When you’re on your weight loss journey, it’s easy to get trapped in the game of numbers. And while scales are a valuable tool to measure your progress, they’re only a part of the whole picture.. So instead of focusing solely on the number on the scale, look for other signs that you’re moving in the right direction.
Clothes fit better. If your clothes are looser or fit differently, you’re losing fat. Especially if you weight train, lost inches might not be reflected on the scale as much, because along with losing fat you’re gaining muscle. So even if your dimensions are shrinking, your bodyweight might not follow suit as quickly..
Stronger in the gym. Are your lifts in the gym getting bigger or are you able to get through a fitness class easier than when you started? You’re progressing!
More confident. You went out with friends and felt good in your dress. You’ve just bought the first swimsuit in years. You’re comfortable to have photos of you taken. You feel more at ease interacting with the opposite sex. The quality of your relationships has improved.
More energy. You used to take a nap after work and now you can’t wait to get out on a bike. You used to drink liters of coffee just to get through the day and now you’re fine even if you have no coffee at all.Seeing an improvement in your energy levels throughout the day is another victory!
Better sleep. Falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up feeling rested is another way to measure your health.
Everyday tasks getting easier. Walking up the stairs at work without having to take breaks, wrestling your dog into a bath, playing with your kids on the weekends, being able to carry luggage around when you travel, managing your shopping bags with ease. These all are signs that you’re getting fitter.
Better relationship with food. You’ve eliminated the term “cheat” from your food vocabulary or stopped classifying food as good or bad. You’ve learned to make sensible, balanced choices most of the time, but you’re also allowing yourself to occasionally eat the foods you crave without feeling guilty.
March is the founder and owner of The Barbell Beauties which she started in 2015. She is from the Philippines and currently lives in beautiful Thailand with her American husband and daughter. She is an avid Crossfitter and has just started her journey into Muay Thai (kickboxing).