It's not all about the scale!

I constantly get questions from my challengers about WHY the number on the scale either doesn't go down or why it even goes up. Seeing that number stand still or go up is extremely discouraging to someone that is working very hard to have a healthier lifestyle.

When you are dealing with weight loss, then you can't avoid the scale. It's a great way to measure progress especially if you have a lot of weight to lose. However, you can't use the scale as your only measurement. You won't get the whole story and will more than likely end up discouraged and feeling defeated. Losing fat doesn't always mean that you lose pounds. 

What many people do not realize is your weight can vary from day to day based on your water intake, salt intake, food intake for the day....I mean everything can change it not only each day but even each hour. You can literally drive yourself crazy if you are constantly watching the scale! 

What I want you to realize is that the scale doesn't know the difference between muscle and fat. The scale could say you've gained 3 pounds but was it 3 pounds of muscle instead of fat? Losing fat but gaining muscle means that you are tightening your body and it's going to get smaller. This means dropping clothing sizes! So let's think about this for a minute. Let's say your scale is only gone down 5 pounds which in your mind isn't much. What if you actually lost 10 pounds of fat but gained 5 pounds of muscle? That sounds a whole lot better right? That's why I always suggest other ways to track your progress. The scale won't tell you that you lost those 10 pounds of fat, you will just see it go down 5 pounds.

So you may be wondering how you can track your progress without only relying on the scale. Here are the ways that I track my progress and I believe they will help you as well.

1. MEASURE! Use a tape measure (comes with most Beachbody programs or you can purchase one in places like Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart in the fabrics section. When you measure you will want to do it first thing in the morning, before eating but after using the restroom. Measure your chest, waist, hips, each thigh, and each arm. Some people choose to measure their wrists and neck but that is totally up to you. Once you measure then grab a journal or utilize an app like TrackMyBody to record your measurements. I have my challengers do their measurements weekly but you should at least do it monthly.

2. PICTURES! So many people complain to me about taking pictures when they are first starting their journey. They never want "proof" of their starting point. I can understand that but if you don't take your before photos then you really won't get the full effect of your changes! I can't tell you how many times my challengers thank me for pushing them to take the photos because it's really eye opening when you do a side by side comparison. You always want to do front, each side and a back photo. Make sure you are in front of a plain colored wall or door and the lighting is good.

3. The fit of your clothes! Lets be honest, many people start their weight loss journey because they don't like the way their clothes are fitting or they are forced to go up in the size of their clothes. A lot of times I also ask my challengers to dig through their closet or even go buy something new and find that GOAL OUTFIT. Instead of having them focus on the scale, this allows them to focus on their goal outfit fitting them! We all know that amazing feeling when those "skinny jeans" begin to fit again and not only fit but look GOOD on you! It's a great way to measure your progress.

Utilizing those alternate ways to measure your progress will help keep your anxiety, anger and demoralization down. That's normally what happens when we weigh ourselves, right? If you just can't resist weighing yourself then try to limit it to once a week. If you are one of those people who gets angry or has anxiety over what the scale says then maybe try to limit your weigh ins to once a month and use one of the alternate methods like measuring each week.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions and if you are looking to start your weight loss journey then I can help you with that as well. XoXo

Stitch Fix - Box #1

I GAVE IN! I decided to try out Stitch Fix and I have to say, it's pretty amazing! You sign up, fill out the pretty detailed survey on your likes and dislikes, your sizes and all that fun stuff. You schedule when you want your box to arrive (can make it a reoccurring monthly thing or you can choose one time) then you can also leave a note to your stylist. 

I chose to do this because I have two toddlers and even when their daddy is with us to shop, I never feel like I can leisurely shop to find items I like and buying online means I am risking it not fitting and then having to return it and so on. Stitch Fix is really risk free in my opinion. There is an initial $20 styling fee that is charged when you schedule your box. That's the only charge until you receive your box, are allowed 3 business days to try the items on and decide what you would like to keep and what you will be returning in the postage paid envelope that is provided to you.

It's very exciting when you box arrives. I mean who doesn't enjoy when someone looks through your Pinterest board (you provide a link to them when you do your initial survey) and provides you items that are already on your board or that are similar to the style. The above picture is my box when I opened it. 

You get 5 items in your box. That includes if you have an accessory, such as a scarf or a piece of jewelry. In my first box I received a pair of jeans, a very cute top, a cardigan, a scarf and a tie waist dress. My stylist (Katie) gave me items that could be put together to make an outfit which was pretty awesome. I have plans to wear it when we are out this weekend. So let's get into what I received. 

The scarf I received is the Octavia Jalisa Floral Embroidered Infinity Scarf. It's not anything that I would have picked up on my own but I am SUPER excited that my stylist sent this to me. No picture does it justice. It's such a beautiful piece and very versatile. I decided to keep this item of course!

Henry & Belle Billy Skinny Jeans are AMAZING! They fit great, are stretchy and make your butt look awesome LOL. They are not cheap by any means but I have always been a girl that prefers to pay for good quality jeans that last as oppose to spending money on cheaper jeans that have to be replaced every year. Another item I kept!

The Fun2Fun Justice Lace Detail Blouse is very pretty. It has lace section across the shoulder area. I loved it from the minute I saw it. The downfall was when I put it on. The length was great and the sizing was perfect but the cut of it is pretty weird so it was pulling in the shoulder and breast area. I had to send it back because there was no way I could wear it with 2 little girls to take care of. 

Laila Jayde Swansea Drape Cardigan is such a great piece. I received it in a cream color that means I can pair it with pretty much anything. It's not heavy so it will work nicely in Spring or even during Summer while out to dinner. the length of it is pretty good especially since I have a long torso and often can't find long enough cardigans. I definitely kept this item. 

My last item was the Market & Spruce O'hara Animal Print Faux-Wrap Tie Waist Dress. This was another item that I definitely wouldn't have picked out for myself but loved it when I saw it. It's a light-weight material that would look great with riding boots or even some thong sandals depending on the day. I planned on keeping it until I put it on. It was NOT flattering to my physic at all. In my opinion it made me look a bit frumpy. I did not keep it. 

Once you decide what you are keeping and what you aren't then you sign back into your Stitch Fix account and complete the checkout process. When you checkout you can leave notes on why you like the item or why you don't like the item. It asks you about sizing, cut, and so forth. 

As for the prices, you give the price range in your initial survey and my items pretty much stuck within those limits. If you keep one item from the box then your $20 styling fee is credited towards the purchase. If you keep all 5 items then you receive a 25% discount. Your box will contain an invoice with all that information on it. I haven't had to deal with sizing issues but from what I have learned, you can simply email customer service and they can work with you on exchanging. 

Overall I believe Stitch Fix is absolutely worth it! I have already scheduled my next one to arrive next month. I don't believe I will get one every month but they have this AMAZING handbag that I hope they send me! I left a note to my stylist asking for it so here's to it being in my next box (hopefully) LOL. If you are interested in trying it out then head over to Stitch Fix and enjoy it! I thought it was pretty fun and a whole lot less stressful than heading to the mall with two kids in tow!