One of the more frustrating things we experience as trainers is when someone can’t see the proverbial forest through the trees.
What do I mean? It’s when someone has been making progress but can’t see it because the number on the scale hasn’t changed enough for them. I’ve actually had people tell me they feel better, are fitting in their clothes better, are moving better and feeling stronger, but aren’t happy because of what their scale says.
I’ve said this many times and I’ll say it again.
No one’s goal is to lose weight.
Their goal is what they think losing weight will get them.
In other words, the deeper you think about your actual reasons for wanting to lose weight, the better you are able to achieve what is really driving you. I know this may not be easy, but seeing as doing this work is putting you in a much better position to actually get you what you want, don’t you think it’s worth it?
What I’m going to give you today are some ways to measure your progress other than just looking at a number.
1. How is your strength? Are you getting stronger? Simply put, there isn’t a goal you can have that getting stronger won’t help you with.
2. How do your clothes fit? Especially when you’re first starting to exercise it’s not uncommon for you to lose some inches even though the scale isn’t moving.
3. How is your energy and mood? Many studies show that exercise is just as good, if not better, than medications for certain kinds of depression and exercise also helps you even out
4. How is your pain? Are you moving with less pain? Good movement can be the medicine for joint pain and general creakiness.
5. How are your workouts? Are you able to do more work in the same or less time? Are you able to do more challenging exercises? That means your overall condition is improving!
Really there are a ton of ways to measure progress that are probably a lot better than some number that can fluctuate 3-5 pounds over the course of an average day. Figure out what is really important to you (it’s not the scale) and measure your progress in a way that relates to that. Let me know if I can help with that. It’s very important, but not necessarily easy.
Mitch Rothbardt, CPT, PN Level 2 Lean Eating Coach, Egoscue PAS
Castro Valley Fitness at 2861 Grove Way
Castro Valley’s Premier Fitness Facility
We Help People Discover Their Strength
510-755-9191 www.CastroValleyFitness.com Mitch@CastroValleyFitness.com
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