14.5% (and other numbers ;-)

I am SUPER stoked! And I think this just helped push me through at least another 2 weeks.

I had my body fat tested today (using the standard calipers). I had a new trainer do it because I felt like the other guy wasn't really getting a correct read. They say you should stick with the same person throughout because everyone has their own way of using the calipers but I decided to buck that and do it my way. ;-)

Officially: 14.5 % Woo to the fucking HOO!

I also decided it was time to take some body measurements since the last time I did that was in early May. I started the "leaning out" journey on April 11th. Here are the measurements I've taken since then(in inches and lbs.).

                       4/16/2011                           5/12/2011                             7/26/2011
Weight:          150.2                                       144.6                                   141.6
Waist:             31.5                                           30                                        29
Hips:               37.5                                           35.5                                     35
Thigh:             22                                              21.13                                   20.5
Calf:               15.25                                          14                                        14
Upper Arm:    10.75                                          10.13                                   9.5
Body Fat %:     21%                                           16%                                   14.5%

The numbers don't lie.

It is still an everyday struggle for me, to keep my head in the game; to stay focused; to have faith. And most of all to believe in myself. When you are going through a body transformation, be it losing 10lbs or 100lbs or dropping body fat as I am, you don't always SEE what is happening right before your eyes. I went through this enigma before when I was in the process of losing 35+lbs.

The reflection that stares back at you looks no different to you then it did yesterday or 6 months ago. The changes are subtle and constant. It's like watching paint dry. Or a snail crawl. (Actually snails slide, but you get the point.) If you blink, you'll miss it.

I hear people I know say how "small" I am or how good I look. Or I get the comment that I am disappearing and I better not lose any more weight. But I don't see it. All I see are the things I need to improve.

Taking these measurements are an important part of the process for me because it allows me to have concrete evidence that my hard work is indeed paying off. So, with these new numbers I forge ahead another few weeks. This should give me the push I so desperately needed.