This is the fifth installment of a six-part series about getting (and staying) fit and fabulous! Every Friday, we’ll discuss a different topic to help you get on track to total body fitness.
Today’s topic is “Tracking Progress.” When you’re trying to eat better and exercise more, you need all the motivation you can get. One great way to get motivated is to evaluate the improvements you’ve made.
How can you measure the success of your healthy lifestyle? Consider these four tips to help you track your fitness progress:
1. Know where you started. Since you see yourself in the mirror every day, you might not notice any changes that are taking place. Take a “before” picture, so you’ll know exactly where you started. On days or weeks when you feel like you’ve hit a plateau, use the picture as a reminder of exactly how far you’ve come ““ it may give you the extra motivation you need to push even harder! Take a new picture every 30 days to help you track your transformation.
2. Know where you’re going. Without certain fitness goals in mind, you could end up feeling like you’re stuck on a treadmill ““ perhaps literally. Goals and objectives give you something tangible to work toward, so you can easily measure your progress along the way. For example, if you’re training for a 5K, you’ll likely be increasing your mileage gradually over time, giving you a clear picture of what you’ve accomplished.
3. Keep a log of food and activities. Write everything down! Keep track of the food you’ve eaten and the exercises you’ve done (including time, intensity, weight amounts and reps). Not only will this practice hold you accountable, it will also help you see the progress you’ve made and help you identify areas where you can improve further.
4. Measure everything. The numbers on the scale may be important to some, but they’re not the only indicator of success or failure. Keep track of your body measurements (waist, hips, biceps, etc.), body fat percentage, clothing sizes and any other number that’s relevant to you or your fitness routine.