For too long people have allowed scales to rule over their lives and dictate to them their self-worth. I’m here to tell you that scales are evil little devices that you’re probably taking way too seriously.
If you’re changing up your daily diet, working out, lifting weights and gaining muscle or carrying any kind of water weight around, the scale is likely deceiving you. When those numbers fluctuate up and down, your heart starts breaking, you feel frustrated and your motivation tanks. You’ve been working hard, eating healthy and exercising, but the scale isn’t showing you your progress accurately.
Obsessing over your weight isn’t going to help you lose pounds. It’s just going to help you lose faith in yourself and in your fitness journey. Rather than pay attention to the scale, ignore it completely. Happiness should not be defined by how much you weigh. There are so many other indicators of your progress, which are more reliable and precise.
This Photograph is Proof
Progress photos are one of my personal favorite ways to track the differences you can make, even from week to week. Sometimes looking at the mirror and seeing if your stomach has shrunk isn’t effective enough. It is more effective to compare your current week’s photos to your last week’s photos. Then try comparing this month to last month. The differences will amaze you. As you look back on where you used to be, you’ll marvel at how far you’ve come.
Plus, who doesn’t like taking selfies? If you say you don’t, you’re lying, and lies will make you gain weight. It’s science.
Every Little Inch
Grab your mother’s measuring tape from the sewing box or get your booty to the store and buy one. If you want a great way of measuring progress, track your inches lost and gained. You’ll want to measure a few different places: neck, biceps, chest, waist, hips, thighs and calves. Based off your personal goals, whether it’s to lose inches or add size to certain muscle groups, you’ll be able to see tangible evidence of your progress with a measuring tape. I remember one quarter I went from puny nine-inch biceps to firmer 11-inch biceps, and now they’re chilling at a cool 13 inches. During the time I was training for a fitness competition, I also went from a 31-inch waist to a 25-inch waist. That was even more exciting!
Put Your Clothes Back On
Yes, you saw how great you started looking naked. But what about with clothes back on? Trying on old outfits or a pair of your favorite jeans, you’ll come to see how much better everything fits you as you drop sizes. You may even notice that some clothes are fitting too big on you and you’ll have to go shopping for a size that fits you better. Oh, no! New clothes!
Note: You should always hang on to one pair of your “big person pants” as a motivational factor to remember how far your journey you’ve come. Whenever you feel low or feel like giving up, whip out the old pants and remind yourself how you’ve worked hard to become a better you.
Hooked on a Feeling
Good health is something you will feel. There is a noticeable boost in your energy, in the way your body reacts to stress, in how your cardiovascular endurance and muscular endurance increases and in your state of mind. You’ll notice your immune system has never worked better, and the cure for the common cold is actually by preventing it through a healthy diet. You probably won’t be able to keep the smile off your face because you’re high on feeling so damn good and healthy.
In the end, what really matters is how you feel about yourself. As lame, cheesy and positive self-esteem inflating as that sounds, it’s true. Happiness won’t be found through meaningless numbers on a scale. Happiness is going to be found within you when you learn to accept and love yourself the way you are.
