The scale is the most common measure of success when it comes to weight loss, but it does not provide the only number that matters. In fact, there are many ways of measuring your hard work that are more beneficial and meaningful than your mass against gravity.
Blood work can reveal your cholesterol levels. Your blood pressure can be monitored for decreases. Measuring tapes can highlight your new, toned physique that may be denser (basically you may not be losing weight, but you are slimming down and looking awesome!). But the easiest, fastest, and most affective unit of measure can be your clothes. Looking amazing in the size small shirt can make you feel more positive about yourself than any other number out there.
For me, it was going from size 14 jeans to size 4. Yeah… that big of a difference. Below is a slideshow of my jean history. All of the jeans shown are LC Lauren Conrad. Wearing the same brand of jean can provide a consistent scale of measure. Some jeans run differently in their sizing, so it can be difficult to really see how far you have come.
I was clearing out my closet, a very therapeutic practice, to banish who I used to be. Throwing away the too big clothes is a declaration that I will never go back to that person. I will never need to fit into them again. The new me is here to stay. My advice for this week is simple, throw out the crutches you have hiding in your closet. Your pocketbook and your pride will hurt if you gain the weight back, and that can be very motivating to keep you in check. While you are going through your closet try on all the clothes. See for yourself how much work you have completed. Look how far YOU have gone.
The 4s may be a little snug, but that looming danger of muffin top is constant motivation. I cannot slip at all if I want jeans to wear. They hold me accountable, and it is paying off! Since taking these pictures –pre-vegas, so it has been a couple weeks– my 4 jeans are a little loose. I am planning on maintaining around this weight and size, so I don’t think I will be repurchasing my closet again. When they get tight, I know to work a little harder. If they get too loose, I will enjoy a pizza or two 🙂
Here are all the clothes from my dresser (I still need to go through the actual closet for shirts). I sold some of the newer items to Plato’s Closet and donated the rest to charity. Enjoy some spring cleaning of your own!
Xoxo,
Hayley
