Progress not Perfection

So, I've been working hard on conditioning myself physically. I hit the gym hard, I eat very clean (its extremely rare for me to eat for pleasure).

Self-loathing still persists. I bought calipers today to measure my body fat. I am at 6.7%. Numbers don't lie but, in spite of this knowledge, its still not good enough.

Someday I'll learn to be honest with myself and perhaps practice some acceptance for the honest 'good' and honest 'bad'.

Patience, I suppose. I've only been working out with weights for a little over a year. Consistency, commitment and discipline will yield results in time.

I need to look at why things are never good enough.

EDIT: WTF??? I just measured again and it reads 13.8%. This caliper user is a fucking idiot. That much disparity in the numbers isn't right. I'll try again tomorrow

 

Callipers are very tricky to use reliably. Save up and get a variable inductance (i.e. bathroom scale-style) BF monitor; it's not as accurate as callipers when used by a trained pro, but it takes a lot of the variability out of it when laymen like ourselves are trying to measure things.

And quit obsessing over the numbers! You're in the top 90th percentile for fitness for Americans, I'm sure. Perfection doesn't exist-- don't kill yourself trying to reach it.

 

either way those are good numbers. my body fat is at about 23%. i would like it to go to 19-20%.

if you figure out a way to like yourself, let me know. i want to work on being nicer to myself in 2012. altho i haven't a clue how to do that.

 

guys, I just have to come in here and say that I have very good news for you. Here it is: the older you get the more you are able to like/accept/even appreciate yourself. I swear it sneaks up on you.

 

gahhh i don't even think i'd consider checking my body fat right now.

 

I measured again today and it said 15%. I'm either doing it wrong or these cheapo callipers are complete garbage!