This Post Is Off The Scale

Exactly one year ago, I published THIS POST about developing your strength through your struggles. 

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength."

I've been thinking a lot lately about that quote, and the fact that I posted it a year to the day is a bit freaky. In the mentioned post I talked about my frustration with the numbers I was seeing on the scale. To keep things real and honest, I am still in that same old rut I found myself in last March. Nothing I do seems to be helping me get closer to my goal weight. Yes I complain, and yes I know I need to be grateful and proud of what I've accomplished so far. But when your progress is determined by a number, it's hard to feel like you're succeeding when it hasn't changed in a year and a half. 

THAT my friend is the problem. 

I have been focusing entirely TOO HARD on those little digital numbers that flash up at me every week. 

Lent started Wednesday, and I've decided that instead of giving up chocolate or wine, I am going to find one Off the Scale Victory every week to go along with my weigh-in. These OSV's can be anything from "I didn't snack on the ingredients while cooking", "ran an extra 5 minutes on the treadmill", to "totally caught that guy checking me out!". Anything that boosts my spirits, makes me feel GOOD about myself, and deserves an inner high-five!

And being the designer that I am, I've created a little list to keep with me to record each of my Off the Scale Victories.

One is designed for the weeks of Lent, and the other is just to use whenever!

So if you also need to focus on those Off the Scale Victories like me, you can download these lists by following the links below! 

"My Off The Scale Victories" List

7 Week "My Off The Scale Victories" List

Everyone needs to celebrate a little more in their life. Whether it's the giant hurdles, or the smallest of leaps. Take the time to give yourself that inner high-five you deserve!

Pole-iversary!

Happy Pole-iversary to me! 

Two years ago, I found a Groupon to Bella Forza Fitness and took my first Pole Foundations class. From the moment I took my first spin, I was completely hooked! Since then I've been taking 2 to 3 classes a week, and also started taking as many fitness classes I could fit into my schedule. At first I started pole to get stronger, now I'm focused on getting stronger so I can do more pole! Never have I ever had this much strength, and I can't even explain how great of a feeling it is. Pole has completely changed my life :) 

Here are a couple videos from my Beginner Pole classes: 

These just make ma giggle now, I love how excited I was to spin by pushing myself off of the floor while doing a Table. 

Once I was moved up into Intermediate I was taught how to invert. Here is a picture of one of my first Butterfly tricks. 

Not long after I was moved to Intermediate, we had our annual BFF showcase. I thought "What the heck!" and signed up. Here is the video of my routine to Sweet Transvestite from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Now I laugh at how shaky the inverts are, but this was an absolute rush to perform in front of people. Videos like this really help me see how much progress I've made. If you ever start a new hobby, document everything. There is nothing like seeing your talents improve that gives you the confidence to keep doing what you love! 

After around a year in Intermediate, I was finally moved up to Advanced! 

One of my absolute favorite tricks I have learned in Advanced is an Aysha. Below is a video of when I finally nailed a Handspring into a Split-Grip Aysha. 

We've had another showcase at Bella Forza Fitness, and of course I said "Sign me up!". This showcase I did an advanced routine with two other of my peers. We had a medley of Disney songs we meshed together to create and adorable performance. :) 

My latest trick I've really been working on is called an Iron-X. It is literally holding your body away from the pole so you are in the shape of an "X". It requires control, strength, and takes a lot of practice. 

Here is one of my first attempts I recorded a couple weeks ago:

And here is another video taken last weekend at the Arnold Sports Festival: 

Held it a few seconds longer and I am pumped! 

This last one is a Cartwheel into a Split-Grip Aysha that I just nailed yesterday! Need to keep that one leg straight, but I'm still very happy with it! 

Bella Forza has also let me meet two absolutely insane pole athletes, Estee Zakar and Natasha Wang! Click their names to see videos of their incredible skill! 

Bottom line, Pole Fitness has become a MAJOR part of my life. I can't begin to explain how thankful I am to have found this form of exercise, or how important is has become to me. The support and love that flows through the ladies in my classes is indescribable. Everyone is rooting for you, and they are just as happy when you succeed as you are about yourself! 

If you've ever thought about giving pole dancing a spin, GO AND TRY IT! 

You'll never know what you're missing until you give it a shot!