Don't Focus On The Scale
Every single person reading this blog has made this mistake - making our scale weight the main metric of determining whether we are successful or not. I’m in no way saying that you can’t use the scale as a viable resource to help you see progression, because it is. But the idea of thinking scale weight is the only source to indicate that change has occurred is the wrong way to approach better health and weight loss.
There is plenty more evidence that there has been improvement in your health and fitness without having the scale to tell you so. I get it, the scale gives you immediate feedback on whether there has been improvement or not. If there is great, but what if there isn’t? My guess is there is that sinking feeling that you are failing.
The second thing that happens is you quickly forget all that you have accomplished:
- you’re able to lift heavier weights
- you can sprint up a flight of stairs
- you watch your portions sizes
- you eat healthier foods
- you consistently practice these better habits weekly
These are all ways that you have made progress, none of which have anything to do with the scale.
Don't Set Yourself Up For Failure
Another major mistake is having an arbitrary number as your goal weight. If this is you, you must reassess your thinking. Setting an arbitrary number as the goal is a great way to set yourself up for failure and constantly being unhappy with your current state rather than being amazed with how far you have come. Your ideal weight might be 10 lbs. more than the arbitrary goal weight that you come up with.
Focus On The Positives
In my experience, when dealing with people whose number 1 priority is to lose weight, is that they need to win the mental aspect first, second, and third. What I mean by this is people need continual positive feedback to keep momentum rolling. That feedback can and will come from so many other areas if you take a second to see it. STOP the freaking madness with the scale!
There are better and more positive ways to judge success:
- How are your clothes fitting?
- Has your blood pressure dropped?
- Has your cholesterol (LDL) dropped?
- Are you walking or running longer distances?
- Do you have more energy?
- Do you have more confidence?
- Can you lift heavier weights?
These ways should help you feel much better and more positive than that damn number staring you in the face on the scale!
Image Credit: Erik Taylor
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