During the new year, we get bombarded with so many weight loss messages,
That even the most confident of us can feel under pressure to lose weight…
…And those of us who may not even need to shift a few pounds,
question if they should be trying to or not.
So a lot of us end up logging into our Amazon accounts and buying a
brand new set of scales to keep ourselves on track. Or dusting off the old
scales and putting them to good use again.
But being healthy is ultimately about feeling healthy – and has very
little to with the number on the scale.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the scales don’t have their place –
they do, especially if you’re tracking your weight-loss progress. But
spending too much time focusing on the number can discourage you.
Often times when you think you’ve dropped weight after a strict diet and
sticking to your exercise plan, you discover you haven’t lost as much as
you thought you have, or you don’t see the number you were hoping to
see (which can be for many different reasons by the way!)
So if you dread stepping on the scale, instead of getting disheartened by
what you weigh, why not resolve to monitor your health and fitness in a
more positive light instead?
Here’s a few ways you can track your progress after putting those
bathroom scales to the side – I use these ways to measure my health too,
and I’ve never felt better!
Let’s start with the most noticeable one – your energy levels. Taking note
of whether you feel sluggish or full of beans, can be a good indicator of
your overall health.
Chances are, if you’re eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and
exercising daily, you’ll be feeling the benefits. You’ll feel more alert, have
a better night’s sleep and won’t feel that ‘afternoon slump’ so many of us
suffer from.
Feeling healthy is the first step in looking and feeling your best, so don’t
brush off the inside-out effects of your new lifestyle, even if weight loss is
your main goal.
Next, let’s talk about sleep. We spend close to a third of our lives doing it,
and when we get enough of it – we feel great!
It’s fact that we need sleep for our physical, mental and emotional health.
The number of hours you sleep is important, but the quality of sleep is
just as important.
If you’re unable to get a good night’s sleep it could be a sign that you’re
not experiencing peak health and fitness.
Cutting down on alcohol and stimulants like cigarettes and caffeine
before bed should help you drift off easier, as well as making time for you
before you switch the lights off.
How we start our day, is just as important as how we end it.
What about mood? Your mood is closely linked to healthy eating and
fuelling your body.
If you’re in a good mood, that’s great! It can be a reflection of good
health. But on the other hand, if you’re feeling a little low, or you’ve got a
short fuse, this can be a sign that it’s time to make some lifestyle changes.
Losing your temper can happen when your blood sugar is low, so eating
balanced meals is key. Also adding more exercise into your week can help
as movement releases those feel-good chemicals.
How your skin looks can also be a good reflection of what’s going on
inside your body – especially as it’s the biggest organ in the body.
Your skin’s overall health can give you multiple signs you’re not experiencing peak
health. Three of the most common signs being paleness, itchy skin and breakouts.
So pay attention to how radiant (or not so radiant) your skin looks, and
switch up your lifestyle habits if needs be.
At the end of the day the most important question to ask yourself is “what
are your real goals?” What do you want? Not what you’ve been told to
want.
The scales don’t measure how strong you’re becoming or how much better
you feel. They also can’t measure how well you can walk the stairs without losing
your breath, or if you can play with your kids or grandkids for hours.
Don’t let the number on the scale rule your life and how you feel, judge
your progress by ‘health’ instead and you’ll learn how to listen to your
body and your efforts will pay off.
