healthy, happy, holistic : Non-Scale Victories (Warning: Girly)

It's that time of year ... BACK TO SCHOOL *weeps uncontrollably*
We all know what that means - shopping upon shopping. Exciting, yet, terrifying...especially if you, like me, absolutely dread trying on clothes.
Dressing rooms = a horror-producing, mood-depressing, stuffy, sweaty paradise. Can't you tell I adore them?
In my past, trying on clothes has never been a treat, for things never got past my big belly or my thunder thighs, squeezing my arms in all the wrong places and giving me back rolls. Can anyone relate? As much as I love fashion and all things glamour, finding the perfect fit has always been tough.
Until...

although, you'd think I have enough...

On our way home from vacation this past week, I had the opportunity to stop by my FAVORITE store in the entire universe: Forever 21. I knew I was in desperate need of clothes for my upcoming school year and internship at a State Attorney's Office (fancy fancy), but I also knew how much it would seriously suck to try on all the glorious outfits I had picked out.
However... once I was in the horrid dressing room lined by darling dresses and frilly tops, trying them on wasn't like any of the past nightmares I've experienced. Some dresses fit just how they should have, tops laying in all the right places, and pants actually getting past my thighs. But, why? And how?

This, my dear friends, is what we call a NON-SCALE VICTORY.
No, my scale hasn't dropped recently (mostly due to muscle building > losing weight), and I haven't been seeing any major changes in my body. But it's little things like these - simply noticing new clothes fitting better - that make your weight loss or health journeys that much more meaningful. You get a little confidence boost each time a non-scale victory happens. Maybe your jeans from high school fit again when you clean out your closet, or maybe you see an old picture of yourself and realize how different you look now. Whatever it may be, non-scale victories have a deeper meaning behind them: they show the progress you're making in a way that can't be expressed by a number on a scale.
So the next time you feel like you're not getting anywhere with your routines, or you've hit a plateau, always remember the small things in life.
That is all I have.

Look out for a big (& hopefully inspirational) post coming soon on girls who lift ;)

-Lyndsey