Weight loss is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as you think. When there are no visible signs of change, it’s very easy to feel like you’re not making progress. In order to motivate yourself more, you need to be able to see how far you’ve come. The truth is that it’s very hard to see your physical change if you can’t weigh yourself or take measurements. Here are some tips on how to monitor your progress so you know what you’re doing is working!
1. Take photos from different angles
Take a photo of yourself and keep it on your phone so you can compare how you look now and how you looked before. Take a new photo every 2 weeks and make sure so you can keep progress. It is also a good idea to wear the same clothes in each photo, that way clothes will make it more clear about how good your progress is. You’ll notice that they don’t look as good on you anymore, which means you’re losing weight successfully! This new routine will give you a general idea of how your body is changing over time. Seeing old and new photos side by side can be a very powerful motivation.
2. Compare yourself to home objects
Everything inside your house has a certain size. It could be a decoration, a couch, or a door frame. Comparing your weight loss to objects is a great way to see how much progress you’ve made. The point is that you can see how big it is and compare your body to it. For example, see how much space you take when you go through doorways, sit on armchairs or couches, etc. Through some time, you will be able to see how your body takes up less space than before.
3. Use a measuring tape
Sometimes visual changes don’t happen fast enough. Using a measuring tape helps you measure your waist, hips, and thighs. Seeing the number fly off makes you feel much closer to reaching your goals. You should use measuring tape once in 2 weeks, or 8 measurements per month. You can even measure your neckline just to see how it changes over time. Just don’t measure yourself too often, for example, every or every other day. That way it will seem like you’re not making any progress when you do and that might make you feel bad about yourself. So, remember, using a measuring tape once every two weeks is totally fine! On the other hand, measuring your weight is not recommended as it can be misleading, especially with muscle gain.
4. Wear tight clothes instead of loose clothes
If you buy a new dress or shirt that feels one or two sizes smaller than your usual, try wearing it and notice how much looser the clothing is now. This will give you a good indication of how well your weight loss program is going. You will be able to see that you’re getting closer and closer to the size you would like. Trying to fit in a smaller size will also give you a boost of motivation for losing weight even faster. Imagine how you’ll feel when you can fit into those jeans.
5. Keep a journal
Keeping a journal is a great way to monitor your progress. You can use it as a place where you write down what you eat and how much exercise you’re doing each day. By keeping track of these things over time, you will still be able to notice the changes in your eating habits and workouts that reflect your weight loss efforts. Seeing the progress on a paper will help you feel motivated to continue on your weight loss plan. Also, there are some more benefits to it. If there is something in that journal that worked well, you can try it again. If there is something that didn’t work, move on to another strategy. Journal also has all of your recipes, so when you don’t know what to eat- just open the journal, find one that you like and enjoy!
6. Have an app to track your calorie intake and daily movement
This is a good way to keep a track of how many calories you’re taking in and burning. You can also monitor your water intake, which suppresses your appetite. There are plenty of great apps that will help you reach your goals if you have an iPhone or Android device. Having an app as a coach is one of the best ways to keep on top of your progress and see the changes that you’re making – we all know how easy it can be to forget about our goals when we don’t write anything down.
7. Try the Visualization Technique
Visualization is not exactly a technique that will help you monitor your progress, but it can be an amazing motivation tool. It’s an effective tool that can help you achieve your goals by imagining how it will look once you lose weight. For example, instead of thinking about all the exercises, you have to do or the foods you are not allowed to eat, think about what would happen if you were slimmer. You can visualize yourself at a friend’s party or when you go shopping, how different it would feel when you have a slimmer body.
You don’t need to weigh yourself every once in a while in order to be motivated. There are a lot of tricks that you can use every day. Try using a measuring tape, wear tight clothes, keep a journal – all of these things will help you see your progress while losing weight. Log your food intake and exercise in your weight loss journal to monitor the progress towards reaching your goals! Use these tips and make sure you are doing everything you can to get closer and closer every day to your goal!
