<strong>Non-scale Victories</strong>
The scale isn’t the only measure of success. Sometimes, the most satisfying accomplishments come not from the pounds lost, but the successes off the scale.
Our members share their non-scale victories (NSVs) and how success beyond the scale keeps them dedicated to their journey.
Watching those numbers go down when you step onto the scales can give you a huge sense of accomplishment – but weight loss isn’t just about where the needle lands from week to week. Remember to celebrate your non-scale victories, too, as this will boost your motivation and self-esteem. So, feel free to have a little celebration whenever the following things happen (or make an achievement list that’s personal to you):
you stay on track for a whole week
your waistband feels looser
you’ve tried a new Weight Watchers recipe
you’ve tried a new activity or sport
you wake up with more energy
you can get back into your favourite jeans
you notice your fitness has improved
you feel more confident about meeting new people
you’ve faced a fear, like speaking in public
you can accept a compliment about your weight loss
Looking for ideas to celebrate your success? Treat yourself to lunch somewhere special, where you can make informed choices to stay on track, take a day trip with a friend, or go somewhere new, such as a museum or art gallery. The more you enjoy your non-scale success, the more you’ll want to continue your weight-loss journey.
We can get hung up on weight – whether it’s up or down – but [a NSV] is to be able to recognize something that’s exciting for you, whether it’s something you achieved for the first time, or haven’t [done] in 10 years or 20 years. Whether it’s crossing your legs, being able to wear a belt, fitting into your wedding ring, [it’s] something that isn’t necessarily tied to the number on the scale.
The other day, I posted about fitting into my prom dress. Being able to fit into that, when my head space back then was “I’m huge”, and obviously I was not, but being able to put that back on after 10 years is thrilling.
I think it’s also the confidence, like it’s finally starting to sink in that I’m feeling good about things and I think that’s because I focussed on so many of the little NSVs. Being able to have a salad and make a healthy choice at lunch, when typically you’d want to grab fast food. The confidence comes from all of the little changes I’ve made over the past two plus years is really cool.
I actually do this thing called #findyourhappy, so every day I challenge myself to find something small that makes me happy about the day; whether it’s somebody else’s happiness, or i something that I’ve done. Every day I actively try to post in my feed a #findyourhappy. Through that, I remind myself to focus on the little NSVs on those harder days.
