i had a dance party on my scale today

i've never been a dieter. probably because i don't have the self control. i exercise so i can eat. and when it comes to eating, i believe in moderation. this plan has worked for me for most of my life. 

but in the summer of 2009, i suddenly gained 10 lbs. granted, 10 lbs. on my 5'7" frame isn't life shattering, but it was noticeable. especially as it poured over the waistline of my jeans. i didn't really care what others thought or noticed. it just bugged me. 

and i was baffled. i had no idea how on earth i gained those 10 pounds when nothing in my eating or exercise routine had changed. i really was eating the same - no more no less. i had just finished training for a half marathon and was looking forward to another. so really, my exercise hadn't changed one bit. 

on a semi-long run with a friend, i confessed my frustrations. "maybe it's stress?" she offered. 

stress?? what in the world could have been that stressful in my life during the summer of 2009?

oh, that's right. her:

the next few months were a whirlwind. i still kept up my regular exercise and relatively healthy eating, but my weight stayed stagnant. 

last fall i decided enough was enough. i didn't have control over a lot of things in my life, but i WOULD have control over my weight. 

i really haven't changed the way i eat. i'm aware of what goes in my mouth and i try to keep it healthy. as often as time will permit, i use fresh, organic produce, not a lot of salt {i'm not a sugar girl - it's salt for me}, minimal amounts of bad oils and not much from cans or boxes. i still love me some cheesecake every once in awhile, but again, all in moderation. i try to have healthy snacks on hand and easily accessible. 

what i decided to change was my exercise routine. rather than all cardio, i'd fit in some strength workouts as well as some more relaxing techniques like yoga. 

i did well throughout the fall and really kicked it into high gear after christmas. i've exercised at least once every single day except sundays {minus one day when we had some visitors and i couldn't fit it in}. and i feel good! overall, i've lost 7 lbs and am back in the right range. at this point, i don't really care about the last 3 lbs. i feel more toned and i'm getting my arms back! i love my arms. i don't ever want to lose them again. i increased my push-up ability from six {true pushups, not girly ones} to 22. and i know i'll keep improving. my flexibility has increased and i'm using heavier weights than when i first began.

but even more than that, i feel like it represents something bigger. seven pounds is not that big a deal. really, it isn't. but thinking back to that initial a-ha! conversation with my friend, i feel like taking control of my weight represents taking control of some of the excess stress. leah is less able than she was in 2009. i have to do much more for her and it takes a lot more of my time. buuuuuuuuuuut, we're figuring it out. it's not so unknown. it's not so overwhelming. and therefore, not so stressful. most days.

and so today, when the scale stopped BEFORE that big black line - the one that has been taunting me for months - i did a little dance. okay, i did a big dance. and then i started to sing along. i had a full blown party in the bathroom. and then leah joined me. and i just love when leah joins my dance parties.