Weight Ain't Nothin' But a Number

First off, thanks to those of your who posted comments yesterday. I really enjoy hearing what you all have to say and I love it when I get useful tips and info from friends (thanks for the great recipe site Ang!)

Let's talk numbers...

Lots of people have a hard time seeing their actual weight in numbers. I am not even talking about telling other people your weight, just seeing the number in private, all alone.

Why is that?

If we don't know our actual weight does it mean that we don't weigh that much?

Or how about going up a size?

If we don't buy the next size up does that mean we haven't gained any weight?

We really need to embrace these numbers. Not only do then let you know when you are slacking but that also allow you to see clearly when you have made progress!

Here are some of my numbers -

First, going back to yesterday, let's talk a bit about the Real Age Test, more specifically, MY Real Age Test :)

I decided to first take the test based on how I was living my life before I made my first lifestyle changes, about 2.5 years ago. My actual age in numbers at that time was about 24 years old. Based on my lifestyle back then my real age was 33.6!

My body was almost 10 years older than it should have been! No wonder I was moving slower!

I then took the test based on how I am living today. My real age is currently...

*drum roll*

24.1!

So, to confusingly put it, my body is over two years younger than my actual age and is 10 years younger than it was two years ago!

The cool thing about the Real Age Test is that after you take it they give you a list of things that are making your older and what you can do to change those things. I love the fact that when you click on that list it asks you, "Are you feeling overwhelmed?" It then gives you the option to see your list in a more condensed version so that you can relax a little.

They also do a great job of listing the things you are doing right so that you can give yourself a pat on the back!

I definitely still have lots of things I could change based on my list. The next thing I am going to work on is how in the world I can incorporate fish into my diet.

Another thing I did yesterday was calculate my BMI. At my heaviest, my BMI was 46.3 which is outrageously crazy and considered severely obese. Now, my BMI is 35.9. Not only have I taken 10 years off my Real Age, I have also taken 10 points off of my BMI. I am still considered obese but hell, I'm not done yet!

I am not ashamed of my numbers...

I am a 26 year old, 209 pound, size 14/16, 5'4" female with a BMI of 35.9 and a Real Age of 24.1!

And because I have always known my numbers, when someone's jaw drops at my weight or BMI I can just tell them they should have known me when I was a...

24 year old, 270 pound, size 22/24, 5'4" female with a BMI of 46.3 and a Real Age of 33.6!

So put that in your judgemental pipe and smoke it!

Lastly, and more important than all my thoughts above, congratulations to MY MAMA for losing weight for the second week in a row at her works Biggest Loser contest! She lost a half a pound this week (something like 9 last week!!)

Also, congratulations to my cousin Kristol for losing 2.2 pounds at her TOPS weigh in this week!

These numbers may seem small to some but .5 lbs a week equals 26 lbs a year and it seems like the slower you lose it the easier it is to keep it off :)

It really is much easier and much more fun to do something with a partner or group!

Challenge:

Embrace your numbers!

If you haven't already, take the Real Age Test

Calculate your BMI

What exactly is BMI? Check here