It's Just a Number

I giggled when I opened my Dove chocolate bite this afternoon, because this is what it said, "Chocolate won't let you down." And I immediately thought, "Yeah, it won't make the number on the scale go down either."

Which brings me to the point of my post tonight.

This little devil...
...has wreaked a lot of havoc in the lives of many women.

How many of you weigh yourselves daily? Without fail? No matter what? I sure don't. Especially when I've eaten a lot. Did you know that I put off a physical that I had to take for my job so that I could work out really hard so that the number on the scale would be lower? Lame. I know. I'm ridiculous.

How many of you even own a scale?

How many of you don't even know how much you weigh and could care less? Good for you! I wish that were me. Hey. I'm workin' on it.

The other night, I had a breakdown. A rather ridiculous breakdown. A breakdown that I'm ashamed of, but am willing to share, because I bet I have several readers who have been there with me. (We've all been there.) I weighed myself. It was a triple digit that I really didn't want to see. I've been at a triple digit weight since like 3rd grade. But this particular triple digit was an ugly one. A number that I have feared a little bit. A number that I didn't want to see unless I was preggo with triplets (which I am NOT). But at the same time, I got really ticked at myself for even caring about that!

You know how I feel? I feel great! I feel wonderful! I feel fit and healthy. And that, my friend, is what matters. I work out 5-6 days a week. I do cardio and weight training. I do pilates and plyometrics. I try really hard to eat well. I drink lots of water. I do what I'm supposed to do to remain healthy. So why in the world do I let that moronic number get me down?!

Friends, why do we stress and fret over that silly number on that ugly and hateful scale? Regardless of the number, how do you feel? Do you like what you see? Do you like how you look in those jeans? Do you enjoy your workout regimen? Do you eat well? Do you do your best to take care of the body God gave you? Then quit looking at that stupid number on that stupid scale!!!!!

Now, before you go get yourself a large bucket of KFC and throw your scale out the window, let me say this: It is okay to weigh yourself. It is okay to keep yourself in check about your weight. It is okay to want to lose a few L.B.'s if necessary, and to keep track of it. It is okay to get on that scale every now and then for knowledge sake.

However...

Do NOT let that number defeat you.

Do NOT let that number own you.

Do NOT let that number define you.

Do NOT let that number overpower you or belittle you.

Friends, I am only telling you this, because I need to hear/read it myself. I'm preaching to the choir. I'm the choir and the preacher in this case. Can I get an "Amen?"

Now, let me leave you with some scripture. That's much more powerful than my tangents.

• "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; for my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14
• "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7
• "You are altogether beautiful my love; there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7
• "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27

God bless you guys. You're beautiful and I love you.