The Coat...

When trying to lose weight you will find yourself reading articles, books or posts that will give you suggestions to help you succeed.  I know I do and I can almost guarantee that I am not alone.

When it comes to measuring your success everyone usually uses the almighty scale.  This thin box can make or break you.  It can make you feel like you are on top of the world or it can make you feel lower than dirt.  I once saw a cartoon with two kids standing near a scale.  One child said to the other, "don't stand on that, it can make you cry".  I laughed at the cartoon but I also thought to myself that is so true.  So are there other ways to measure?

When reading the articles, books and posts an individual trying to lose weight is encouraged to find other ways to measure weight loss.  You can use how your clothes are fitting, measure inches on your body or maybe it is just how you feel physically and mentally.

So you are probably wondering  why I am talking about this? Well here is goes.  Earlier this week I was walking on campus.  I was actually walking from the gym while it was snowing during the day.  I started to cross an intersection, slipped on the snow and down I went.  I know you are not surprised that I fell, being the klutz that I am.  So after I fell I jumped up as fast as I could but I was covered in snow, slush and dirt.  The winter coat I was wearing was now wet and dirty.  I brought the coat home, hung it up but knew I didn't have time to take it to the dry cleaners.  So then I had to ask myself what will I wear now?  It was too cold for my winter vests and the fleece jackets weren't going to do it either.  So I reached into the back of the closet and pulled out a long black winter coat that is probably 8+ years old.  The coat is still in great shape because I barely wear it.  The reason why I don't wear this coat is because for many years I wasn't able to button it closed.

So the moment of truth came on Wednesday morning.  I was ready to leave for work and I put the coat on.  I was in shocked, not only did it button close but it closed easily with extra room.  I didn't need the scale this week, I had a way to measure my hard work and I was a success.

However the measurements are not over.  I thought the black coat said it all but I was wrong.  On Friday I was curious so I stepped on the scale and it was down an additional half pound.  Not a huge loss but a loss just the same.

But wait there is more ... I feel like I am doing an infomercial ... if you call now you can get more for a low price.  After a few weeks of no work travel I was back on the road this morning.  I was taking a flight to Chicago, heading right into a blizzard, but that is a story for another day.  I got on the plane took my seat, got settled and then buckled my seat belt. Not only was I able to buckle my seat belt I was able to pull it tight.  That hasn't happened in a long time.  Over a year ago there was one flight that I had to actually ask for an extension and today I pulled the seat belt "tight across your lap".

Woo Hoo

Using other measurements helps to build you up!

GO Patriots!!