I experienced a great Non-Scale Victory (NSV) the other day. Just this past Sunday, our orchestra was finally able to meet in person and start rehearsals, again, for the first time since March, 2020. What a great day that was; and as a friend commented, it was like coming home.

I was surprised, though, when I showed up early and directed people into our relocated rehearsal location by holding the door open so people would know where to enter. Several commented that I sure had lost weight since the last time they saw me. I thanked them and just sort of saw it as a long-time-no-see sort of greeting. But then it kept happening; one person even said “you must have spent the pandemic losing weight while everyone else gained!”

Honestly, there were enough comments — from different people at different times — that it made me look up how much I weighed just over a year ago. The difference? Fifteen pounds. And in my own experience, while fifteen pounds matter, they usually don’t result in people giving weight loss compliments quite that often.

While I never allow myself to take such comments too seriously — I just thank them and move on — I truly think that the difference is in the amount of exercise I’ve been getting, not so much the difference in weight. I’ve been determined to walk my way through the pandemic, working specifically on endurance. I know I wear a smaller size than I did a year ago.

It’s yet another reminder that this journey isn’t solely about weight loss. Compliments are nice, but obviously, my body continues to change quite a bit as I continue onward, even with relatively small changes in actual weight. It’ll continue to morph as I start working on toning muscles and make small decisions that will have big outcomes in the long run; the habits I am developing, now, are the ones that will keep my body moving forward, despite being on the cusp of 60 years old.

The commitment to change is always possible, as is the ability to follow through. Eight years ago, I sold myself short, believing that the place I’m in today was far beyond my reach. Now, I wonder what else is possible.