But as many of us know firsthand, the scale can be encouraging some days—and majorly defeating on others. That’s because your weight alone doesn't give you the complete picture of your health.
Don’t let an ever-fluctuating number on the scale tell the whole story. Below are eight signs of progress that won’t be reflected in the number between your feet.
1. How Your Clothes Fit
2 of 9
If your favorite pair of jeans is noticeably looser, or you no longer have to hold your breath when slipping on an old dress, your clothes could reveal inches lost on your body, even if the scale hasn't budged.
Muscle weighs more than fat, so if you're following a consistent workout schedule, it's likely your body composition is changing for the better, no matter what the number says.
2. Your Improved Digestion
3 of 9
Gastrointestinal function can make the scale fluctuate, but it's not always reflective of the amount of good bacteria in your system or how well everything is working together to digest your food. In other words, the scale doesn't always reflect how much happier your tummy is with your new healthy eating plan.
3. The State of Your Mental Health
4 of 9
Mental health is incredibly important for your overall wellbeing and can be improved by taking care of yourself physically.
Even as you make notable strides in bettering your mental health, the scale will not be able to measure how well you're now able to handle adverse situations, how your anxiety has lessened or how happy you are.
4. Your Strength and Endurance
5 of 9
Regardless of what number the scale shows you on any given day, your body has built strength and endurance from your physical workouts, even if you haven't reached your goal weight. The scale cannot measure how toned your arms are or how good you feel when you reach that runner's high.
5. Your Energy Levels
6 of 9
Energy is extremely important for a happy and healthy life, yet the scale has no way of measuring how you feeling in your day-to-day. How you feel when you wake up in the morning can be a much better indicator of your health.
6. How Hard You've Worked
7 of 9
So you've been exercising regularly and even meal-prepping at home, but you aren't losing weight. Fortunately, all of these habits still "count" even if the number on the scale doesn't go down.
Exercise and healthy eating are phenomenal for your health, reduce your risk of disease and increase your longevity, no matter what the scale says.
7. Your Overall Health
8 of 9
Unfortunately, weighing-in is part of most visits to the doctor, but it rarely gives a physician the full picture. To evaluate your health completely, most doctors will perform physical exams and even a blood test.
8. Your Self Worth
9 of 9
No amount of weight can tell you your value as a person and what makes you, "you." The scale or other external factors should never define your self-worth. You deserve love and care no matter what a machine in your bathroom tells you about the current composition of your body.
Discuss This Article