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How To Stay Committed To Your Weight Loss Goals

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Published: 27Jan2012
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One of the most self defeating things a person can do is weigh themselves constantly. People become obsessed with the numbers of the scale. They want to shed weight, or bulk up to be a magic number they've created. The truth is that the scale is not the best way to see your improvement.

Since muscle weighs more then fat a simple scale does not accurately track your progress or give a proper comparison to the last time you stepped on. Water retention and time of day can also play a key role in altering the results. So what are you supposed to do? Well, if you are someone who likes to focus on numbers or facts to help motivate you, there are other personal statistics you can count on.

Focus on your cardio. If you like to run, step, spin, or row to try and lose weight then you can use the machine to your advantage. For example, you can set a treadmill to give you distance versus time. If you run outside then time yourself over a given distance like ten blocks or around the park path. Record in your workout journal how long it takes you to run that mile or visual distance and see how you improve over time. It's a lot more impressive to yourself, and others, to say that you run a certain minute mile instead of you weigh so many pounds. Just remember in cardio that you have an added number to watch; your heart rate. A lot of machines have a built in monitor but a personal one is a great investment. They too can be calibrated to record and track your heart rate progress. If you have access to a heart rate monitor you can make it your goal to run that mile while staying in your target zone. Use deep breathing while you run to focus your energy and bring your heart rate down if you need to, or run faster and beat the last clock if you can! Keeping in your target zone is a great way to know that you are doing your cardio benefit and eating away at some fat storage.

To trim down your waist or bulk up some muscle a measuring tape is often a handy device. Caution that you are measuring with discretion. Often when measuring you don't go over the exact spot, or you suck in or exhale air differently. The best way to check if your waist has gotten smaller is to try on a fitted pair of pants (as long as you don't have a shrinking dryer). The best way to see how your muscles are developing is to use them. Now it's not wise to lift a ridiculously heavy set of weights compared to your usual, but if you've been working steadily with the same dumbbells it might be time to upgrade.

Finally, flexibility is that thing you either have or don't. But if you don't you can get it. Sure it takes time and constant practice but those peaceful moments of stretching are good for your soul too. To check your improvements here you need to mostly listen to your body. Once you are warmed up get into your stretching poses and see if they feel tighter, same, or less tight then before. Flexibility, like your energy level, will fluctuate so be careful and open to some differences.

Keeping motivated by noticing all of your body's changes is a great way to have a constant reminder that you are doing great things for yourself. People say to listen to your body when it's sick, well listen to it when it's healthy. You're body is telling you that it can run up a flight of stairs faster, it can bend to pick things up without feeling a pull, it can carrying boxes effortlessly. The things your body notices are the things you should be motivated by.

Karie is Toronto's Fat Loss Queen. Her articles include The 3 Absolute Simple but Highly Effective Ways To Lose Weight When You're Short On Time and Why Seeing A Psychic Can Help You Lose Weight. You can subscribe to my blog or follow me on twitter

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