A numbers game

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There should be a universal system for setting scales. If we can set clocks via satellite, why can’t we do the same with scales? It’s fairly traumatic to hop on the scale at the gym, the doctor, and home… never quite knowing on which end of chunky you’re going to be. At our first weigh in at Flex + Fit, the other girls and I were concerned that the scale had measured us about 2-3 pounds less than our home scales. The doctor’s scale always seems to put me on the heavy side. I even went so far as to avoid the doctor for two years, just to skip the generous scale. Funny how a little hunk of plastic dictates my life!

I’ve been weighing in at home once a week, every Sunday. Sometimes the scale tempts me and I hop on midweek just to see how I’m doing. We have a love-hate relationship. When the number decreases, I can’t stay off the scale. When the number increases, I avoid getting on as much as possible. This week was tenuous; I had been eating what I thought was my very best, combining the ideas of my trainer, a dietician I had seen and my own general knowledge about my body. I’d cut out ‘bad’ carbs (all things white and starchy), dairy and most of my favorite sweets. I haven’t even looked at a potato or a chocolate bar in seven whole days. I’d been well-behaved and deliberate at celebration after celebration, passing up all the yummy delights that were offered at end-of-the-school-year events. I had gorged myself at the last day of school celebration on carrots, celery and hummus while everyone else enjoyed cheese dip and chicken fingers. I even pawned off all of the wonderful homemade treats from students.

There was a lot riding on this weigh in.

I approached the scale cautiously, always superstitious that that mystery spot on the floor isn’t even or that my feet aren’t quite on correctly. I do not want to get my hopes up on a malfunctioning scale. This week, the scale and I were friends. The final result of my week of determination: five pounds! To be honest, I’m still not sure I believe it. I’m not so naive to think that this is not “first week luck” and water weight, but first week luck or not, sometimes you just need motivation to keep on working! It was a big relief to see that all my restraint had paid off! (Now I can discreetly admit that I partook in an adult-beverage or two to celebrate the end of the school year.)

Another milestone this week: people noticing that I’d been losing weight. I can’t think of any better motivator than someone at work saying “Have you been losing weight?” or “I saw you from behind the other day and thought you were looking trimmer!” Talk about something to drive you straight to the salad bar! “Why yes, thank you…I am a little lighter on my feet these days!” Ahh, sweet success!

As I find success in weight loss, I’ve also had more time to think of wedding planning. We have our venue and catering, our DJ, and a possible photographer, and now I’m setting my sights on the little details. There was a Groupon this week for a photo booth, something my fiancé and I decided would make a fun addition for our guests—and at a great price! I’m a pinning maniac, spending countless hours on Pinterest looking for ideas to inspire my ‘vintage southern’ wedding. I’ve also managed to put together a wedding website.

Wishing you as much success in love, planning and weight-loss this week! Here’s to week two!

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