5 WAYS TO TRACK PROGRESS
I have been on what feels like a lifelong weight loss journey. It has been very up and down. I have learned a lot. I am proud to say that I am no longer a crash dieter. Something happened in 2023. I had a mindset shift. I was feeling so poor overall that the scale no longer mattered.
I gave myself grace. Focused on consistency. And guess what? I am 30 pounds lighter, feel better and my blood work is trending in the right direction. I still have quite a long way to go but for the first time in my life I feel different entering a new year. Instead of the usual overhaul that I have planned for January 1st, I feel like I am already on the right track. I know what my body needs. I just need to focus on staying consistent and slowly pushing myself a little more every day. So let’s talk about ways to measure progress that go beyond the number on the scale.
5 ways to track your fitness goals
TRACK MEASUREMENTS
We’ve been there. Twisting around with a tape measure alone in your room in a sports bra, not sure if you’re doing it right. Well, I have a better way. ME360. It’s very easy to use. Although, slightly humbling. It produces a 3D image of your body and gives lots of measurements. It lists measurements all over your body as well as body fat and lean body mass. You can also take your previous measurements and compare them to your most recent set so that you can see the changes in each particular area. It’s awesome. The scale doesn’t always move as fast as we’d like it to but your body often changes in ways that we don’t even notice.
ASSESSING HOW YOU FEEL
Track your energy levels, your sleep quality, your brain function, etc. If you have a specific area you want to improve, do research on what your body might be lacking and start implementing those changes. Maybe you need more water, some magnesium or extra vegetables. I think we often look for some new fix to solve all of our problems when what we really need is to go back to the start and make sure we are giving our body its God given needs.
IN BODY SCANNER
My gym has an in body scanner and it is awesome and it tracks so much. It list which areas you are carrying the most fat (not that I am not fully aware already), how much muscle mass you have and so much more. I like to track with the in body scanner once a month. It’s an encouraging way to see progress especially while you are working out a lot. You might be swapping fat for muscle and that’s why the scale isn’t reflecting all of your heard work.
FITNESS GOALS
Not all health and fitness goals are based on how you look. I have fitness goals for my workouts. I love working out. I love pushing myself and sweating it all out. I know not everyone feels the same way. Even if you don’t share the same enthusiasm, working out simply because you know it is good for your health and your heart is a good enough reason. Do you want to run a 5k, half marathon, or even a full marathon. Start working towards that and track your progress. Maybe you have a goal to be able to do a pull-up. I may have given up on that goal for now. Whatever your fitness goal is, write it down and then decide on bite size markers to get yourself there. Start working towards it and be proud of how far you have come.
Take progress photos
I love a good progress photo. Sometimes we are the hardest on ourselves and it’s hard to see a change when we are looking in the mirror day after day. With before and after photos it allows us to take a step back and see how far that we’ve come. Remember to get different angles – front, side, back and even a few with your arms flexed.
Whatever your goals are for 2024, take a moment right now and write down your intentions. Take a few pictures and write down your measurements. You’ll be glad you did when you can look back at all of your hard work.
Looking for a way to jumpstart 2024? Join our January Challenge. Read all about it here.