Tag Archives: self-perception

Day 253: Feelings, noting more than feelings

Day 253 - front

Day 253 – front

  • Weight: 138.0 lbs.
  • Workout C: 30 minutes, 23 seconds; next: Workout C, May 13
  • Total inches: 123.9
  • Protein: 113g (17g under target)
  • Calories: 2,379

Amanda asks:

Kudos! But how are you FEELING?

My answer:

I feel great!

I am stronger, I feel more confident about my body. I have learned a ton about nutrition, weights, exercise and more. And I look forward to continuing to shape up and reduce my body fat percentage.

I noticed more of a change when I walked and jogged on a regular basis a few years ago. It was a big investment of time, but I had better aerobic capacity and speed.

Lifting weights has improved my strength and shape over time. But it’s much easier to notice improvements in walking, something I do from the moment I get out of bed.

How often do I lift heavy objects? Almost never. I’m a desk jockey. The only thing I have to lift is my phone, my beverage and my butt.

So physically, this transformation has been more subtle from my perspective. But mentally, I do like the added confidence and better self-image.

And I know much more about how I can continue to transform and improve my body. Whatever limits I had imposed on myself are disappearing.

What a feeling.

Day 252 - side

Day 252 – side

Day 189: I can see clearly now

Day 189 - front

  • Weight: 137.8 lbs.
  • Workout C: 20 minutes, 25 seconds; next: Workout C, March 11
  • Total inches: 124.5
  • Protein: 131 g (1 g over target)
  • Calories: 2,302

Others could see it.

But for me, it took months. Six months.

It’s not like I couldn’t see myself. I saw the photos I took of myself daily. I see myself looking down, or in the mirror. Not a moment I’m awake that I don’t see some part of myself.

Yet, the transformations were so subtle, and my self-perception so ingrained, that I had trouble detecting any changes.

I would spend 15 minutes in photo software comparing Day 1 and the current day’s photo, putting them side by side, zooming in, overlaying them. I saw nothing.

I felt cheated.

But in looking at the Day 1 vs. Day 181 photos, I saw a better physique from the front and the side.  And in cropping and sizing more than 200 photos for the special 6-month video, I again picked up on what I had difficulty noticing for months.

I feel elated.

My body looks stronger, is stronger. The measurements are good across the board. My only challenge now is to reduce my body fat percentage to a healthy level.

I can continue without worry because this is part of my lifestyle. I wonder what I’ll look like in another 6 months …

Day 189 - side