Measure Your Success: Keys to Fitness with The M3 Lifestyle
Success should not be limited to how many pounds lost on the scale; begin by setting smaller goals and eventually you will work up to your larger ones.

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By: Mohey

I believe that you cannot achieve success if you do not define it and measure it. However, when it comes to fitness, most people fall in the scale trap. Everyone likes to be rewarded for their effort, and when individuals exercise, most of them measure their success by how many pounds they lost on the scale. In my experience, pounds on the scale is the least effective way to measure progress in health and fitness for a number of reasons.

First, if one decides to shed 10 or 20 pounds, it is unreasonable to think that this will happen in a day or a week. What is realistic is that one can increase his or her endurance, do more repetitions, or lift more weight than the previous day. If these little improvements are recognized and acknowledged, it is more likely that the individual will witness progress and continue until the desire goal is achieved (in this case, losing the 10 or 20 pounds). This is not to say that you shouldn’t focus on your long-term goal, but you should focus on all the little steps of progression that will get you closer to your goal.

Second, as we begin to exercise, we begin to slowly develop leaner muscles, which weighs more on the scale. Just because we don’t lose pounds on the scale, it does not mean that we are not progressing. It means that we have more muscle than fat percentage in our body composition, which is a better overall measurement of health. Remember to think in inches and not just pounds. As we develop leaner muscles, our bodies become more efficient and burn calories throughout the day, even when we are not exercising, which helps us to lose pounds, inches, and raise our metabolism.

It is crucial that you understand that results in fitness are compounded—meaning that in the beginning, results happen at a slower pace. However, with the passage of time, healthier eating habits and physical activities will begin to produce results much faster. You can think of it like saving money. In the beginning it looks like it is growing at the speed of grass, but if you consistently save, your wealth begins to create its own wealth. The same is true of exercise and fitness.

And let’s not forget that weight loss is not the only benefit of exercise. Better endurance, lower blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol can also—and should also— be measured to determine your level of success. What is often overlooked is your increase in energy, confidence, and vitality. Though they cannot be measured, these factors are the truest benchmarks of your success.