Aside from numerical weight and inches lost, other neat things happened this month. Some people call these non-scale victories.
Only one of these things is a repeat victory from previous weight-loss attempts. I was able to wear smaller clothes when I lost weight without exercising — when I became thinner but not fitter. Everything else is a first-time for me.
Here is a sampling:
- I have significantly more energy for chores and daily tasks. You should see me motor through the laundry now. Seriously. I don’t fatigue at all! I fold like the wind, Grandmother. When I pick up my bins to cart them from the laundromat, I expect to grunt or wince but I don’t! It’s a little eerie — like I’m becoming bionic. Or a Stepford Wife!
- I went from an average 20-minute mile to 17-minute mile. Look, I know this isn’t going to break any land-speed records, but still. Major progress.
- I went from doing 4 sit-ups with difficulty to doing 12 sit-ups with ease. I think I could probably do closer to 30 now, but that’s not the Good Doctor’s program, so I don’t. Someday, if I get serious about something as vain as 6-pack abs, we’ll talk. For now, it’s enough to know that I’m making progress and strengthening my core.
- I went from doing 2 squats with severe pain to doing 12 squats with some grunting. My poor arthritic knees are like snap crackle pop, man.
- I grew out of my basic set of handweights. Holding two weights at a time is awkward, but it’ll have to do until I can afford a new set of adjustable dumbells.
- The dogs annoy me a lot less now that they’re getting 1-2 short walks every day. I do a 10-minute warm-up walk outside before I exercise. The fringe benefit is that it tires them out so they’ll leave me alone while I exercise (they have very short legs so 10 minutes is all it takes). The only downside is that they sleep after their walk, and then by the time I’m ready to go to bed, they’re all revved up again and/or they wake me up in the middle of the night. Bad dogs!
- I am doing activities I always wanted to do. The obvious addition to my repertoire is hiking. You know, I always thought I would be a person who would enjoy hiking (since I’m a dirty hippie and a nature nut) but now it’s a proven fact. I like hiking.
- I feel my muscles working now, and it’s awesome. Sometimes I’ll be walking along and I’ll feel the muscles in my back doing their thing. I don’t know why my back muscles all of a sudden need to support my walk from the subway to my office, but I assume it has something to do with improved posture or more efficient movement. Whenever I notice my muscles at work, it’s unexpected and it feels so cool. Core strength is neat.
- I’m getting back into the clothes I wore when I lost all that weight before my surgery. HOWEVER, you have no idea the wardrobe schemes I am cooking up in my head already. Things I am looking forward to wearing: boots, wide belts, skirts, a wedding ring. Okay. Got a little carried away there.
- NEW. POSITIONS. Yup.