How to Measure Success without Using the Scale
For years, the scale has been used to measure and determine someone’s health.
Doctors and other healthcare providers used the BMI (a measurement using weight and height) to determine the status of someone’s health.
But in the last 20 years, we’re starting to see evidence for why this is unhelpful. Why using a scale and someone’s weight as the measurement for someone’s health isn’t accurate or helpful.
So, in my coaching practice, I take a non-weight focused approach with my clients. Let me be clear, this doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a desire to lose weight to work with me… many of my clients want to lose weight. But it’s to say that we don’t focus on weight loss as the main determiner of your health and wellness.
Here’s why… your weight is determined by a number of factors, not just how “clean” you eat and how much you exercise. Genetics, bone structure, race/ethnicity, your environment, socio-economic status, and stress are all also factors that play into your weight.
So you may desire to lose 20 lbs. But your body may be meant to be where it is. Or maybe you’re meant to be 10 lbs lighter. We don’t and can’t know.
Weight isn’t something we always have control over.
What we do have control over is the actions you take (which, if you didn’t listen to last week’s podcast episode on how to set “feel goals” go listen to that for your action steps). You can do actions that will improve your health… regardless of whether you lose weight or not.
So, all that to say… measuring your success & health with just the scale isn’t helpful.
But what then? How DO you measure success? Because it’s important to know where you are? How you’re doing? We all love that “pat on the back” that says we’re doing a good job and making progress.
So instead of the scale, here’s what I recommend using to measure your success…
How you feel. Ask yourself, “How do I feel?”, “Do I feel healthy?”.
Lab levels. Lab levels are, in my opinion and experience, a lot more accurate measures of health vs. the scale. A few you can look at and talk through with your doctor… lipid panel, cholesterol, inflammatory markers, blood glucose, and thyroid panels). A little caveat, sometimes lab levels are also out of our control… for example, cholesterol is sometimes high due to genetics, not just you eating high-cholesterol foods.
Eating habits. Do you feel like you have good eating habits for the most part? You aren’t overeating every night, or feeling mindless as you are snacking. This is another place where you can look to “measure” your success.
So these are 3 ways you can measure your success without using the scale.
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Hey! I help my clients eat healthy without dieting and feel confident in their bodies. And I can help you too. Set up a free consult with me to get started.