Day 292 - Real Life Progress. Four major achievements in one day!

Today was an amazing day.  I did four new things today, three of which I haven’t done in YEARS!  I am just bursting with excitement and pride.

1.        I finally retired the pair of capris that I have been wearing in my before vs now pictures.  They are a 3x and really were getting kinda baggy.  I couldn’t get a size 2x to replace them, so I got a 1x.  They are a little snug, but not too bad.  I actually wore them to class tonight.  I am so excited to be in a 1x!

2.       This afternoon I did a kettlebell DVD.  Steve got me a 5 pound kettlebell for my birthday, and Jillian Michael’s Shred it With Weights DVD.  For the first time, I think I did pretty well.  There was one move I couldn’t do at all, and one I did pretty poorly.  But, I lasted the whole workout, and I am beyond proud of myself.  I do think I need to find a heavier kettlebell, though.

3.       I went to yoga tonight, and one of the first things we did was sit cross legged.  I normally keep my legs straight, angled out, because I can’t cross them.  Tonight, I was actually able to cross them and be comfortable.  It was amazing!  I’m sure the teacher thought I was crazy grinning from ear to ear while doing warm up stretches.

4.       The last thing happened at the end of yoga class.  We were doing chair pose, and she wanted us to do a low chair.  That means squatting all the way down.  I’ve tried it a few times since I started this journey, and every time my knees lock up and refuse to bend all the way.  Tonight, I was able to do it!  It was such a great feeling. 

I know all of these are little things, and most people can do them and not even think twice.  But for me, they are tangible signs of progress.  And, it also reminds me that the important progress is measured in life, not on the scale.  That is a lesson I really needed to be reminded of.