a 50 pound bag of cat litter at the back of the local pet store and the store clerk came over and asked, "Do you need any help?" and I replied, "No, I can get it" and proceeded to pick it up and carry it to the cashier at the front of the store without any problem at all.

I was driving my car with my left hand on the wheel and my right hand resting on my right thigh. As my right foot came off the gas to hit the brake, I could feel my right quadricep bulging through my pants. Pretty cool!

During another car ride, when I had my hand on the steering wheel, I glanced at my arm and saw a new muscle popping up between my wrist and my elbow. I didn't even know I had that muscle, and there it was, popping up and saying, "Notice Me."

I can run 5 and 1/2 miles without stopping, swim a mile in under 30 minutes, and bicycle 100 miles. I can also swim, bike, and run back to back when I compete in my triathlons.

I can downhill ski all day without my quads complaining. And I can ski people who are much, much younger than I "right off the mountain."

As I lose weight and tone up my body, my husband of 30 years thinks I am getting sexier every day and he can't keep his hands off of me.

I was bending over at school the other day, helping a student, and another teacher whispered in my ear, "Your butt looks so small!"

I now have "oblique defintion" in my abs, and I am on the way to getting a "six pack" - I already have a "two pack."

My waist has shrunk 5 inches since I started eating healthy and faithfully exercising .

I sleep like a baby every night, and have flown through menopause with hardly any symptoms at all. My ob/gyn attributes this to my healthy lifestyle.

I have normal blood sugar levels in a family where my grandmother died of Type 2 diabetes, my father died of Type 2 diabetes, and my brother has Type 2 diabetes. My grandmother was obese, my father was obese, my brother and sister are obese, and I am at a healthy weight. I am beating my genetic history!

And I can't forget that I am in the category of "one tenth of one percent of women over the age of 50" that has completed an unassisted pull-up from a dead hang.

A Very Determined Lynette

[OakLeaf]

I am in the category of "one tenth of one percent of women over the age of 50" that has completed an unassisted pull-up from a dead hang.

Way to go! I love that statistic, where did you find it (I just have to keep going for another year and a half )! Great job on all your fitness achievements!

[Over50Newbie]

Oakleaf,

Thanks.

It was a statistic that I read in a physical fitness training book a few years ago. And, just to let you know, I worked on pull-ups for 2 and 1/2 years before I was able to do one. I used the assisted pull-up machine at the gym where I was able to put the pin lower and lower until I could finally pull up my own weight. It seemed to take forever, but I didn't give up until I could do one on my own.

A Very Determined Lynette

[Tuckervill]

Way to go, Lynette!!!

One of the first things I noticed was that my belly didn't stick out as far as my boobs any more. (I have a big bust, so that's not saying much.)

Another thing is that I'm curvy, not round. My waist is actually narrower than my hips again.

I had a big lump of fat on the outside of my right thigh that I could cup my hand around. It's gone.

My face is very slender. I have a jaw-line again.

I can cross my legs at the knees, and line my calves up together.

I can wear a size MEDIUM, in SHORTS! (What?!)

People really don't believe me now when I say I'm a grandma.

A recent change that I've noticed--I can do boot camp in the morning and go for a long fast group ride in the afternoon, and I'm not exhausted and I don't have to eat a lot afterwards.

I can't do pull-ups or push-ups (haven't been trying), but I can run a mile and before I couldn't. I can do 50 full-length sit-ups (which I hear is the "new"/old way to do them, now).

Hard physical labor doesn't tire me out. I'm not begging for help lifting heavy boxes. I can move the 30 heavy cases of soda in the concession stand at the ball park by myself. I can shovel a lot of dirt and mulch in the garden without hubby's help. I actually want to push the lawnmower.

Little changes started 5 years ago (eliminated Diet Coke, the rest are too numerous to list). Real efforts towards weight loss started in December, 2006. 42 lbs so far. 30 or so inches.

Karen

[CATWOMAN]

Although I have experienced much of what y'all talk about, I still want improvement. Sometimes I fear that I am never happy; but that's not it because I am happy, just not done.

When I go out with my friends my age (47) I feel young. They dress older, look older, and act older than me. They don't understand my 3 new tattoos. I love them!! My son's girlfriend, who waited on a group of us in her restaurant said, "You don't look like you belong with them!" It was a great compliment.

I went to my brother's for my niece's HS graduation and didn't recognize his wife She had become middle aged-whatever that is.

Everytime I look at a pair of pants that I used to dread trying on at the start of a new season I'm sure they will be tight, but they aren't.

My tops are getting tight across the shoulders and upper chest due to increased muscle

I had a complete hysterectomy last December 14th. Two weeks later I was in the gym doing cardio (It took awhile before I could get on a bike seat). When I went in for my checkups at the GYN the nurse kept saying, "Man you just bounced right back!" They attributed that to my lifestyle.

At the beginning of summer I shop for new tops--cami's and tanks. Most women my age don't wear these anymore, or at least they shouldn't

I like the way I look when I look in the mirror! That's not bragging, that's a lot of f***ing hard work at the gym, mountain, and bike path.

I love every minute of exercise, both self imposed, and through a day of hard work in the yard/house.... The last 4 days I was painting and made sure to do a lot of squats, shoulder work, and ladder climbs. I got 4 days of leg work and my downstairs looks awesome. I rewarded myself with a 20 mile ride.

My kids say I have had tastebud surgery. Actually I have come to enjoy no or low sugar food, whole grains, and grilled dry meat. One day they too will endure tastebud surgery. I think it happens during sleep

[Tuckervill]

I like the way I look when I look in the mirror! That's not bragging, that's a lot of f***ing hard work at the gym, mountain, and bike.

Holy crap, YES!!!

Don't look at me and think I had it easy. It's simple, but not easy!

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Just to add to the thread.

Sometimes, I feel selfish or self-conscious about my new look. I don't want it to get in the way of what I do. Yesterday, the person who does our league shirts (I'm youth baseball president in my town) offered me a XL shirt. She always fixes me one up with something a little special. I said, "No, I take a medium now." She looked at me funny, like what difference does it make? I explained to her that I worked hard for "this" and she said, "so you want to show it off?". No, I just want to dress like a woman again. Sometimes I worry about the guys I work with in the league, whether they think (or their wives think) I'm dressing too provocatively. (I'm not! T-shirts that fit with no midriff showing, no tank tops, reasonable length shorts.) They all know me so I don't worry about it too much--but I can't help that I was born to be built like a brick-house (I was when I was younger). I'm a woman, and I'm going to act--and dress--like one.

Karen

[mimitabby]

Count me in here, the waist receding, muscles appearing, able to lift a bike over my head and put it on the car rack.
Challenging coworkers to pushups, a year ago I did my first one; now I can do 12 or more at a time.
Lynette, I'm still working on that pullup, and unfortunately I don't sleep like a baby even on days with heavy exercise.

There is a spring in my step, old clothes fit again, I am often mistaken for someone much younger as i bike my way home.

My legs aren't like steel, but they are well defined and SO SO different than what they used to be.

I really believe that exercise has oxygenated my brain because my art stuff is taking off like gangbusters. I tell myself that I bike to paint.
it's all good!

[Over50Newbie]

Tuckervill, Catwoman, and Mimitabby - these are GREAT!!!

Very, very motivating.

C'mon everyone, join in...

Lynette

[bambu101]

Ok- I'll join in, great thread!

Putting on a pair of pants that were tight 4 months ago, and now they are loose.

Starting to run again a few months ago after 30 years, and realiizing that I actually like it.

I love getting up at the crack of dawn (4:30 AM) to get in a hard, sweaty, workout before going to work. Best way to start the day.

Looking around at my obese co-workers, who are in my age group, and listening to them talk about how they are going to sell their houses in the next few years because they won't be able to walk up the stairs anymore.

Realizing that I will turn 55 next January, and a lot of people would consider that AARP-senior-citizen time. Instead, I am either going to get a tattoo or go on a bike tour- maybe both!

[Over50Newbie]

Bambu - you go girl!

Lynette

[Trek420]

Looking around at my obese co-workers, who are in my age group, and listening to them talk about how they are going to sell their houses in the next few years because they won't be able to walk up the stairs anymore.

Realizing that I will turn 55 next January, and a lot of people would consider that AARP-senior-citizen time. Instead, I am either going to get a tattoo or go on a bike tour- maybe both!

Do we work together? I swear we work with the same people.

Circling the building are two full city blocks of disabled parking spots. I don't want to say anything negative about my coworkers many of whom are really disabled but I swear many of those parked there ... could benefit by a little further walk.

Hearing their talk of diets "I'm on the frozen mango smoothie diet" "I take multi vitamins" "I count calories with this gizmo" ... I ride in

Same day, same folks "I can't find time to work out" "I'm too tired to go to the gym after work" ... I ride in.

My manager compliments me "you're attendance is really good! How do you do it?" because she has a floor full of the above and aforementioned people. I credit the cycling ... that and luck of the draw on the genetics.

I used to take horse-pill sized prescription levels of Ibuprofin for the arthritis. Now I just ride.

[Tabby]

OMG, Lynette, thanks for starting this thread!!!

We sometimes forget to acknowledge those little things that have reinforced our new bodies, but we really do need to list them and share. Since Jan 1 2007 I have dropped 42-45 pounds. I started out only wanting to feel healthy inside and out. The weight loss was just a bonus. (5'4", 135, age 53) I started with resistance training for first year and the definitions (albethem small) became noticeable.

Gradually, I got rid of those size 16s, enjoyed the 14s. Then the 14s were too big and I got 12s. When the 12s were loose, I ended up at Talbots and even their 8s are loose, but I think they size different that other places. STILL, I'll take those 8s!!

I work in very small company (8 men and me) and they all noticed, couple said I was loosing too much weight. One who travels frequently was in yesterday and asked how much more weight I've lost ... "None, but I started mountain biking." "Oh, you're toning it up!"

I got rid of the frumpy baggy t-shirts and wear mediums. Some may be snug, but that's OK, it feels good to have the cotton snug across my mid-section.

I don't have the full part of my boobs pushing out from top of my bras, you know, those 2 extra boobs when you know it's not the cup size.

I will still wear one particular belt ... I've watch the notch go further and further back!

At group ride/ cookout couple weeks ago, one of the little kids wanted to arm wrestle with me, so we both showed off our biceps and by golly, I had one!!! His single dad looked at me and grinned, I grinned back!!

Definition in my calves.

Being able to button the bottom button of an oxford shirt and not have it tug and separate and not fit across the lower abs.

I love that muscle ache 36 hours after a good workout in the gym! It's a good ache and I feel energized by it.

My girlfriends all look so much older than me and they shake their heads when I tell them about my latest ride and/or crash!

My boys (twins, 25) who only knew me as heavy growing up are SO proud of me and tell me every time they see me. They say I look the prettiest they've ever seen.

Stop me now before I get carried away......All of you ladies, "JOB WELL DONE, LET'S KEEP IT UP!"

PJ

[shootingstar]

Then there are those of us who have been trying to maintain their good, fit weight for last few decades. THis also takes physical effort and food eating consciousness. It's not magical genetic predisposition nor natural fast-burning metabolism.

My victory is small compared to others...just to fit same clothing that I wore 15-20 years ago. I have to remember as I age,...to extend that goal...make it 15-25 years ago.

[Tabby]

I can cross my legs at the knees, and line my calves up together.


Karen

Isn't this great, I know, I noticed this too! I am so proud of this seemingly small, yet very significant success! It's fun to cross my legs and have my calves line up so nice.

PJ