Non Scale Health Victories

So I am continuing to work on improving my health and fitness level and I came across an interesting article about alternative ways to assess health, alternatives to using my nemesis, the scale. Even though there is a big emphasis on obesity which of course is measured in pounds these days, there is more to being healthy than just your weight. There’s more than one way to measure success. It's not just a number on the scale. Here are some things that say more about your health than the scale, sleep, movement, social interaction, and the mirror. Think about the amount of sleep you get, 7 good hours each night is what you need. Then consider whether or not you sit for prolonged periods. If you do you need to move more. Think of social interaction as the opposite of loneliness. Research shows that loneliness leads to unhealthy habits like drinking and overeating. Social interaction has been found to be a stress reducer too. And lastly, the mirror, it matters because you can use it to see how your body weight is distributed and whether you have lean muscle or too much fat. If it is hard to look at yourself honestly in the mirror then snap a selfie or better yet a belfie (a photo of your own belly) with your phone and don’t send the photo to the trash can. Use it for motivation. It won’t change until you do. Let how your clothes fit and feel help you realize the positive impacts of exercise and healthy eating on your body. I’m going to drop a towel over my scale and work focusing on other ways to measure my health and fitness.