Measurements – Why are they important?

Everyone wants to be healthy and sometimes this is a hard thing to do. When I joined into a wonderful weight loss challenge group, I really stepped up my game. But I knew one thing – I always have a hard time losing weight! But I wanted to take this challenge and get the entire family back up and going now that Spring is here.

One thing that I discussed with my family was cutting back on juices and fruity drinks and increasing the water. Thankfully, none of us really argue when we are drinking more water! They love to drink cold water and even use the sugar free mix packs to make a different flavor. So we sat down as a family and discussed how each person in the family planned to become more active.

Well we have one child that plays baseball three days a week. He is pretty active and loves to stay outside. He increased his water intake and continued with his normal habits. The rest of us begin to walk around the baseball park while he practiced. I LOVE the local ballpark here because we can walk around and still see everything during his practice! Now I’m sure once games start I won’t get much walking done, other than pacing during the game!

Now before I decided to join this challenge, I took my starting measurements. I know from previous experience that if you have been inactive for a period of time, you might gain muscle and remain the same weight in the start. Well I started to work out with Zumba on Xbox 360 Kinect 2 hours a day. In addition to walking at baseball practice, chasing kids, and cleaning house, I was getting a really good work out each day. Most of the baseball practice in the first week I was pushing the twins in a double stroller and they each weigh 20 pounds – Plus the weight of the stroller. Well on Saturday, it was time for the weigh in. I was nervous because I had made sure to keep the scale as far away from me as possible! I stepped on. Waited. Heard the beep. Looked down. I was instantly frustrated. All of that hard work, and not a single pound lost! I was taken back and almost wanted to give up. But then I just decided – Well, at least you didn’t gain any! So I was celebrating my no gain week and then I redid my measurements. I had lost some fat! I changed it into muscle with all of the kick butt cardio and walking we did. I had used the resistance bands some but not nearly as much as I wanted to. So my legs got really tone in just one week!

Now that we have weighed in for the second week, I was excited! I had only managed to get Zumba in twice that week for a total of two hours! I was so busy and well as they say – Life gets in the way sometimes! On an average day there are sometimes 6 kids and 3 adults (including me) in our house! But we had continued walking with the twins at practice and I had gotten in a few times with the resistance bands. When Saturday came, I was expecting to see another no loss, no gain day. But as I repeated the previous Saturday, I had lost 4 pounds! I did not gain any muscle, but I did lose some pounds! I was so very excited!

Maybe you are starting out on your own weight loss journey, or maybe you have hit a plateau in your current weight loss journey! But here is the biggest thing to remember – Today is a new day!

Hide your scales – Only weigh yourself once a week! If it helps you, put it up so you aren’t tempted!

Increase your water – Be sure that you are drinking at least 4 glasses a day! I know that is not the amount that is recommended, but start somewhere and increase it! Try adding flavor with real lemons or lemon juice, sugar/fat free water flavor packs, or over some ice!

Get a notebook – Be sure that you have a place that you can keep track of everything. So that you do not feel overwhelmed, only write down the weight and measurements once a week! Pick a day and stick to it! Do not make excuses!

Take your measurements – Be sure to measure and write down the measurements! Make a decision if you want to measure once a week when you weigh, or once a month to see a change from month to month!

Get Risky – Have a trusted person take a picture of you. Get as comfortable as you want for these pictures. Be sure to take one from the front and one from the side. Be sure to have your arms out so that you can see when you gain muscle or tone the areas! These pictures can be just for you! Decide how often you want to update these pictures. Try to always take the picture in the same place, and if possible with the same clothes.

Have fun with these tips, and see how you can improve the fitness in your family!