The scale ain't nothing but a number

The other week I received a rather "amusing" email, which I have been debating to blog about. Apparently the author of the email knows me better than I know myself because they made it a point to tell me everything I'm not doing and everything I should be doing. And I quote:

"I found your blog today and I'm so sick of reading weight lost blogs that only talk about what the scale says. Why do you people obsess over it? Yah its good you lost weight but losing weight isn't only about what the scale says and there is no perfect size anyone has to be so stop wishing you would weight a certain number or fit into a certain size. It's about getting healthy and living a longer life. I noticed you're a calorie counter too. Don't even get me started on that! Instead of eating your normal 800 calories a day of junk food why don't you start eating healthy food like lettuce. Stop complaining about what the scale says!!!"

First of all, how the hell does this person think they know anything about me? Second, it's my blog and I'll complain if I want to! Yes I have a blog - a weight-loss blog - so obviously it's going to be about weight-loss. Losing weight is only part of my life; it isn't my life. I didn't waste my time writing back to this person (who I don't know) but this email struck a nerve with me. So for any other "haters" out there here is what I have to say - save your time and read this before you waste my time writing to me:

"Why do you people obsess over [what the scale says]?"
Who said anything about obsessing? I understand that many people who try to lose weight do get caught up with the numbers on the scale at first but I assure you that's not me today. I used to be that person when I started out a year ago. The number on the scale is just one way I measure my progress. You don't like it, then don't read my posts about my weigh-in's. It's that simple.

"Losing weight isn't only about what the scale says and there is no perfect size anyone has to be..."
AMEN, brother! I totally agree and couldn't emphasize this more! For me personally, the number on the scale matters because even if I was down to 20% body fat with a ton of lean muscle mass, I should still only weigh around 115 lbs. because I'm so short: 5'0" tall! My body fat % is way more important to me than any number the scale could give me but weighing myself and taking monthly measurements are the things that work for me. Because measuring body fat is a two-person job (how the hell do I measure my back and arm by myself), my PT measures my body fat monthly.

And to put it into more perspective, someone with my height and build should easily be a size 2 or smaller... what can I say... I'm suppose to be petite. So setting my goal at a size 4/6 or my weight at 125 lbs. is still way above what I should be and still totally realistic. I'm not wishing to be a certain unattainable size or weight, just healthy. Which leads me to my next point...

"It's about getting healthy and living a longer life."
Pardon my French, but no shit! I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm not losing weight to look good in a bikini, I'm losing the weight to get healthy! **Looking good in a bikini is just a side-effect!** I do both cardio and weights. Cardio is made up of runs, HIIT sessions, elliptical sessions, and the step-mill. Weights vary depending on what I feel like working but it will always consists of a full body workout. And I'm not talking 'lil pink "girlie" dumbbells either. I'm talking muscle failure at 8 - 10 reps, 15 lbs. curls, 70+ lbs. squats, 20 lbs. rows, plyometrics, weighted ab workouts, and perfect form REGULAR push-ups! None of this "on the knee" crap. Of course I started out using the 'girlie' dumbbells and doing push-ups on my knees - nothing wrong with that! - but it pisses me off when people think that's how I work out now. I'm just saying...

"... you're a calorie counter too. Don't even get me started on that!"
WTF is that even suppose to mean? The best of the best count calories and I have come to believe that tracking what you eat is just as important as exercising. Nutrition counts for 80% of the work if I want the results I want! I don't just want to lose weight, I want to be lean and toned out!

"Instead of eating your normal 800 calories a day of junk food why don't you start eating healthy food like lettuce."
SERIOUSLY?! What makes this person even think I eat junk food?!?!?! Besides my occasional ice cream indulgence, I think I eat pretty fricken good. Here is a typical week's worth of food:

Now I realize I didn't have to justify myself to the author of the email, or to anyone, but it was something I wanted to put out there for anyone else who was wondering about my intentions to lose weight.

I have spent countless hours reading up on fitness and nutrition not because I'm obsessed with it but because I'm interested in it and I literally have a thirst to learn as much as I can. I've come a hell of a long way from my beginnings and I am no longer what your typical "dieter" is. I don't just cut out sugar from my diet or do low carb or no fat or the lemonade cleanse or whatever. Instead, I've learned what a well-balanced diet of lean proteins, essential fats, and complex carbs can do for your body. Watch the sugar, salt, oil, and saturated fat in your diet; up the fiber, protein, and water intake and you've got yourself a winning combination. Of course there are things I don't know yet and I don't consider myself an expert in any sense but I feel good with what I'm doing and where I'm at right now. This isn't just a life-style change but a learning experience.

And even though I only have 'Weigh-in Wednesdays' and not 'Body Fat Tuesdays' or 'Waist-measurment Fridays', I am all about the health and fitness, not just about the weight. So before you get on your soap-box and judge me take the time to get to know me first. OR to make it easier on everyone, just stop being STUPID!**

**Ranting for the week is over! It's Friday... YAY!!!