The Signs Were (Are) There...

Apologies if this is a repeat of something I have written before but repetition is the way to learn, or so it seems. (The Management book has a page on this, which I am going to find...)

Ever since my scales had stopped working, I wasn't able to chart my weight (morning and night, if I remember). Then the lodger brought hers so I started weighing myself again but had no real idea how they compared with my LLC's scales. Then I went to class and got weighed and began to see a new correlation. Then I couldn't face the weight gain at a class weigh in so I didn't go to class. Anyway, the scales have been the one and only true gauge of my progress.

Until now.

Last week, a couple of things happened to make me realise that there are other ways of understanding what's happening with my/our weight. They are obvious but sometimes the obvious needs to be hammered home.

First, I wore my running outfit to the gym. And I could see definite/distinct differences. The lodger noticed too because I had sent her photos of me in the same outfit when I was in the last stages of Development. She had been saying she didn't know where I had put on the weight, as she couldn't see it (as I was always wearing my day clothes) but when she saw me in the Nike ensemble, she could see where the extra pounds had gone. You hide it so well, she said. The regained weight is, literally, all around my middle.

Second, I wore my black M&S Autograph trousers on Friday night; the ones that had always been a bit loose on the waist. Well, they were tight! (In the same way that my Autograph skirt had been tight last Saturday.)

So, had I worn or even just tried on either of these items more recently, purchased and worn when I was at some of my lowest weights, I would have been able to confirm what I already knew - that the weight was creeping back on. Not as much as some, I know, but enough; on some days it's as much as three quarters of a stone.

So, my message is, if you don't like using the scales, use clothes. At present, I am wearing the same clothes - jeans and T-shirts day-to-day - so it's hard to tell. Other clothes that I have kept are too big (such as pyjamas) because I haven't been able to replace everything in one hit.

So, do a deal with yourself, if you can, to find a way of measuring the pounds sneaking on either with a particular item of clothing or, if you are feeling daring, by measuring yourself. Of course, if you're vigilant the pounds won't be making a guest re-appearance (!) in your life but...just in case! Remember forewarned is forearmed! xxx

Comments

[Lesley]

I agree about the clothes - you KNOW you've gained weight because items are tight or you just don't "feel" like wearing them (because you know they'll be uncomfortable). BUT, I think you can hide from the fact of your weight gain if you just rely on clothes. I have been doing that for the last few weeks. I knew I was gaining but, until I owned up, went back to class and faced the music, did nothing about it. I've been blogging about how good my exercise is etc (which is true) but not facing the fact that I've been eating too much.

So, your advice that "knowledge is power" and I must get back to class was spot on and has helped me a lot. Use clothes as a nag ,for me at least, recognise that it won't do the whole job.

Good luck chuck - I think you're sticking to it better than me but we both need to be a whole lot more ADULT about this thing that we're doing!!

Lesley x