Let’s just get right to it: this health journey you are on is not always easy. It is mentally demanding at times. It can make you feel a whole roller coaster of emotions sometimes all in the course of one day. Happy, sad, angry, frustrated, joyful, proud – the list goes on. What your emotions are tied to can sometimes be a result of the tools that you use to measure your progress.
Every part of the journey and tracking progress is worth it and provides value. Each method for measuring progress has a purpose. Sometimes the pros outweigh the cons and vice versa. The main idea here is that you are at least doing something to track your progress. When you look back months or years from where you first started, it will be so powerful and amazing to see from multiple different methods how far you have come.
When it comes to measuring progress, there is more than one way to do it that does not involve the scale. Sure, the scale is a great tool for tracking body weight, however it does not measure a lot of things that go on deeper beyond the surface. Sometimes it is not always the best thing to rely on, especially if you have a negative relationship with the number that you see. If you get overwhelmed by negative feelings and begin thinking negative thoughts about yourself after weighing in, chances are it is time to re-evaluate using the scale, at least temporarily.
So, what can or should you use in the meantime? There are many different variables to pay attention to during this journey, so this list is not limited here, but these are the top 5 things that you can pay attention to measure progress that are not related to the scale:
- Sleep quality. How are you sleeping? Do you wake up feeling well rested? Do you sleep throughout the night? Do you go to bed and wake up at the same time? Sleep is vital to your health and well-being. When you are prioritizing sleep, you are doing wonders for your rest and recovery.
- Energy levels. This kind of relates to your overall sleep quality in a sense. Ask yourself: how is your energy throughout the day? Do you find yourself feeling alert and awake in the mornings? What about the afternoon? Do you still need the afternoon caffeine or sugar in order to help you make it through the day?
- Clothing fit. How are your clothes fitting you? Are they getting more comfortable or loose? Are you feeling more confident in them? Confidence is huge. When you start to feel yourself a little more, that is when you can be sure that things are changing. Catching that extra glimpse of yourself in the mirror? That is progress, baby!!!
- Workout quality. How are your workouts going? Are you getting stronger? Are you feeling less fatigued? Are you noticing less shortness of breath? Can you do more reps? How is your form? Are you more flexible? The list of ways to track here goes ON. Perhaps it needs a whole blog post of its own, because this method for tracking might just be the most important!
- Progress pictures! TAKE THEM! This might feel hard at first. You might not want to see yourself in your bra and underwear like that. It is a vulnerable thing to do, especially if you are sending it to a coach. There is nothing that does a better job at showing you the visual comparison of where you were versus where you are now. NOTHING. Taking progress pictures might feel hard or scary at first, but you will be so thankful you have them when you look back.
Tracking progress more intentionally is powerful. It helps you see how far you have come and gives you momentum for where you are headed. Your progress goes far beyond the scale. The scale might be useful in some cases, but it is not everything. It does not mean that you aren’t still moving forward in pursuing your goals. Try a new way of tracking your progress, and see how that makes you feel before getting frustrated and giving up. You always have room for improvement, and progress is not linear. Be kind to yourself. You can do this.
Wellness is waiting.