NSV

"Health is not about the weight you lose, but about the life you gain." I don't remember who said it, but that quote has been stuck with me for a very long time! And I am a believer. Often times, during #myforeverjourney, I have been asked THAT question, "How much weight have you lost?" And I'll tell people because I'm proud of every gram and ounce and pound of my weight loss. But there's more to be proud of, and those things aren't reflected on the scale. For a few weeks, I have had members (I lead a WW meeting during the week) seem, shall I say, defeated, simply because the scale isn't moving in the direction they'd like it to move. TRUST ME! I know the struggle. It's real! It's rough! It down right SUCKS sometimes, but this is when you dig DEEP and stop obsessing over a stupid number and start celebrating those non scale victories, or as I call them...NSV's!!!!! 

I remember like it was yesterday, my first NSV! I am a one hand on the steering wheel driver. So imagine my delight, when I went to turn the wheel, and my hand didn't rub across my belly when I turned the wheel. I was like...HOLY CRAP!!! there's SPACE between my the steering wheel and my belly!!! I have never wanted to drive in circles forever, more so than that night!!! Just drive and drive and drive!!! 

I have been thinking about the NSV's I've encountered on #myforeverjourney and thought I'd jot down a list of them. Perhaps it will get you thinking of some of your own. I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE it, if you would share with me too!!! I get soooo motivated by other people. 

1. The steering wheel as mentioned above.

2. Every morning workout is a non scale victory! I choose to roll out of bed, where as 3 years ago, I'd INTEND to, and then...nah. 

3. I no longer sweat like a whore in church. Too bold? Well it's TRUE!!! AWFUL sweating. I'd wear a t shirt under my top shirt to hopefully absorb the sweat. I still sweat when I exercise. Profusely actually, but I WANT to be sweating at that point. It's when I'm sitting in church or out with my friends that sweating isn't fun. It's actually embarrassing. Now I don't have to worry about it. I haven't wore an extra absorbing t shirt in 2 years. 

4. Putting my shoes on. SO EASY!!! 

5. Smaller clothes, means more space on my shelves, means MORE CLOTHES!!! HAHAHA! 

6. My RESTING heart rate has gone from 100 down to 60.

7. My workout heart rate (after running at 6.5 mph) has gone from 183 to 145. 

8. My throbbing ankles or aching hip don't wake me in the middle of the night. 

9. I can fit in ANY ride at Lagoon. I cannot tell you how mortifying it was, the day I went to ride on "The Rocket" with my son, and the ride operator told me I had to get off the ride because the latch wasn't fastening securely. OIY! All those people, watching me. Give me a brown bag please.

10. Simply....HAPPY! 

So whether it's finding your collar bone, or wrapping a "normal" sized bath towel around your body, EMBRACE those NSV's! I'm not saying to ditch the scale completely but don't become overly obsessed with it. The scale only tracks a little bitty portion of your progress. Take notice of those NSV's. And celebrate, because we all know you've got more energy NOW, to do so!!! 

What's YOUR [super] power?

I heard the VERY best advice I had heard in a very long time as I sat in my Weight Watcher meeting last night. Not the meeting I lead, but the meeting I am so blessed to attend. And maybe it wasn't meant as advice, maybe it was just someones comment, but oh my gosh- darn- golly- gee it spoke to me and I have not been able to get it out of my head. 

It was explained like this. 

If you're in the store and you see a temptation, and you say NO to the temptation, you only need to say no to it once. BUT... if you're in the store, you come across a temptation, you give IN to the temptation, bringing said temptation home with you, now you need to say no to it SEVERAL l times because it will be in your sight continuing to tempt you until it's gone.

WHOA! 

Now...do you ALWAYS need to say, "No?" No! See what I did there? I just said, "No." Anywho....

Don't become a hermit. Don't be the "No" girl so you no longer socialize because being social is just as important to a good healthy life style as those good food choices and activity!  

Many times, I get the comment from people, "You have amazing willpower." I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't call it "willpower." 

I call it "WON'T POWER!"

Let me explain.

For 39 and a half years, I had willpower! I WILL eat this. I WILL eat that. I WILL drink this. I WILL drink that. Do you know where willpower got me? It got me to 238 pounds of unhappy. And I look at my before pictures and I don't see the overweight, plus-sized, clothed girl. I see the sad eyes of that girl. Enter, mind shift! Enter "Won't Power." 

I KNOW what giving up feels like. I want to see what it feels like if I don't! 

Many people believe that they could improve their lives if only they had more willpower. With more self control, they could eat right, exercise regularly, stop procrastinating among many other goals. My mind says in order to do that, I need to say "WON'T" vs. will. 

I WON'T eat that (today.) 

This does not mean my won't power is engaged EVERY SINGLE DAY, but it gets me through a LOT of social situations. Situations where in the past, I'd feel like I'd need to be eating because everyone else was. Society makes social situations revolve around food more times than not. Many times, a party is planned around a menu and not around the activity itself.

Another birthday at work? That means another cake. If you cannot resist the temptation of that cake, it’s time to train your brain to think a little differently. Instead of telling yourself that you'll "be good," and avoid the cake today, (or in other words willing your willpower) tell yourself you WON'T have the cake (today.) And be honest about why you WON'T have the cake. Is it because you had cake yesterday, or because you prefer homemade chocolate cake rather than supermarket bakery cake? Remember your reasons. Say it as a statement, “I had cake earlier this week,” “I prefer my Mom's homemade crazy chocolate cake.”  Now imagine saying, “I will see how many slices of cake I can get in per week,” “I will eat this cake even though I dislike the texture of it."  Not only would that sound silly, but it will also help you realize what you really want.

A lot of people accept food because they don’t want to be offensive or hurt people’s feelings. But what about your feelings? You need to take care of yourself and be loyal to your goals and eating habits, not anyone else’s. 

Some people think mantras are silly, but I love my Won't power mantra!  Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean I have to eat it and just because it's on sale doesn't mean I have to buy it.

If you are the type of person who can eat one bite of cake and walk away, by all means enjoy it. But if you are the type that goes back for a second piece of cake, or just the frosting of a second piece of cake, like me, then I would find that mysterious power that will help YOU! And if that power is "willpower" or "won't, power," it's YOUR power!