March/April Weight Management Challenge

[Tri Girl]

well I haven't lost any weight on the scale, but 4 weeks ago I bought a dress for our annual Shakespeare Festival at school, and it was TIGHT zipping up the back (like: I had to get help zipping it up). Today I put it on for the festival, and zipped it up myself with no problem. So even though I'm not losing any weight, maybe this weight training is doing me some good.

I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY trying to not get on the scale anymore, because those fluctuations just either ruin my day or make me a crazy person. Things like clothes fitting better are what I'm trying to go for. I refuse to "diet" anymore. I'm eating healthy 85% of the time, and I have a small sweet every single day. I will NOT count points, calories, etc any longer. I am a vegan and eat well at most every meal. If I lose weight, great. If not, I'm going to stop hating myself for it. I can fit into 10/12's so I guess I'm going to be OK with it. Plus, my monster quads and glutes are NOT getting down into single digits ever again I fear (I need them too much for running and cycling anyway).

I taught a class this semester to 8th grade girls about having a good body image and loving yourself for what you are. I guess I absorbed a little of what I taught them. I'm not saying I don't look in the mirror sometimes and say to myself "you look like you're 7 months pregnant in this outfit", but I have those days less frequently. I even took down 2 full-length mirrors in my house (I kept the one up that for some reason is like a funhouse mirror- it makes me look thinner). Part of my problem is that I feel good in my clothes, but then see myself in a mirror and the negative self-talk starts. I took away the mirrors in my house so I don't have the chance to rip myself to shreds. I'm almost 40- it's time I stopped beating myself up and started loving me for who I am- thunder thighs and all!