After reading a thread elsewhere about body types and fruit shapes and such, I decided to take my measurements. I've been on my plan for six weeks now, so I have no idea what my numbers were when I began.
The good news: My figure is officially an hourglass, which is just what I hope to be. Hooray for overlaps between aspiration and reality!
The not-so-good news: My "hourglass" still has too much sand in it. I don't like the fact that my numbers look (to me) more like the circumference of a mighty sequoia than of my own butt. (I'm 51-39-50.)
Those numbers totally shocked me. They felt almost unfair--how could they still be so large when I feel so much like a thin chick these days? My life has changed overwhelmingly for the better; I'm healthier, more energetic, and have a vastly improved self-image.
After seeing those numbers, though, I'm wondering if that self-image isn't improved a little TOO much. Am I kidding myself that the differences are obvious? Just because I no longer see "cankles" when I look at my legs, that doesn't mean the world no longer sees them; maybe I should stop wearing heels to run my errands. I'm Isadora Duncan trapped in a Dunkin' Donuts physique.
I shouldn't complain that I feel too good for the way I still look on the outside, but I suspect that this is the beginning of the train of thought that made me go back to eating crappy foods during most previous weight-loss attempts. I'd feel great because of the healthier lifestyle, then suddenly realize that while I'd been feeling great for a month or two, I wasn't really looking vastly different. Why wasn't it coming off faster? How could I do something drastic to cut back more and speed things up? If it's going to be this slow, I might as well just eat what I want!
It's not going to happen this time, though. This time, I'm focusing not on results, but on behavior. I DO feel good, so regardless of outcome, I should keep doing what I'm doing for myself. And I'm not going to let those numbers bother me. They aren't a reminder that yes, I really am still fat; they're just a high water mark from which my body is currently moving.
Those numbers don't own me any more than the ones on the scale do. I conquered its tyranny, I can do the same with the tape measure!
(Whew, it felt better writing all this out. If you read this far, you totally deserve pats on the back. )