There comes  a time when many people on a weight loss get on that ‘dreaded’ plateau. You jump on the scale every chance you get, but…. BHAM! the number on the scale  is not budging. At that moment, all the work we’ve invested in goes up in flames. We forget how hard we’ve worked to get to where we are.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Just because it looks like the scale is stuck in one place, doesn’t mean you have to beat  yourself up. You’ve sweated enough to get where you are and it’s time to stop being controlled by a number. So, maybe, just maybe consider taking a break from the scale and focus on all the other positive things you’ve achieved. The number on the scale does not define you or measure your fitness.

You know you’ve been consistently eating right, exercising and getting enough rest but somehow you are stuck, There are so many ways to measure your progress, here’s a few things to look at and avoid feeling unhappy:

1. How is the fit on your clothes?-  You may have already lost a few dress sizes or your clothes are starting to feel a bit loose. Nothing better than having a genuine reason for splashing on a new wardrobe or a few items. Go for it, you deserve it.
2. How is your fitness endurance? – Could be from something as simple as walking up the stairs, running after the kids or now you can do 10 push-ups without feeling like you’re about to die. If your strength has increased, hooray!
3. Is working out and eating right part of your lifestyle now? – Maybe eating a whole packet of cookies in front of the TV wasn’t an issue before, but now you stop to think before reaching for the next one. You’re more conscious of what and how much you eat.
4. Do you sleep better at night? – If you give yourself enough shut-eye time then you’re guaranteed to no more waking up exhausted in the morning. Research has proven that exercise leads to better sleep quality.
5. Better looking skin? – Regular exercise is one of the keys to healthy skin. During exercise the blood flow is increased which helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital.
6. Use a tape measure to measure yourself. Losing those inches is a great achievement.
7. And take progress photos – it’s easier to see your own progress if you document it. If you’re consistent with your workouts, consider taking a picture every month of couple of months. Avoid loose clothes, sports bra and shorts will do.

So hope we will stop obsessing over a number and focus more on the good points.

Ciao!