In the bariatric world, there is what we call a non-scale victories. They are just what they sound like – progress that doesn’t register on a scale.
We tend to get wrapped around the axle about certain things – and the scale is one of them. Like that “soft” goal I’ve been chasing. I try not to focus on it, but it’s still there. This weekend, as the scale started to move, I started thinking about other progress. Last week, we were working on cleaning out storage units for work.
Lifting boxes, moving furniture, moving heavy items to other units – even dropping a filing cabinet on myself. I escaped bruised…the dolly caught most of it. But the bottom line, I had the stamina to keep going (and tried to drink water along the way).
I took my boys to the outlet mall today. We walked the whole outdoor mall – and I was never too tired. I had the stamina there too. I also bought clothes smaller than I’ve bought in a long time. That’s super exciting.
The weight loss surgery process is all about stats…before the surgery and after the surgery.
When I started my BMI was over 42. A requirement for surgery is BMI over 40, or over 35 with co-morbidities (I had high blood pressure and sleep apnea). A BMI of 42 is classified as morbid obesity. Losing 84 pounds dropped my BMI to 30.1 – under 30 is classified as overweight – no mention of obesity. A “normal” BMI is 19-26.
I was at 42% body fat. Now I’m at 27.5% body fat.
I’ve lost 43 inches over all – that’s 16.54% loss.
While I wish the weight was coming off faster, stats like these help me to see the progress I’ve made. It helps me remember that the reflection I see is NOT the same reflection I saw before surgery.
Thanks for joining me!
Chris
