The Importance of Tracking

Today I'm gearing-up for the BRIK Orientation at my Kaia gym. Tonight we will all gather and discuss what goals we are going to set for the next six weeks, and pow-wow about clean eating. We will also be weighing, measuring, and taking before and after pictures.

*groooooaaannn*

That is the typical reply I receive from others when I mention weighing, measuring and taking pictures. However, I don't mind it. And I'll tell you why - - I find extreme value in it for motivational purposes. Let's break down four different types of tracking and their specific value.

In addition to weighing, measuring and photos, I also track my eating through a handy app on my smart phone.

Weighing: "Don't trust the scale!" "Throw it out the window!" "Muscle weighs more than fat!" All these and more I hear on a regular basis from haters of the scale. I understand and agree with the essence of these messages - you certainly can't hang all your hopes on this little flat square. However, in balance, I believe it is a useful tool. I actually weigh every day. Yep. And here's why... I like to see the fluctuation in numbers and understand where that's coming from and that it can be okay. It makes me aware. It makes me think about what my body is going through and how I'm eating. And it is motivating! If it is a good number day - I am motivated to keep doing better. If it is a bad number day - I'm motivated to get back on track. For me, it is a win-win. But I have to keep the right mental perspective about it. Good number days aren't excuses to go whole-hog, and bad number days aren't excuses to throw in the towel. Once it ceases to motivate me, I will cease to step on it each  morning.

Measuring: Here is where the slack gets picked up. It is true that even when the numbers on the scale won't budge, you can be changing the proportion of your body as you get fit. Measuring can show you this and be an extremely huge added motivator. Or you could slip on a pair of jeans. That's another great way to tell your body is changing. Overall, though, I like numbers. And I like to look at my chart that spans a year and see that even though my waist is still in the upper 30s, it used to be near 50-inches and that's awesome. Tracking numbers shows you your overall success. Talk about motivating!

Pictures: Oh, ladies. You really are more beautiful than you think. So many hate having their pictures taken. I always tease with them - push out your belly and look really snarly and angry in your before pictures, so you can then suck it in a give a glamorous smile in the after picture and look all that much better! I kid, I kid. But, really - what a useful tool. Not many of us own or use a full length mirror these days, or stop to look at the proportion of our bodies from a neutral vantage. These photos can be a real eye opener - especially over time. I'm excited to compare tonight's photos with ones from three months ago and last year. More motivation!!

Diet: Tracking what I eat on a daily basis is my ultimate motivational tool. I use (and LOVE) the myfitnesspal app - which you can also use online on your computer if you don't have a smart phone! This handy app let's you add what you ate as it pulls up hundreds of choices from a data base with all the nutritional information already there. For instance, if I had a muffin from Costco for breakfast (heaven forbid), it already knows that those suckers are 700 calories each! Oops. Maybe I'll cut it in half... Those are the types of choices you can be empowered to make with the knowledge in MFP. I also love that you can add your own recipes and know exactly how many calories you're eating in your homemade food. It is also a great accountability tool since you can leave your food diary open for your friends to stop by and see. They can message you and give you praise for your good choices, or encouragement to get back on track. Lastly, and this is my favorite little part... At the very end of the day, I click on a button that says, "Complete entry" and it tells me: If every day were like today, in 5 weeks you would weigh: ###. Those numbers excite and motivate me more than anything! Because while I may not see that number on my scale tomorrow morning, I know that if I keep exercising and eating the way I did today, I will get there in a month! Amazingly motivating!!

So, there you have it. Four ways to track, and why I find them important for motivation. I hope you're convinced enough to begin tracking in at least one of these ways. If you're serious about losing weight and committing to good choices I believe these things can be useful tools for you. If you make an account on myfitnesspal, look me up under cjalonen. I'll be your friend.