Michelle's Many Musings

When I started working out a year ago, I decided there was no way I was going to allow the scale to dictate my progress, or my mood for that matter. It has had too much power in my past attempts at weight loss and I wanted this to be about fitness not weight. I already knew I was extremely overweight and I even knew approximately how much I weighed; I certainly didn’t need to be hit in the head with a clue-by-four to realize I was in need of exercise! Trying to dash down a couple of blocks last year proved that to me without a doubt; I thought I was going to die of a heart attack! And without the relentless feedback of the scale, I have done amazing things for my health and my body and have been able to feel good about it. The wretched beast called “I’m giving up because there’s no point if the scale isn’t going down fast enough” just didn’t exist, and I’m all the better for it.

Now that even my new clothing no longer fits me properly (this has been an expensive endeavour, let me tell you!), I had become curious as to what my weight was. Fitness books talk about BMI and how many calories a day you need, etc. and I just didn’t have a clue what I weighed. So I finally succumbed to stepping on the scale to find out what it had to say. This time, I knew I was in control and what it had to say wasn’t as important to me any longer. So without fanfare, I sneaked a peek last Friday. The result: even with the gain in muscle (much heavier than fat, that), there is 35 pounds of me that will not be a part of me again; it has been forever set free from the confines of my body. Holy shit is what I have to say about that! And I’ve gained a decent amount of muscle, so a whole lot more than 35 pounds of fat has disappeared.

So what have I learned this past year? Aside from escaping from 35 pounds of excess weight, I’ve learned to enjoy exercising and have embraced a healthier lifestyle. I’ve learned it’s true about what “they” say about exercise and nasty periods; it helps considerably to move my body when I’m feeling crampy and unwell. I’ve learned I’m capable and that it isn't too late to get fit. Believe it or not, I’ve even learned that running is quite enjoyable. I’ve learned that having muscle I can see and feel is absolutely delightful. And most of all, I’ve learned to honour my body.

Chris, on the other hand, is still wondering what the hell happened to his wife!