by all you December boot-campers. I know for myself that this month I am stretched way too thin to join in or add one more thing of any kind. I am finishing my last grad school courseandmy job on

December 18.

I myself will be starting a boot camp of sorts in January. Better late than never, as they say, to fit into your fall clothes or do anything, really. At least the situation hasn’t gotten (much) worse.

SOURCE: http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2009/21092.html

November 27, 2009
Redefining Health
Throw Away Your Scale

Health is not a numerical concept and cannot be defined using statistics. Human beings, however, tend to want to quantify well-being into easily understandable figures. We feel compelled to ascribe numbers to every aspect of wellness, from the qualities of our food to our fitness levels to the physical space we occupy. As a consequence of social pressures, we turn our attention away from health and focus instead on the most contentious of these figures—weight—checking our scales to see how we measure up to our peers and role models. Yet each of us is equipped to gauge our relative healthfulness without any equipment whatsoever. When we have achieved a state of wellness, we feel buoyant and energetic. Some of us are naturally slim, while others will always be curvy. No matter what our weight, we can use the cues we receive from our physical and mental selves to judge how healthy we really are.

When you throw away your scale, you commit to a lifestyle that honors the innate wisdom that comes from within your body and within your mind. It is logical to examine how you feel while considering your health—a strong, fit, and well-nourished individual will seldom feel heavy, bloated, or fatigued. If you have concerns regarding your weight, remind yourself that at its proper weight, your body will feel buoyant and agile. Movement becomes a source of joy. Sitting, standing, walking, and bending are all easy to do because your joints and organs are functioning as they were meant to. When you are physically healthy, your mind will also typically occupy a place of well-being. Mental clarity and an ability to focus are two natural traits of whole-self health. Surprisingly, promoting this type of easy-to-discern wellness within yourself takes no special effort outside of satisfying your hunger with nourishing, wholesome foods and moving your body.

The numbers you see on the scale, while nominally informative, can prevent you from reaching your healthful eating goals by giving you a false indicator of health. You will know when you have achieved true health because every fiber of your being will send you signals of wellness. When you choose to listen to these signals instead of relying on the scale, your definition of well-being will be uniquely adapted to the needs of your body and of your mind.

no progress because I’m not prioritizing this goal. Would like to do so. Need exercise. That’s right. Get off your butt and run, girl!

LOL. Hormonal weight gain is part of it, I’m sure. Trying not to diet but I am thinking twice before taking that second helping. Harder for me when eating out, which I have been doing more since I’ve been seeing C than I was when I was single. Not impossible, just a matter of priorities. :) Even more than that, I want to start running more because of the marathon/ half marathon goal possibilities… and I suspect the pants will just zip right up if I can get that routine going! It’s tricky with the change in seasons… less time to run before it gets dark in the evenings, so I really need to be sure to fit it in on the weekends and in the mornings. A matter of planning and setting the alarm in the morning… and not using C being there as an excuse. :)

I have avoided goals here connected to weight. For one thing, I’ve had eating issues in the past. I avoid scales and go by feel, and I feel healthy. I’m definitely in the normal range, not overweight. I don’t need to lose weight, I need to learn to accept my body.

However, I don’t want to have to buy new fall clothes. Since the weather’s turned, I’m finding that a lot of my fall skirts and pants are pretty tight around the waist. So for the sake of my bank account, I’d just like to be able to do up all my fall bottoms again. :) Just a matter of dropped a few pounds, I think. I’ve usually been able to accomplish that pretty quickly by eating better and exercising more, though the last year or so it’s more challenging than it used to be. Just an age thing, I imagine.

Anyway, I’m not too bothered about this goal, but it could save me some money if I can keep wearing all my old outfits. At the very least, I need to make sure they don’t get any tighter!