Look in the mirror, do you like what you see? What kind of mood are you in? That will make a difference on how you see your reflection.
Did you have a great workout yesterday and another one today? Are you in a great, upbeat mood? Chances are the image in the mirror looking back at you will look great. If you are feeling good about yourself it is easy to see what we like about our body.
On the other hand, if you have missed a workout, had a bad sleep, or just having a bad day there is a good possibility that you won’t like the reflection you see.
Your mood plays a big role in how you see yourself. Your body hasn’t changed but the way you see it has. We can be our own worst enemies.
With this in mind, we need to find tangible ways to track your progress toward your fitness goals. Track and write everything down. Start with some of the basics:
Pictures
Grab your camera phone, strip down to your skivvies, and take a picture of yourself in the mirror. Plan a photo montage of weekly pictures. It may be difficult to see differences over a couple of weeks but keep at it. In a couple of months when reviewing these weekly photos you will be able to tell if you body is transitioning.
Measurements
A tape measure is a small investment and will help you track your progress.
Plan to take your measurements at the same time of day each time. I prefer first thing in the morning before I eat breakfast.
Measure your neck, shoulders, chest or bust, waist, hips, bicep and thighs. Make sure you measure the same location each time. I quite often will use landmarks to ensure I am at the same location: nipple line, freckles or moles or a palm’s distance away from elbow or knee.
Avoid getting into a habit of tracking your measurements too often. Check any obsessive tendencies at the door. Tracking your measurements on a daily basis will make it difficult to see changes. Every other week or so is sufficient.
Workouts
You already have a fitness plan that was built to align with your goals; use that plan as a tracking tool. If you planned to work out 3 days each week, track whether or not you achieved that and what it looked like.
Did your workout include cardio? Track the length of your cardio and the intensity, or perceived intensity of your workout. Consider an intensity scale of 1 to 10: 1 being comparable to sitting on the couch, 3 you are moving, 5 is moving fast, 7 you are winded and 9 you are full force and 10 you don’t know if you are going to pass out or puke.
Strength training should also be tracked. Track the number of times or repetitions, the sets, the amount of weight and how long it took you to complete.
Push yourself for a little bit more each week: add more weight, work a little longer, and increase the intensity. As you progress with each workout, you challenge your body just a little bit more and get that much closer to your goal
If you are serious about meeting your fitness goals, track your progress. By keeping track, taking measurements, and tracking your workouts, fitness will always be on your mind helping you make healthier decisions on a more consistent basis.
