Tracking Your Weight Loss Progress One of the most important aspects of weight loss that many people forget is that they should track their progress. There are several reasons why you should do this, but the most important is being able to see what your work is doing to your body. There is no better way to stay motivated than watching yourself shrink into the body that you desire. Here are some ways to track your weight loss progress.
The most common and easiest way to see your weight loss progress is by weighing yourself. This is simple to do with a scale. Electric ones tend to work best as the traditional scales can be easily tipped or thrown off causing numbers to vary greatly. You should weigh yourself once a week. Any more than that can become obsessive and can negatively impact your goals. The best way to handle weigh-ins to be consistent. You need to weigh yourself the same way on the same day every week. For example, if you plan on wearing a shirt during your weigh-in, make sure you always do that at every weigh in on the same day every week. The best time to weigh yourself is after you wake up before you drink or eat anything. Make sure you keep a written log of your numbers in a notebook, on a calendar, etc.
Another common way to track your weight loss progress is by taking measurements. This is not as simple as weighing yourself, but it’s still fairly easy to do. Use a tape measure that can be wrapped around your body to measure yourself. Like weigh-ins, do this once every week. You should measure your waist, thighs, chest, and arms. It’s not important where you take the measurements, but you must be consistent. If you take a measurement of a certain spot on one of those areas, make sure you do that every time you measure yourself every week. The best time to do measurements is the first thing after you wake up and on an empty stomach. Doing it afterward can change the measurements and throw off the numbers.
You can also track your progress by taking photos. This is a great way to see how far you have come and how far you have left to go. Sometimes, numbers only go so far. When you can actually see the weight loss, you can get a real sense of accomplishment. It’s also a lot of fun to see how your body has changed over time because of your efforts. Unlike the other two progress-tracking methods, you should stick to doing this once a month.
Seeing the results of all of your hard work involved with your weight loss can make you feel that you are gaining a better body, better health, and ultimately, a better life. Some people like to go by numbers and some like to go by looks. No matter which way you prefer, tracking your weight loss can help you stay motivated so that you can reach your goals in no time.