Tools To Help Measure Your Lifestyle Success
Whether you are trying to gain weight, lose weight, or have adopted a maintenance approach, measuring is the best way to track your progress. Here we will discuss 5 practical measuring tools to help set you up for your lifestyle success.
Measuring Tape: Measuring yourself with measuring tape is an accurate method for tracking and gauging progress. Typically, you will want to measure around your chest(optional), waist hips and thigh. When you’ve finished each measurement, record them in a book or journal. This is a great way to for us to see and feel progress.
Chest: Grasp the end of the tape and wrap it around your chest (at the nipple line). Hold the tape securely so it doesn’t droop.
Waist: Grasp the end of the tape and wrap it around the smallest part of your waist. Refrain from sucking your stomach in and/or holding your breath. Keep your body relaxed and breathe like you normally would. Hold the tape securely so it doesn’t droop.
Hips: Grab the end of the tape and wrap it around the widest part of your hip and buttocks. Hold the tape securely so it doesn’t droop.
Thigh: Grab the end of the tape and wrap it around the widest part of your thigh/right under your buttocks. Hold the tape securely so it doesn’t droop.
Body Scale: The scale is a TOOL for measuring progress. With that being said, there are many variables to keep in mind when using the scale. The time of day you eat, how much you’ve had to eat, hydration, sodium intake, muscle gain, that time of the month (for the ladies), the time of day you weigh yourself…these are just a few of the many variables that can be reflected on the scale. If you choose to weigh yourself, try doing so first thing in the morning after you empty your bladder, before you have anything to eat and/or to drink.
Progress Photos: Progress photos are my personal favorite tool for measuring progress. The camera does not lie! Believe it or not, we can actually see changes in our bodies from week to week. When we see the positive changes, we are more inclined to stay motivated and dedicated to our approach. When we see changes that aren’t so favorable, we are more inclined to make the adjustments necessary to get back on our path. Pick a progress photo outfit, and take a photo from the front, side, and back. Aim for consistency with your progress photos: try taking them on the same day each week/every other week, with the same lighting, same outfit and so on…that way you can really see the progress that is taking place.
Food Scale: Digital food scales will become your best friend. Weighing and measuring food is a great practice because most people eat more than the appropriate portion for any given meal. Basically, most people overeat…A LOT! Accuracy and correct portioning play a huge role in this lifestyle approach. Its best to eat sensible portions, and food scales are another relatively inexpensive tool that really help with long term lifestyle success. You will find that weighing out, measuring, and portioning appropriately really do become second nature over time.
Measuring Cups And Spoons: Just like a digital food scale, measuring cups and spoons help you measure the proper amounts of ingredients. Don’t be intimidated by measuring. Like any recipe, we need to measure our ingredients so we can enjoy our deliciously Fit And Flexible recipes. With this lifestyle approach, you’ll need to measure your ingredients so you feel fantastic, look fantastic and succeed at achieving your lifestyle and/or weight management goals.