The scale measures our weight, but it’s not necessarily the best way to measure our fitness progress. I know we can get fixated by the number on the scale, and I’m here to tell you that the number on a scale is just a number. It doesn’t tell me what your body is made of. More importantly, it does not determine your worth! Here are some healthier ways to track progress:
- Progress pictures – Taking before and after photos is a great way to see how your body has physically changed even if the number on the scale hasn’t.
- Body composition tests – I like going to BodySpec and getting a DEXA scan every so often so I can see my overall body composition. A DEXA scan can measure your muscle mass, body fat mass, and even bone density. I prefer this because it tells me what my body is truly made of!
- Circumference measurements – Using measuring tape, you can measure how your muscles have grown or if you’ve lost inches in areas like your waist or hips.
- Clothing – This is by far my favorite way to measure progress. If your clothes are fitting better then this is a great sign of progress! It means you’re losing fat, gaining muscle, and ultimately getting your desired physique!
- Mood and energy – If your mood has improved and energy has increased, it means the workouts are working! Besides physical benefits, exercise has many mental health benefits.
- Workout performance – Are you getting stronger? Faster? Better endurance? These are all indicators that your workouts are improving your physical fitness! Keep up the great work!
From visually seeing your progress through before and after pictures to how your clothes fit to your workout performance, the number on the scale has nothing on these methods of tracking progress! If you really can’t ditch the scale then I highly recommend using one or all of the other methods to track progress in conjunction with using the scale. The more ways of tracking progress, the better!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s post! For more fitness tips or if you have any fitness questions, contact me here!
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