Learning it's more than the scale

Ever since you've been born, you've been weighed. It's been a measurement of your "proper" growth. Every physical, your weight is the basis of everything. Clothes shopping, it's your figure and immediately, if something doesn't fit, it's your weight. It's you. Besides the fact that truly it's the clothes that have an issue and not you, society continues to press weight into our minds as the most important factor, especially for females. While I won't deny that weight is somewhat a measurement of health (it is to a point), it's not a measure of how we feel about ourselves or ourselves in general.

Learning that it's more than the number flashed on the scale has been a long journey for me. Since I was in middle school, I've struggled with weight, with "puppy fat." I was a chunky kid. I was bullied because of it, but I got over it. I got out of middle school and into high school and began learning more about myself. Needless to say, I still had issues. Around the end of sophomore year and into junior year of high school, I began losing the puppy fat. I dropped 10 pounds and I'll admit, I didn't change much besides for the lighter figure. At that point, I thought it was what was on the scale that was important.

Going into college, everything was an eye opener. I lost another 10 pounds and hit the lowest I had ever been since middle school. And yet, I still believed it was what was on the scale that made me feel so good. During sophomore year of college, I met some amazing people and one in particular who taught me I was more than just a number. I was me and I learned to love me.

Now, after gaining 10 of the pounds back during sophomore year and beginning my running, I've applied my learning that it's not just the scale, it's how I feel. Since I've started running (and it's just the beginning), I've lost no numbers on the scale, but a change is occurring. I've gained muscle. My parents are noticing that I'm slimming a bit as I watch what and how much I eat and get the needed exercise. So although the scale says nothing, I don't care because I know me.

Lesson learned? The scale doesn't mean shit. It's more of how I feel, how my clothes are fitting better and how the shine in my eyes are back. Time for some scale smashing.