On the journey with weight, it’s important to maintain your motivation and positivity when reaching for your goals. It may seem like keeping an eye on that number on the scale — and watching that number decrease over time — is the only way that you can truly see success, but there are other ways to know you’re making progress!
“The problem is that weight is not always predictable, and it doesn’t tell the whole story,” says Laura Andromalos, MS, RD, LDN. “You can lose weight in unhealthy ways or you can start healthy habits and not always see a change in weight. Plus, body factors, like muscle mass, bone structure, and water, affect weight.”
So how else can we measure success beyond the number on the scale? Is starts by knowing your real goal, Ms. Andromalos explains. Often times, our main goal isn’t necessarily to see the number decrease; it’s to increase your energy level, feel comfortable in our own body or even to improve our health for the long haul.
Once you’ve understood your real goal, you can use some of these signs, thought up by Ms. Andromalos’s patients over the years, to measure your success in weight management:
Use clothing sizes as a guide.
Are you losing pants or dress sizes, comfortably wearing clothes that were at one point too tight or no longer having to shop in the “plus-size” section? These are all signs of progress! Remember not to play “the numbers game” with clothing sizes, because sizes vary by clothing company, and you don’t want to define yourself by the number on the tag.
Are your needed health medications changing?
There are many health conditions related to excess weight. Since you started your journey with weight, have you noticed and overall improvement in your health? Are you finding it easier to control things like blood sugar, and are you noticing that you don’t need to take certain medications as often? Any indicators that your body’s overall health is improving are definite signs for success!
Your Confidence is Climbing
Are you feeling more comfortable when out in public? Taking the reins on improving your weight and health isn’t just about improving your physical health — it can make an impact on your mental health and self-esteem as well! If you’re noticing yourself feeling more and more confident about yourself, it’s a sign that you’re making progress in improving your health — and it’s something you should celebrate!
Your Energy Has Improved, and You Enjoy Being Active
Many people say that once they’ve begun a plan to improve their weight and health, they find themselves not only enjoying their regular exercise routine more, but they also have more energy when doing it! If you’re finding yourself needing less sitting breaks, not feeling so out of breath and being able to keep up with the rest of your group on active outings, you’re making some great progress!
Remember, the journey with weight isn’t just about the progress you make on the scale. Even if you’re not seeing the results you want when you step up for your weigh-in, that doesn’t mean you aren’t achieving anything at all. You’re making progress in other ways, and it’s important to remember that as your strive for better health!
Want more tips for measuring your success toward your weight management goals? CLICK HERE to read, “Measuring Success beyond the Scale,” an article from Your Weight Matters Magazine!
