Measuring Up

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

Over a year ago, November 2009, I began a journey of health, wellness & self discovery.  I recall many accomplishments because every Sunday, after 6 intense workout days, I'd take a break & measure myself.


Hips. Waist. Left thigh, Right thigh. Left arm. Right arm.


It's easy to not see the changes at first because you see yourself in the mirror every day & if you are anything like how I was, you'd undress for a shower, glance at yourself in the mirror & scrunch up your face, maybe shaking your head in bitter acceptance that, yes, that IS your body.


Over time, however, I'd see changes on PAPER showing that I'd lost an half an inch or an inch here, maybe there. Then, my clothes began to fit loosely.


 I even recall going to the store, picking clothes in a smaller size but, having both kids with me, I opted for just buying them.  There was no way I was an 8 or a small!  It hadn't even crossed my mind.  When I got home & tried on the clothes, I made an astonishing discovery: the clothes I had bought in a smaller size were too big.  What the heck?


The next day, I return with my purchases & this time decide to try the clothes on because, to be honest, I just didn't believe I was smaller despite having put on the clothes & feeling it too big!!  It's amazing how you train your brain to NOT BELIEVE IN YOU that it actually holds you back from pursuing goals.  That is what was happening because despite working out, despite all the sweat & even tears I'd shed over trying to shed the fat, in my mind, I was limiting myself to "average", not "fit". 


My mind no longer believed I could be anything other than just okay & it had become so ingrained in my daily thinking that I didn't even CONSIDER a smaller size could fit me.  But, alas, there I was in the fitting room & as I prepared for the size 8 jeans to stop somewhere around the thighs, they slipped all the way up.  No struggle, no pulling...just slipped right on.  I actually wanted to cry.  I believe I did like an Ashley Simpson jig.


Yes, I have reached many mini-goals throughout my journey.  A mini-goal...the biggest of the mini-goals to be exact....I actually reached this past July.  See, every time I measured myself around the belly area, I'd check to see how far away I was from a certain number & over the months, I've gotten closer & closer.  Sometime early this year, I hit a plateau & it was just STUCK.  Stuck an inch away.  It just would not budge.  I felt defeated at times but only for a moment & then I'd just keep at it.  About 2 months ago, I stopped measuring myself every week.  I decided that not seeing the number move was depressing me & I didn't need it because I was planting good seeds, so to speak. 


I measured myself a month ago & the number finally moved.  I was excited, thinking FINALLY!  Geez.  But I decided to keep the measuring to a minimum.  I love working out, I love feeling great; there are other benefits to my healthy living than the number on a measuring tape.  Of course, while this is true, I am not one to give up on goals.


Last week I measured myself.  The measuring tape did not land on the number.  It surpassed it.


I was pleasantly surprised because, no, I didn't go in there thinking "this is the day!" but my way of thinking had changed over time because I believed it.  I wanted to do my jig again but I believed it because it was one of the reasons I had been busting my butt!


Just another mini-goal reached but I keep reaching, creating NEW goals because my harvest is one I want to reap for the rest of my life.  I will keep planting each day new seeds.  Will you?