It’s not always easy to gauge whether you’re on the right track towards your weight loss goals — and that’s especially true if you’re one of many who’s had to adjust their weight loss plan this past year.
Many people use the scale as their barometer to measure success, but it’s not exactly the best tool for weight loss motivation.
How is anyone supposed to stay motivated to lose weight when the number on the scale seems to have a mind of its own? Not to mention, it never seems to move fast enough.
Fortunately, there are better ways to measure progress than chaining yourself to the scale. But, the first step is changing the way you think about weight loss motivation.
We’re going to unpack 10 examples of fitness wins that are sure to help keep you motivated to lose weight over the long-term (where it counts).
Are You Trying To Lose Weight?
Weight loss is tricky.
This article will list out some very important non-scale victories you should pay attention to when you feel like you’re losing the motivation to lose weight.
Also, if you’re looking for an amazing support system, Crossrope has one of the best online fitness communities there is. We’ve got almost 100,000 jump rope and fitness enthusiasts in one group for you to connect with, and they’ll certainly help you stick to your goals.
Join The Community here.
And finally, you should try our jump ropes. Crossrope weighted jump ropes are an efficient and fun fitness option for beginners and pros. Proven to burn more calories and activate more muscle groups than other cardio routines, our jump rope system is going to help you jump circles around your weight loss goals.
Now, let’s jump into our list, and remember the scale isn’t telling you the full story. Here are 10 better examples of how to approach weight loss motivation.
How to Properly Measure Your Weight Loss
1. You’re Less Winded
And you can work out for longer periods of time.
As you gain endurance, you’ll notice you can keep moving for longer before you have to tap out.
If you try jumping rope, for example, you might find that you can only manage an easy jump rope workout when you start. Or maybe you’re only able to jump consecutively for a few seconds to a minute, but eventually, you’ll find yourself setting new personal records.
It’s a similar situation to weight training. A huge win is being able to add more weight, knock out more sets, and increase your reps.
If you’re able to go for longer, that’s a great sign that you’re body is changing and you’re doing something right. We can't think of a better motivation to keep going!
2. You Have Better Coordination
Not everyone is blessed with a natural rhythm.
If you’re doing fast-paced and intricate cardio, one way to know you’re improving is when you start to master those complicated steps and movements.
Jumping rope is one of those exercises that definitely helps you build coordination, but that’s half the fun. Whether you’re just learning how to use a jump rope, or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s always fun to learn new moves and add new exercises to your workout repertoire.
It might not be directly tied to weight loss, but being able to add more variety as you learn and get better is definitely a huge motivator. When your workouts are fun, you’re more likely to keep coming back for more.
Not to brag or anything, but we put together a list of the best jump rope exercises to help you spice up your workouts.
3. Your Form Improved
It doesn’t matter if you’re lifting weights, jumping rope, running, or doing yoga; you know you’re making positive changes when you nail the form.
For instance, you might notice your hands are in a better position while you’re jumping rope, your shoulders are back, your elbows are tucked, and you’re making fewer mistakes. Even a greater feeling of control throughout your rotations, or maintaining a steadier pace means you’re killing it.
Good form is a big win, and it’s something you should be proud of.
Also, when you improve your form, you’ll probably start to notice you feel less soreness in places where you shouldn’t — like your knees and joints after jumping. When you reduce your risk of injury and start to limit soreness, there’s no stopping you.
4. You’re Building Muscle Definition
Since the scale isn’t going to budge overnight, it’s hard to appreciate the slow and steady progress you’re making.
Instead of clinging to the scale, a better approach is to take progress pictures throughout your weight loss journey. Let the number on the scale do what it wants, this way you’ll be able to see your hard work come to life.
Here’s one of our favorite jump rope transformations from Tim who lost 51 pounds in 3 months.
Take pictures, seriously. They’ll keep you working hard. You may not be able to see results day to day, but month to month you may see more improvement, and it can add to your weight loss encouragement.
Below you'll see a collection of weight loss before and after photos from Crossrope users that are sure to inspire you to keeping striving towards your goals.
5. Your Clothes Fit Differently
Maybe you’re starting to notice some wiggle room in the waistband of your jeans, or the zipper on that dress finally closes. If you find that your clothes are starting to fit differently, consider that a huge non-scale victory.
6. You’re Getting Compliments
If someone you know mentions that you look healthier or asks if you’ve been working out, chances are, they’re not just buttering you up — they’re being honest.
Other people can usually see subtle physical changes long before you notice them in yourself. If someone compliments you, embrace it and keep going. It’s definitely a sign that you’re doing the right thing (even if the scale isn’t where you want it to be).
7. Your Mood is Up
If you’re feeling discouraged, or even just a little down in the dumps, movement is going to lift you up and keep you going. A short-term rush of endorphins usually follows a run or a HIIT jump rope circuit.
But when you’re on the right track, you’re going to notice you’re feeling good about yourself more often.
Instead of focusing on pounds and inches alone, take a step back and analyze how you feel as you go about your day. Are you in a better mood? Do you feel more energized and confident than usual?
When you start to build healthy habits, it becomes easier to replace all the negativity you tend to pile on with happier thoughts.
If you’re interested, here’s a list of 10 self-care ideas to boost your mood and keep you motivated.
8. You’re Getting More Zzz’s
Sleep is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking, and breathing. When your sleep schedule starts to fall in line, it’s a win-win.
Not only are you giving your body the time it needs to recover from exercise, so you can keep at it, but you should also take this as a sign that you’re on the right track.
9. You Inspired Someone Else to Move
Motivating your partner, kids, or friends to get up and sweat alongside you is a great sign of progress. They’re seeing the positive changes in you and that energy is contagious.
Not to mention, having someone one on the journey with you helps you get through the rough patches. Every weight loss journey has twists and turns, bumps and obstacles along the way, but you can always find encouragement in numbers.
When you’ve transformed into a role model, rest assured that you’re winning.
10. You’re Excited for Your Next Workout
Great workouts should challenge you, but not so much that you’re dreading the next session. At the end, you want to feel accomplished and invigorated.
Our last sign of success is when you realize that you showed up for yourself, did your thing, crushed it, and you can’t wait to do it all over again. It’s at this point that you’ve reached peak weight loss motivation: you’ve found success in showing up for yourself.
Your Turn…
Let’s think of weight loss a little differently this year. Share some of your non-scale victories in the comments below. We’d love to hear about your 2021 goals, what you use for weight loss encouragement, and your favorite fitness quote!
Be sure to check out these weight loss podcasts that are packed with knowledge and motivation to help you on your fitness journey.
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