The gains you’re not tracking (but should be.)

Do you sometimes feel like you aren’t making progress on your goals?

Like you are doing all this work and you still aren’t losing weight…

You still don’t have that six pack…

You haven’t quite gotten the hang of the olympic lifts…

Or accomplished your first unassisted pull-up?…

We can be so hard on ourselves. The reality is that typically the end of the goal is just that, the end. There are a ton of moving parts, pieces to the puzzle, and time invested that is required to mark that goal complete. It seems like a harsh truth, but when you really think about it, it’s the total opposite.

Hear me out…

Sometimes it is hard to see the gains we are really making when we are so focused on one aspect of “progress.” The truth is, there are so many signs of progress we often miss. If you can zoom out on the big picture, you might notice other changes in  your life and body that you haven’t given yourself credit for. That perspective might be just the motivation you need to keep going and truly recognize the incredible progress you’ve already made.

Here are a few areas of change that you may not be thinking about:

Physical performance: Your capacity for strength, endurance and mobility. 

• Can you not only get through the workouts better, but move through life with more ease? 
• Have you found improvement in your sport or ability to play with your kids or grandkids?

Energy and quality of sleep: Your overall energy levels and quality of sleep.

• How are you feeling on a daily basis compared to the start line? 
• Do you sleep better, get through your day better, take less breaks in your workouts?

Body awareness and coordination: Your ability to fire your muscles, notice how your body feels, and what it needs.

• Are you more in-tune with your body? Do you do normal daily tasks with more strength, mobility, and efficiency? 
• Do you feel safer and more educated on how to protect your body from injury, activating certain muscles and moving in more effective patterns?

Body composition: The way your body looks.

• Have you noticed your clothes fitting differently, or new muscles popping up here and there? 
• Have you seen changes in your skin and the brightness behind your eyes? 
• Do you notice less bloating or improved digestion and hydration?

Emotional and mental outlook: Confidence level and overall mood.

• Do you feel more confident in yourself? 
• Hoe about your ability to do hard things or follow through on commitment and challenges? 
• Do you feel like you have a better handle on your personal stress management and ability to take time for yourself and your mental health? 

Personal integrity and self worth: Your ability to do what you say you’re going to do and believe that if you want it you can work for it.

• Have you changed your outlook on failure? 
• Have you become stronger in the face of adversity and more open to new goals and challenges? 
• Have you kept promises to yourself and proved your ability to follow through? 

The trickle down effect: When you work on bettering yourself, it naturally touches all people and areas of your life.

• Has your commitment to the gym trickled any other healthy changes or positive payoffs in your life? 
• Have you been eating better or paying more attention to what you put in your body? Have you noticed the people around you making improvements? 
• Have you been able to be more present and relaxed with your family? 
• More confident in your job? 
• Have you thought about the other areas of consumption related to your overall physical and mental health that you may not have evaluated? Like social media, books, tv, the people you spend your time with, etc.

All in all, it’s important to look at the big picture and stay in tune with yourself and how you’re feeling along the way. The amazing thing is that one goal on the horizon often leads to a million little micro goals or habits along the way. These small changes not only create physical and mental shifts, but they also give you experience and perspective in areas you may have never realized needed change. Your deeper appreciation for the ripple effects might just shift your entire outlook on the goal you originally set—and what you truly value. Who knows? You may even discover that your initial goal isn’t what matters most to you anymore… But that’s a post for another time 😉