As we enter the month of September, it’s a perfect time to get the health and fitness routine back on track. Kids are returning to school, patio season (aka nacho and beer season) is coming to a close, and fall is a great time of year to set some new, healthy goals.
We all love to envision where we would like to be, but often neglect the steps needed to get there. Whether it’s in business or fitness...you have to start with a plan. And item #1 on that plan should be to answer one important question - where are you now? Without establishing your starting point, its impossible to track your progress.
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this…your weight on the scale is not the only measurement of health! Do not use this as your sole outcome measure. Here’s a classic example: “Client A” weighs the same after 3 weeks of exercise, but they have lost 2 lbs of fat, gained 2 lbs of lean mass (muscle, bone density), and now they can do 10 more push-ups then before. Should they be disappointed with their results? Of course they shouldn’t. Although weight loss may be a goal for most, there are other tools needed to track your progress.
This can be as simple as having your partner or friend perform some body measurements (waist, hip, chest, arms etc…), or performing a simple at–home fitness test (max # of push ups/min, max front plank, 12-min run for max distance). For those daring individuals, having someone take a “before” picture of you in a pair of shorts or swimsuit is great place to start. Post this pic on the fridge and there’s no better way to stay motivated during those after dinner cravings. The bottom line is having objective tools to track your progress is key to long-term success.
Just think of the fitness quote, “If you’re not assessing, you’re just guessing”.
**Please consult your health care provider before following any advice on this blog.
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