Living the Lifestyle - Wednesday, 8/9/17

minimyzeme

Everyone says it, but just how do you do it? How do you take the guidelines of the WW program and turn them into a lifestyle you can live every day...from now on? That is what we are here to explore. Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Newbie? Join in! Veteran? Join in! Your thoughts may be just what someone else needs to hear.

Monday -- imastar2 (Derrick)
Tuesday -- bwmalone (Brett)
Wednesday -- minimyzeme (Kim)
Thursday -- misterhub (Greg)
Friday -- Jimb376mfp (Jim)


Today’s Topic: Your Non-scale victory (NSV)

While the scale is often the be-all / end-all measure of our success, I've always appreciated the NSVs more. I find it can be helpful to reflect on them in keeping my motivation headed the right direction.

What is THE MOST significant NSV for you to date? By that I mean the one NSV that was either realistically or symbolically (your choice) a major motivator for you to stay the course with this whole weight loss thing.

minimyzeme

It's actually hard for me to pick a single NSV in this context but I think it goes back to 2014, shortly after I joined WW.

I had "ruminated" about joining for a long time--at least a couple years. Not heavy rumination but at least rolling the idea around the back of my mind. But then, there was food and drink and my attachment to both and that always seemed to win out. They did until one day when I actually looked beyond my excuses and with a few keystrokes, found info about the local WW. I went to a meeting (felt awkward, but stayed), and joined a few days later.

A week or two after that I was helping with some aquatic invasive species (plant) removal and had to wear a pair of chest waders. I had only lost a few pounds at most. As I pulled the then very tight-fitting waders on in the group of a half-dozen people working on the project, I felt self-conscious about stuffing myself into the waders. However, I realized that even more than that, I felt really good about the fact that I was no longer thinking about weight loss. I was actually doing it! I hadn't lost much weight at that point but the mental attitude change about myself in a matter of a couple weeks was really surprising and encouraging.

Prior to that day / experience, I would have been mortified to be among people in what felt like sausage-casing waders. Nothing like showing off every roll of fat you've got in public! On that day though, even though I was doing exactly that, I knew in my mind I was on the right track--finally! It wasn't about beating myself up for how I got there. It was about looking ahead and knowing even though I had just started, I was actually implementing a plan to slowly but surely lose the weight. Honestly, it felt great, even though on that particular day, on the outside there was little to show for it.

There have been many other NSVs and they've all been encouraging to me but this is the one that stands out as my most significant. I find the changes on the inside are just as important as the changes on the outside. Maybe moreso...

gadgetgirlIL

Bicycling has always been an activity I've enjoyed even as an overweight kid. My bike always goes with us when we travel to Wisconsin for our annual vacation in mid May. The area where we stay has some pretty good hills thanks to the glaciers that once covered the state. When I was heavier, it was very difficult to get up many of these hills on my bike. At my current weight it is much easier (but not always easy depending on the grade).

I was recently reminded of this when I did a 65 mile bike ride last month in a very hilly section south of where we vacation. There were several hills that required use of my very lowest gear. The one hill was an 11% grade (I know that this is nothing for those who live in mountainous area, but I come from the flatlands!). It took everything I had to get up that hill, but I didn't have to get off and walk up it. When I got to the next rest stop I learned that other riders had walked up the hill. I certainly would have been in the walking category if I was carrying an extra 20-30 pounds.

Al_Howard

Got completely off the diabetes meds. A1c down to 5.3.

Rachel0778

Being able to run a mile without stopping, and then 3 miles, and finally a marathon.

When I was overweight, I dreamed of running like the people I saw around town. They made it look so easy and effortless. I assumed I just wasn't a runner and could never accomplish a 5K. Thankfully I proved myself wrong. I can now run 3 miles like it's nothing. Even though I haven't been running lately I still hopped on the dreadmill this weekend and cranked out 5.5 miles like it was nothing!

Jimb376mfp

Al_Howard wrote: »

Got completely off the diabetes meds. A1c down to 5.3.

This was mine too. When my Dr said "Your T2D is now controlled by diet and exercise, no more Rx!"

Many others like being able to shop for clothes in "normal" sizes,
NO MORE XXXL, XXL, XL!

podkey

Many. Like long time nurse and Dr swearìng they had wrong chart for annual physical. Closet diving and finding a new camel hair winter coat (unused for 20 years as too small when bought) that fits perfectly.

Jerdtrmndone

When the doc. cut all my meds. in half.

whathapnd

I have a few favorites, but this is one that I think about from time to time for a number of reasons:

My WW goal is 160. I was seven pounds away from goal for what seemed like FOREVER. Apparently that last seven pounds was a physical tipping point in terms of my appearance. Right as I hit goal, I was visiting my sister and had the joy of putting my then four-year-old nephew to bed. While I was drying him off from his bath, he looked at me and said, "You don't look like Aunt Emmie. You look like a different girl."

88olds

My first trip to Harry the tailor. I was never going back to the fat slob I used to be.

minimyzeme

Thanks all. I have relied on the NSVs far more than the scale to keep me going so I always enjoy reading what kinds of things have helped others.

imastar2

A bit late to the thread but I've been traveling this week and also most of last week as well. There have been many since 2010.

My first big NSV was moving 10 sizes in pants. Also being able to walk nearly as much as I wanted to without having to stop every few steps and rest. Hitting the century mark was also a biggie but haven't been able to hold onto it. I will get back to it and beyond. That's my goal anyway.

Another memorable NSV was a trip to the Dr and and his remarks about the loss and lowering my BP med and removing the diuretic. I am looking forward to making some new NSV's in the future.