I truly, honestly believed that I was going to have minimal results, if any, on the scale this week. And for once in my life, I really could care less because I had accomplished something far greater than just a number on a scale. A loss on the scale is nice, but if it didn’t happen, there would be no disappointments, no frustrations. I only felt pride and victory, amazement and satisfaction. Surprisingly, the scale decided to reward me with a huge, unexpected loss.
I’ve finally realized that I am more than just a number. Yes, I may be 193 pounds right now, I may want to eventually be at 131 pounds (exactly half!), but that’s all part of the process. It doesn’t define my growth, it doesn’t control my goals. My weight doesn’t set my limits. I set them. Be it 193 pounds or 131 pounds, I will run a marathon this year. Be it 193 pounds or 131 pounds, I will finish a triathlon in 2011 (Anthony, it’s on!). The number on the scale is insignificant because I now know that I am healthier, both mentally and physically, than when I started. I can feel it.
Will I keep working hard? Yes, because I have bigger goals to accomplish, bigger things to train for. Do I like losing weight? Absolutely, but my happiness is no longer dependent upon a scale. Will I feel guilty about not working out? Yes, but only because that would sabotage my efforts to run a sub-30 5K. If I’m going to feel bad about anything, it’s going to be from knowing that I did not try my best, that I did not give it my all. My sanity is no longer tied to that number on the scale. My mind and body are no longer slave to some stupid machine. The scale does not tell you a single thing about me. It is NOT who I am. I am more than just a number.
I am a runner. I am a marathoner and triathlete in training. I am a traveler, an adventurer, a thrill-seeker. I am a photographer, a pianist, a crappy guitarist, and a wannabe chef. I am a scuba diver, a swimmer, a potential surfer. I am a sticky grenade launcher in Halo 3 and Yoshi in Mario Kart. I am a daughter, a granddaughter, a friend. I pretend that I don’t like to cry even though sometimes I just want to bawl. I would rather laugh all day than be the wealthiest woman alive. I am a perfectionist, and if I do something, I give it my all. No half-assing allowed. This is me.
You are also more than just a number. Some of you are runners. Some of you are training to run. Some of you are marathoners, triathletes, Iron Men. Some are photographers, writers, chefs. Others of you are nurses, students, teachers. Some are mothers, fathers, boyfriends, girlfriends. Others of you are musicians, guitarists, drummers. Some are golfers, badminton and basketball players. Others of you like to sew and knit. Some of you are travelers, hikers, cyclists. Some of you cry while others of you laugh. The number does NOT define you.
You are better than that. You are MORE than that.
So who are you?
Turkey & Ham Swiss Melt – Lunch: turkey, ham, and turkey bacon with lettuce, grilled onions and mushrooms all topped with melted Swiss cheese on top of wheat bread.
Chicken Sandwich with Chicken Tenders – Dinner: breaded chicken breast baked to perfection with melted Swiss cheese, onions and lettuce on a bun.
Consumption: 1582 calories, 29.6g of fat. Total steps: 14,974
click for full view
Workout: Treadmill. Upper back. Biceps. Sauna.
click for full view
I can feel it. The 8:30 mile is waiting to happen. It’s going to happen soon. I am also getting stronger! I am inches away from doing a full push-up. Yes, a proper, no-knee, real push-up. I’m SO close.
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Female. 25 years old. Chinese. Cook. Foodie. UCLA grad. Traveler. Musician. Scuba diver. GWU Law. Runner.
I love everything about this post, I needed this post this morning. You’re amazing Jess, no matter the number, you are truly amazing!
So what am I? I’m a writer, a girlfriend, a best friend, a daughter, a big sister, a girl who can super hula hoop for six minutes straight, a girl who can dance for a solid hour without stopping, I’m a girl who a year ago thought this was impossible, a girl who now knows she can workout every day, she can make good choices every day, a girl that knows she is so much more today and every day than she was the day before.
I’ve always thought I was more than a number so maybe that’s one of the reasons I’ve never worked on dropping the weight much over the last 20 years.
I’m a golfer, poker player, runnner, biker, swimmer, badminton player, scroll sawer, brother, uncle, son, grandson and lastly crazy fool sometimes (thinking something big but not ready to anounce yet)
GREAT POST!!
I’m Craig. I’m a writer (or I wanna be!), a guy that loves to cook, a guy that loves to eat, and a guy that wants to run but isn’t good at it…i’m a music lover, a person obsessed with too many TV shows, and a devoted friend.
I’m also a big fan of Jess!!! and…GOOD LORD those chicken fingers look so good. OMG!!
.-= Craig´s last blog Weekend Warriors Take Two recap (and C25K Madness…) =-.
Jess, thank you!!! i needed this post this week.
I am marissa, I am a mom of 3, a work in progress, a wife, a woman that loves to cook. I am learning to love working out. I am happy! and I am strong
Your food always looks delicious. And you did great work this week and deserved the loss!! I loved your “I Am” paragraph…that was awesome. We should all be proud to just be ourselves like that.
You better believe it’s on! I just recruited a friend of mine to train with me for it. He’s been wanting to do a sprint triathlon too. We kind of came up with the idea together a while back….time to make it happen!
By the way…..
I am Anthony. I’m college graduate with a M.A. in History…I’m a historian. I am a husband, a dog lover & owner, a music lover, a former soccer player. I’m a pseudo PS3 gamer, a runner who will be much better at it when he drops his weight, a cardio enthusiast. I am a son, a big brother, cousin, and nephew….a grandson to a grandmother I love dearly. I’m a tech specialist, a guy who seeks to learn how to bike and swim well (and will soon enough). I’m a hockey, football, soccer, and basketball fan. I’m a Kentucky native without a southern accent. I’m a friend. I’m an educator.
You are so much more than a number!!
I’m a wife, and a daughter, and a singer, and a dog parent, and a friend, and a writer, and a runner, and a million other things that have NOTHING to do with what the scale says.
.-= Kara (@ Kara’s Marathon)´s last blog Pole dancing with Tina Fey =-.
“…but my happiness is no longer dependent upon a scale”
that was my favorite line from this entire post. Keep it up!
A challenge for you! Do that push-up. For every REAL push-up you do this week (ending on Sunday night — 6 days) I will do 5. If you are able to mange 10 this next week — that means I’ll do 50 push-ups; if you did 30, I’ll have 150 to do. Of course, they all would be dedicated to your hard work and awesome efforts!
.-= Seth@1010in2010´s last blog Good day. Great run. Awesome Motivation. =-.
I think it’s amazing how some of the people I know who are really successful with weight loss have this same mentality. They know that someday they’ll reach that number, but what really matters is everything else that they are and do.
I’m an anthropologist going for a second degree in bio chem. I’m a knitter, a writer, an avid-reader, and even though I’m no longer interested in it professionally, I’m a singer and actor. I’m also a dog lover and a nature lover–a soon to be hiker and runner. I’m a girlfriend and a daughter and a niece and friend and someday I’ll be a mother and wife. And no matter what, I know that people love me for who I am, not what I look like or what the scale says.
I’m a college student, a blogger, a friend, a son, a big brother (to a billion siblings), a crazy cat dude, a runner (!), a future marathoner, a future triathlete (I want in on that action!), an old school video game lover, a movie lover, a book lover, a skydiver, a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do (need to get back into that!), and so much more (which I’m just now starting to realize).
Jess! This is exactly what I needed to read today. You’re my inspiration!
I got my ass kicked in a step class today and have been jumping to some conclusions as a result. You’ve reminded me just in time that I need to remember the progress and not let one class (which I know I couldn’t have done what I DID do in that class AT ALL a year ago) affect how I feel about my success.
You go Jess! I can’t wait to follow your journey to your 5K, your marathon and your triathlon!
.-= Meegan´s last blog Week in Review =-.
You hit it right … you can’t get carried away with any numbers. Just like age, it doesn’t matter what the scale says. It’s how you feel. Thanks for dropping by my blog — I’ve added you to my Reader and my Blogroll so I can keep up with you. Looks like an awesome site!
.-= David H.´s last blog Become a Fan, win a book =-.
I am a woman, wife, sister, aunt, interpreter…
And newly added to that list: swimmer, runner, weight lifter, athlete, sweat pro, motivator, inspiration.
Thanks for this post Jess!
.-= Tara´s last blog 3.1 / Superman / emotional gunk… =-.
I luuurve this post so much.
I’m a wife.
I’m a mother.
I’m a professional designer and a part time blogger.
I’m an athlete in training.
I’m a total race addict.
I’m a numbers geek and a grammar freak.
I’m a teacher.
I’m a student.
I’m a wannabe party planner and an amateur cake decorator.
I’m a political junkie.
I’m a dreamer.
I’m passionate.
I’m strong.
I’m capable.
and I refuse to give up now.
A wonderful post Jess, and oh so true.
I am a husband, a father, a geek, an Alaskan, a (former?) fatass, a wannabe runner, an only child, a dog lover, a movie lover, a book lover, and as you said, SO much more than just a number on a scale – thanks for helping to remind us all of that!
.-= Brandon´s last blog Couch to 5K: Week 1 review =-.