A different way to measure progress

I took Lily out for a bike ride today.  It was the first time that I rode my bide with her instead of walked along the side.  It's exciting that she is good enough now that I can ride with her.  We have a big hill by our house and I have always thought that his was super steep.  I remember being 211 pounds and going up that hill, I thought I was going to die and I remember thinking how I would never be able to bike up that hill.  Today, I biked up the hill with ease and thought "what was I so worried about?  That was nothing!" 

I may not yet be at my goal weight, and the weight may not be coming off as fast as I would like it to, but I have made huge strides in my physical abilities.  Today, that hill seems small.  I have biked up bigger hills, and I work harder than that every day at the gym.  I am accomplishing amazing things.  People are starting to notice again that I'm slimming down.  I saw some people at the gym today I haven't seen in several weeks and they commented that I'm looking really good.  I know I'm building muscle and I am sure that attributes to the slower weight loss.  It's important for me to build muscle and cardiovascular endurance as well as lose weight.  It will all come together, I just have to be patient and persevere.  It is hard.  Every day is hard, but I love my exercise now.  I look forward to listening to my music and challenging myself, and becoming better.  I love the Zumba classes, and my Zumba Wii games.

My food is coming along too.  I am making healthier choices.  Even when I eat more, I eat healthier.  I was talking to my sister yesterday and noted that I cannot eat like I used to otherwise I get really sick.  It also interferes with my training workouts and I'm not willing to let those slide if I can help it.  I'm not back to where I was with my weight before I regained 15 pounds, I still have 8 more to lose before I get there, but I am doing things now that I couldn't have done then.   

I am happy with how things are going, even though I wish that when I get on the scale this Saturday it will read 148 (which it probably won't, that would be a three pound loss in one week) I have to keep in mind the other progress I am making.  I know I have decreased in size at least a little, and now I should try to forget about it for another four weeks and see where I am at the end of week 8 training.  It's hard to forget about it, and I probably won't be able to but there is so much more to focus on.