In my last blog I wrote about ways to stay motivated when it comes to fitness. I mentioned one of them being to keep track of your progress.
Every step forward, no matter how small, is important. When you can really see the accomplishments, it encourages you to keep it up. Because nothing is more discouraging than to feel like you aren’t making any kind of progress.
There are a variety of ways that you can keep track of your progress. One is through a pedometer. This is a great way to learn how many steps you take a day, set a goal to increase that and then watch it happen.
Or if you are starting a walking routine, determine to walk a set number of blocks. After a couple of times, increase that. Continue to add on more blocks. Being able to clearly see how you are walking further can be a great motivator.
A notebook or journal can also be a way to keep track of how you are progressing. There are a number of ways you can use this. One is to write down your weight at the beginning of your fitness program.
You can keep track on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. If you are losing weight, you will be able to see right there in black and white.
Or you can also keep track in a notebook or journal of your measurements. At the start of your fitness plan measure your arms, neck, chest, stomach, hips, thighs, calves and so on. After a set time, re-measure to see how much you have lost.
Of course, no matter what method you are trying, you may find that no progress is being made. You have to figure out why that is. You could be walking everyday but ending every evening with a bag of Doritos. Or you could be making healthy food choices but sitting on your bum all day long.
Progress will only happen when you make an effort. But be sure to keep track of it so that you can clearly see how far you have come.
Related Articles:
Creating a Fitness Journal – Part 1
Fitness Journal – Your Meals – Part 2
Fitness Journal – Exercise – Part 3
Photo by mjk23 in Flickr