In Defense of Measuring and Weight Training

Sometime in November 2006 when I started this journey, someone on the Weight Watchers boards told me to measure myself regularly. I had actually done that as far back as 2000, but very sporadically. Still I had the spreadsheet and continued to use it.

I've actually added to the measurements I take now (lower stomach and bust band), but I started with these, at 189 pounds:

• Hips: 42.5"
• Waist: 38"
• Bust: 44"
• Right/left arm: 13.5" (sometimes they are different)
  
• Thigh: 26.75"
• Calf: 15.8"
  
• Neck: 15"
• Wrist: 6.2"
  

It's amazing what kind of information these (more or less) monthly measurements give you. Back in April, I weighed 139.6 and measured myself (that was before all the summer associate nonsense this summer). What's interesting is that my measurements in April are still smaller than the measurements I took just this morning at 139. All by about 1/2 an inch. That is significant stuff. The only difference between my 139 of April and 139 of now is that I was doing a lot more weight training then. So here's an incentive to weight train

So today I weighed in at 139, and got the following measurements (the difference between the measurements I took today and my starting ones is in parentheses):

• Hips: 37.5" (5")
  
• Waist: 29" (9")
  
• Bust: 38.5" (5.5")
  
• Right/left arm: 11.5" (2")
• Thigh: 22.25" (4.5")
  
• Calf: 13.25" (2.5")
  
• Neck: 12.5" (2.5")
  
• Wrist: 5.6" (0.6")
  

I am so glad I heeded that suggestion to measure. I've now put it in my online calendar to remind me to do it on the 15th of every month. It is so awesome to see the difference (9 INCHES on my stomach!) in such hard numbers. Plus it's always interesting to see where I'm losing from the most, and how long it takes to lose from that part (in the past, it seems it takes 1 1/2 months of fully on program to lose 1" off my waist, not bad!).

So if you haven't measured yourself: do it! Write it down somewhere you can go back to and compare. Then start your weight training program, or kick it up a notch if you're doing it already. You'll be glad you did.

Measure thyself!

Just before going on a short (2.2 miles) run this morning, I measured myself. I usually do it every month, but I hadn't done it since May 15, before the summer program started.

I've gained 5 pounds since May but I've gained SO much more in inches! 1.5" on my waist, 2.5" on my lower waist, 1" on my hips, 1" on my thighs, 1" on my bust, 2" in my chest, 0.25" on my wrist and neck ... everything changes when you gain weight! No wonder I'm having a hard time fitting into my size 4s! I actually can't believe I'm still wearing some of them.

I think I will have to continue this measuring of myself every month even when I'm maintaining. I've put a recurring reminder in my calendar, the 15th of every month. Otherwise it's very unlikely to happen.

The plan today is to eat within my points, or barely over. I am going to dinner with my coordinating lawyer, her husband, my other coordinating lawyer, his wife, and DBF to a gourmet italian restaurant. I want to be good! This week we have two other dinners (not to mention lunch at L'Espalier) so it will be hard to stay within points but I am going to minimize the damage as much as possible by running every morning and making good choices.