I've mentioned my struggle with post-baby weight {you can read about that here}, and recently I wrote about finding my way back to running {which you can read all about here}.
As of late I've been working pretty hard to get back into shape. There's a half marathon with my name on it, and that's happening in 45 days - EEK! Along with running, Shawn T and Insanity have been consistently kicking my butt.
I'm not sure what it was, but something compelled me to step on the scale. *dun dun dun*
I never talk about "the number". It's incredibly personal and I just can't put that number out there. While I'm not here to announce "my number" I will tell you I was pleasantly surprised at the number that was staring back at me as I looked down. The last time I saw a number like that was July 2012. YAY!
During my pregnancy I gained... well... A LOT. I lost about 20 pounds in the delivery room (I'm not kidding). The rest of that baby weight has been a real fight to lose. Every single pound lost has been so.much.work.
Stepping off the scale has never felt so good. Excitedly, I told Scott about my achievement. Being the guy he is, he told me that the number on the scale isn't what is important. What is important is the way you feel, how healthy you are, yada yada yada. All that jazz is stuff only guys can honestly say they believe. Have I ever mentioned my husband is a workout fool? A CrossFit fanatic? Has the metabolism of a 16-year old? That the man wants to gain weight?! Ugh.
I quickly shot back that for women the number on the scale IS important. That number reflects our willpower to turn down a favorite snack, our hard work (sometimes just finding time to get a workout in is monumental), our determination, our efforts to better ourselves. I continued that being healthy and feeling healthy more often than not go hand-in-hand with the number on the scale.
Shortly after Scott left for work I received this text:
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| Awwwww. |
Though he might not fully understand how important that number is he does understand how much I appreciate all his encouragement. I don't tell him enough how much his words mean to me, or how much he motivates me. Scott, if you're reading, thank you, and I love you.
Ok ladies, I would like to know, do you agree? Is that number important to you? Or is it just me on this one?
I think we use that number to validate whether or not we're doing a good job, so yes, it can be important. It's hard not to make it important. Maybe it is just a woman thing!
ReplyDeleteI think that number IS important but it definitely isn't everything!
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!
ReplyDeleteThe number is important but mostly jsut how you feel about yourself. a number shouldn't tell you how you should feel about yourself. you go girl! can't beleive you're running a half! awesome!
ReplyDeleteThe number is definitely important to me. My BFF? No way. She checks the scale only once and a while and goes off how her clothes fit.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, CONGRATS! That's huge Des. Now don't sit your skinny a$$ down on the beach next to me if we come in Oct. :)
That is so great!! The number is so important to me and I really struggle with the muscle gain causing that number to go up. You are going to great on that half! :)
ReplyDeleteLaura@MiceInTheKitchen :)
To me, I have the "number" I must always be below. Unless, I'm pregnant, then it's okay. But post pregnancy I will once again strive as hard as I can to be under that dreaded number!
ReplyDeleteI would like I say that it isn't, but yes, to some extent, it is. I'm more concerned with how I feel and how my clothes fit, but that number is always there, haunting me.
ReplyDeleteI'm super happy for you and proud of you!!
Patrick forbids me to have a scale.. and I've learned to love that. I may not be the same "number" as in highschool or even as fit BUT I am happier about how I am than I've ever been. And I find how my clothes fit to be much better than a number. That being said I really should start working out again! LOL
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you, proof that hard work pays off.
ReplyDeleteThe number is obviously important to me. It helps me hold myself accountable. When I was gaining all the weight it is safe to say I NEVER stepped on the scale. By the time I did I couldn’t believe how big I had gotten. I just didn't "see it" when it was happening.
The scale helps me "see it" before I can tell I have lost.
Youre doing awesome first of all, and yes, I totally think the number matters, for this reason alone - I refused to see that number for well over a year, it's the physical confirmation that youve lost your way as well as teh physical confirmation when youve found your way again :)
ReplyDeleteaww, that text was super sweet. Great job!I think the number is somewhat important. It keeps me accountable.
ReplyDeleteI just had this conversation with a friend earlier this week. While she doesn't think the number is important, I do. I can't really put it into words... I just do.
ReplyDeleteCongrats for getting to a great number!!
The number is important to me--I step on the scale twice a day (morning and night). While I fully recognize that the number isn't everything, for me it's like you said--the motivation to turn down dessert or to work out just a little bit harder. The opposite is true too though--if I like the number, I give myself permission to slack a little, until I don't like the number and then I get mad enough to want to change it. (I'm talking a few pounds of fluctuation but still...the number has power). :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!! As much as we always say the number doesn't matter, deep down we really know it does. But good for you for making a change!!! =)
ReplyDeleteWow, 45 days?? Keep up the good work! I'm doing a 5k in May and totally haven't even started thinking about conditioning myself yet...true procrastinator fashion
ReplyDeleteAwesome job! I am all about numbers... number on the scale.... number on my pant size. The only number I don't pay attention to is my age
ReplyDeleteYes, it's important! Probably shouldn't be as important as it is, but nothing is more frustrating than trying to get in shape and not seeing the scale reflect it at all!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to weigh, but I do want to see a decrease in my weight. IF there was just so way to tell before we even got on it. Your hubs is sweet. I am excited for you to run that half marathon!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job!!!!!!!!! It's a good feeling when you can see the effects of your hard work.....sometimes it's in the number we see on the scale, sometimes in the way our clothes fit (or don't fit cause they're falling off), sometimes it's how healthy you feel about yourself, sometimes it's someone you know commenting that you've lost weight OR a perfect stranger saying you look good. Whatever it is for you, congrats on what brought you THIS feeling!!!!!!!! Stick with the hard work!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I bet that felt so good to see that number on the scale! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. The number means a lot to me, lol, as much as I wish it didn't.
ReplyDeleteBut how sweet of Scott to later send you that text. He's a keeper =)