The scale, the mirror, and the tape measure

When starting a new diet plan, we are usually encouraged to keep a food journal and take our measurements. Keep the food journal so we can refer to it and detect patterns that may be sabotaging our efforts, and to also see what IS working. Track our measurements because the scale doesn't always show the weight loss even if our bodies are changing.

For YEARS I ignored this advice....or at least I would start and then, because of pure laziness and all-or-nothing thinking, I would give up. Then I'd get fired up again, buy a new food journal, take some measurements, and then by the end of the week I'd have "cheated" on my eating plan (I don't like "going on a diet" because that implies that there is a starting and end point, and to be successful in the long run, we have to make a permanent lifestyle change), and I'd be discouraged again, and again, and again, ad nauseum.

This time is different! and I'm so glad I am following through with keeping track of these things! When I created this blog 10 days ago, I weighed 188 lbs (as shown in the bathing suit pictures). This morning the scale is only down one pound, BUT, my waist is an inch smaller, and my clothes are much looser! A one pound weight loss in 10 days may have discouraged me before, but seeing my body change is incentive to keep going! I will be posting updated pictures in the middle of March....that will be one month since I started this blog. That thought is both exciting and scary! Will I be able to see the difference? I sure hope so!