I know it’s hard but stop obsessing over the scale. Your weight is only one portion of the equation when it comes to your health. Many non-scale victories matter more than how much you weigh. Here are five non-scale victories to celebrate.
Why Weight Doesn’t Matter
Besides the notion that BMI is flawed, you should pay attention to how much body composition you have. Two people who may weigh the same might look completely different from each other. One could be more muscular therefore appearing smaller, and another might carry more fat appearing bigger.
Pay attention to how much fat you are carrying versus your weight. Learn a healthy level of fat for your goals, activity level, age, and gender. Everyone’s set point will not be the same, so the scale will not always reflect your level of health.
Non-Scale Victories
You are stronger and have more stamina.
Starting a diet and exercise program fuels your body. By increasing exercise in the form of strength training, you become stronger to complete functional activities in your day. Think about it, are you now able to carry all the groceries in one trip instead of three? Celebrate that! Increased strength helps to improve our quality of life as we age.
Exercise helps improve your physical fitness overall. You will be less winded in the gym and with daily activity. For example, if walking from the car to a store left you winded, but now you are not. That is a victory.
You have more energy.
When you incorporate a more active, healthy lifestyle, you will increase your energy. Can you make it through the workday without feeling tired, or can you keep up with your children? This is an excellent benefit to a nutritious diet and increased activity.
It is known exercise produces endorphins which is the feel-good hormone. This not only helps with your energy levels but improves your mental health. It will help increase your self-esteem and decrease any stress, anxiety, or depression symptoms you may experience.
You sleep better
Do you find you have a better quality of sleep? Sleep quality is essential to how we function mentally and physically. It allows our body time to restore and recover. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of developing metabolic conditions like heart disease and stroke. People who incorporate more exercise in their day and eat better have a better quality of sleep.
In addition, research has shown that exercise helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and decreases the risk of lying awake in the middle of the night. Finally, exercise helps reduce daytime sleepiness to help you be more productive during the day.
Your clothes fit better or can size down.
Do you have a favorite pair of jeans you now can fit comfortably in? Celebrate that! Oftentimes, your clothes will let you know when you are making progress before a number on the scale. If you now can try on clothes and feel great about how you look, that is progress.
Then you will notice your confidence is contagious; people will start to notice and compliment you. Soak up the compliments! You deserve it.
You reverse conditions, and health markers improve
credit: researchgate.netWhen you adopt a healthier lifestyle, you will see your health markers improve. Whether you did it because a doctor instructed you to or self-motivation, you will see positive changes in your test results. It will lower your chances of developing metabolic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain forms of cancer.
The Main Message
Although losing weight is a goal for many people, it is not the only benefit of adopting a healthier lifestyle. If you find that you’re frustrated with your progress on the scale, let this be a reminder of everything else you are working towards. Keep going; there are only positive outcomes from here.
