I talked to a couple of boot camp participants when I stopped by the evening session tonight. Numbers seemed to be the theme of the night. One girl wondered, even though she felt that her body was changing shape, why wasn’t the scale moving? Some of her co-workers told her that it definitely looked like she was losing weight. But the scale was showing her otherwise. So what did I tell her?
Throw away the scale!
Now, this is easier said than done but really, scales do not tell you the whole truth. It is measuring EVERYTHING. That includes body fat, muscle, bone, water, blood, skin, organs, etc. Any of these can factor more to weight than at other times. Ever feel a little bloated during that time of the month?? Instead, I asked her how she felt. Does she have more energy? Do her clothes feel looser? Can she climb the stairs without getting breathless? Is she sleeping better at night? How about the numbers that aren’t explicitly clear? Namely, her cholesterol level, her triglyceride count, her resting heart beat. Those numbers are certainly more crucial to your health and wellness than the numbers on the scale.
Another boot camper commented to me that she was clearly the oldest one there and therefore, could not do nearly as much as the other younger participants. My reply to that?
Age is just a number!
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen extremely fit “older” people that could probably run circles around their younger counterparts. Being young does not guarantee fitness and optimum health. In fact, on a bike ride with me and my kids, it sure isn’t ME at the back of the pack begging for a break! =)
We can use age to inspire others, but not as an excuse for inactivity. Sure, you may need to adapt and choose exercises that fit your particular situation….but the most important thing is that you MOVE.
Let’s ignore the numbers. Whether you see them stay static on the bathroom scale or climb on the chronological timeline, please don’t use that as an excuse to quit your fitness program. Focus on your overall health. Persist, keep pushing, stay consistent, be strong. You’re worth it!
