I took my new measurements today and there were ZERO changes from last month. Z-E-R-O!  Now, this could get me down but given that I’ve almost doubled my calories over the last 4 weeks I would say it’s a good thing that everything is not larger.  On an up note, my weight was down 1.2 pounds which was really what I was concerned with. unnecessarily as it turns out.  It’s a work in progress and the last couple of weeks I’ve had 2 days off back to back for one reason or other but not purposefully.  All this is proof of a couple of things:

1. Your body needs food.
2. If you fuel it, your body will work for you and will grow stronger and leaner as long as you commit to working hard with a plan for the long term.
3. The scale is a tool, not the boss.  Do not let the number on the display derail you or make you do stupid things.

So although there is some tiny part of me that is a little disappointed that I did not see big changes in dimensions, the progress pictures saved the day in that there was definitely positive movement in the right direction.  You can’t expect big changes all the time but you have to work as hard as if you will never see them because change is made one day at a time and only we can initiate it.   Be vigilant in the pursuit of your goals.

This whole weekend was a MEH in terms of effort in sticking to my macros.  Saturday was OK and probably hovered around where I should have been but yesterday was another story.  I started off ok but got to lunch and didn’t weigh my pasta like I should have, probably ate too much chicken and when we got home from dropping my son off back at school, I lost all control and care and filled my face with handfuls of nuts, 6 large T full of ice cream and then ate the dinner I’d planned also.  Now nuts are ok in moderation so I could live with that, the ice cream well I justified that by saying that a cheat day here an there is ok.  And it is, however, I feel disappointed in myself for letting go of will power so easily.  Doesn’t really happen much but I was feeling like I had no progress and was too old to make big changes and heading into a bloat week so basically I gave up.  I’m not a quitter so I took an early set of March progress photos and measurements before I hit my big bloat days.  I put them side by side and was less than thrilled at what I was looking at ……………UNTIL I looked at them NEXT TO the January starting pics.

Well, I’ll be darned.  Definite progress folks!  Clear signs that things are tucking in where I want them and proof  enough to get me back on track and super motivated to keep going.   I did the measuring thing and overall I’m down 1.75 inches!  Down everywhere except my thighs but I’ll get there with more effort on the leg adduction machine.  Instantly I felt better and quelled the impatient me by reminding her that progress at the level of effort I’m putting in will take time.  A reminder that cellulite is a tough opponent to beat and only a nimble mind and consistent effort can beat her.  The scale isn’t moving but that’s ok because the right visual things are happening.  It will take what I believe to be the better part of a year until I envision significant progress to my goal.  Now my 50th birthday is in 2.5 months and I’d really like to make more headway so I’m willing to step up a bit to fast track in the short term.

Here’s what I will do.  add another day cardio, step up Ab workouts and work on my macro intake (Sighs again) to tweak it even further.  Not only will I do these things but I’ll read a book online about it to be a more educated person.  That’s the deal on my table that I’m committing to between now and my birthday.  So stay tuned for April updates as I think they’re going to be good!