Three Ways See Progress Every Week

The road to a healthy and fit body is tough. There are many weeks and days where we feel like giving in, like we’re just not making any progress. Often times we feel like we’re all alone, whether we have friends and family who haven’t yet joined us on the path to health, or we feel like all our fit friends are making progress while we work hard and get nowhere. If you’re simply stepping on the scale, or trying to zip up those skinny jeans and are frustrated because you’re not getting anywhere, then read on to find out the other surprising ways in which your body is improving which you haven’t noticed because you’re not paying attention.

Keep an exercise log- The best way to keep track of gains in strength and endurance is to write down your workouts. Keeping track of the number of reps, the weight you used, or the time you took to complete a workout is the best way to see the progress you’ve made in muscle gain and endurance. A great way to really test your progress is to have a set of exercises that you complete as a “fit test” every few weeks. Your fit test can be an interval workout where you complete as many reps as possible in each round, or a timed challenge where you complete a set number of reps as fast as you can.
Track other measurements besides your weight- There comes a point in everyone’s weight loss journey when the tipping point between muscle gain and fat loss means that the scale will move in the “wrong” direction. This can be very discouraging, and we’ve all been there. Make sure you’re tracking not just your weight, but your body fat and measurements too. Amazon.com has a great deal on a body fat caliper and myo tape combo here: http://amzn.to/ZDeZSM. Just be sure that you read the instructions carefully so that you get accurate measurements for meaningful data.
Write down how you’re feeling- Exercise affects a lot more than just our waist line, it also affects our mood and our overall health. Each day, write down how your feeling both mentally and physically. How is your energy level? What about your allergies? Are you sIeeping better at night? Has your blood pressure or resting heart rate improved? I notice that when I work out I have boundless energy, I get sick less often, and I wake up feeling well rested.

If you follow the steps above, you will see progress in one or more area each week which will help you to stay motivated and stay on track. Check out the Fit Book which offers a great and compact way to keep track of all your progress. Finally, remember to be proud of the progress you’ve made so far. This is a difficult journey and you should be proud of yourself for having the strength and courage to take it on.