What is a non scale victory?

What is a non scale victory? Since joining the Conqueror Virtual Challenge eleven days ago, I’ve become very aware of the many benefits of regular exercise. The least important benefit that I have seen is the change in the number on the scales. Which brings me to the non scale victory!

So… What is a non scale victory?

A non scale victory is a victory that does not involve the use of a scale (funny that!). I see this all the time, people jumping on the scale every day and wondering why their weight is going up and down like a yo-yo.

What they don’t realise is that weight fluctuations are completely NORMAL, and they’re more prevalent in women because – you know – hormones! In addition to this, muscle is more dense than fat, so increases in muscle mass may show as a weight increase, even though the person is getting thinner.

So what I would consider a non scale victory is listed here:

• Decrease in body measurements (fat is being lost and muscle possibly being built)
• Less joint pain
• More positive state of mind
• New lease on life
• Increased vitality
• Reduced feelings of depression or anxiety
• More mobility
• Stronger connection with nature (if you are exercising outdoors in nature)

There are probably a gazillion more things I could add to this list, and all you need to do is just start, even if it’s small!

How to achieve a non scale victory

There are a number of ways to achieve a non scale victory, and the good news is you don’t have to do it the hard way! You only need to start small, and it’s not an all or nothing thing either. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Slow down at meal times. This isn’t about cutting out all of the foods you love. It’s simply about slowing down when you eat. Take notice of what you’re eating, enjoy the taste of the food as you chew.
• Take a walk every day if you can. For many, this can be a difficult thing to get motivated to do, which is why I recently joined The Conqueror Virtual Challenge. Sometimes I need some motivation, and this challenge absolutely did that! I’ll share more at the end of this post for those who are interested. But if you go for a walk, only do what you can do. You don’t have to walk/run a marathon ok??
• Ground your energy with the earth. As my favourite doctor says, “You need to connect to the earth”. The benefits from doing this include reduced inflammation and a feeling of peace. Take your shoes and socks off, put your feet on the ground, and feel the energy coming in!
• If you’re walking each day, add to it a tiny bit every couple of days. If you walked a certain distance before, add a minute or so extra. I wear a Garmin watch to track my distances, and it really helps to see how much I am improving each day.

As you can see, this is about connection and movement. If you’re like me and struggle to get motivated to do any exercise, there are so many ways to build that motivation, and of course what motivates some will not motivate others. Either way, it’s important to just START! Over time, you will notice that your clothes start to feel better. If you’re moving your body every day, your joints won’t be hurting so much, and you’ll feel more energised.

The Conqueror Virtual Challenge

I have personally experienced some amazing non scale victories since starting The Challenge as I call it! My joints don’t hurt so much, I feel happier and more energised, and I feel motivated to move my body daily when I really didn’t want to do that at all before!

Then yesterday, the day after I recorded the video below, I FINISHED my first challenge! It was 74.6km or 35 miles in 13 days! If I had not joined this challenge I would have walked 0km/0 miles. So that’s something, right???