Slowed, but not Stopped

The week started off pretty cold again.  I got in a good upper body workout Monday, but did something to my shoulder.  I decided to take a couple of days off to rest my body.  I got back into the gym on Thursday, though I didn't do any strength training.  I stuck to the elliptical, some track work, and core.  Friday was Zumba class and core.  Saturday was elliptical, resistance training (legs only), more Zumba, and core.  I also managed to get my lunchtime walks in each weekday.  At the end of the week, I’d gained 4.2 lbs!  Now, I knew that I’d made a couple of questionable food choices (pastries/pop) during the week, but 4.2 lbs worth???

The scale is not your friend.  It doesn't tell you how much of the gain is muscle and how much is fat.  It can confuse the issue.  I think that it’s this type of confusion that causes people to give up.  It's also the main reason that I no longer set weight goals.  I set size goals instead, particularly waist size.

If I only relied on the scale, I’d have been really bummed.  Even knowing what I know, I have to admit that I was a bit annoyed.  I mean, a four pound gain while…

…my watch band was doing a hula dance around my wrist!
…I lost another notch in my belt (only 2 left)!
…I replaced some of my old workout pants that were getting so baggy, they were starting to look like MC Hammer’s old parachute pants!

To be honest, I’d like to see my weight numbers to be on a downward slide, but that doesn't appear to be the way the process works.

Next week, I plan on taking a couple more days off from the gym, then starting my regular routine up again.

Weight loss to date: 45.2 lbs.