Is your reflection a friend? or a foe?

Last week I was on the elliptical for an hour and I kicked a$%.  I had a great workout and it felt great.  Prior to going to the gym I looked in the mirror and was horrified by the 13 extra pounds that I have acquired thanks to my 2 beautiful girls (they'll get theirs someday).  I can finally admit to myself that those 13 lbs have not manifested themselves in the form of huge boobs or bigger feet.  Unfortunately, the weight has evenly distributed itself around my middle, in that little wing that hangs down when you lift your arm to wave to someone, and in my bum. Any leftovers have rounded out my face.  Lovely.  But at least my horror motivated me to get to the gym.  I really, REALLY needed to work out.  So, I did.

After my workout, I came back upstairs (I was traveling for work, so I was at a hotel) and hopped right in the shower.  When I came out I was faced with one of the cruelest design decisions that every hotel interior designer seems to have made...the mirrored closet doors.  My first reaction was to look away but eventually I forced myself to take another look. And, you know what?  I actually looked better than I did before I went to the gym.  A little thinner.  A little more toned.  Those 13 pounds looked more like 10! 

I am a very smart girl.  So, I obviously knew that I didn't really shed any pounds on my hour-long cardio craze.  My abs were not any toner and my butt was not a little tighter.  I just felt better and therefore what I saw looked better to me.

What I see when I look in the mirror depends entirely on how well I have taken care of myself and how good I feel.  That in and of itself is motivation to make healthier choices.  Feeling good boosts my self-esteem which in turns makes me feel even better. 

For those of you with good memories, I realize that I haven't posted my weight yet.  I still haven't gotten a scale, but I will give you the weight from a dr's appointment this week...143.  It is going to take a lot of workouts for me to look in the mirror and see 115, huh?  UGH!!!

Until next time...