How to Measure Success When the Scale Lies to You

I am excited to welcome you to our brand new series called How to Measure Success. Over the next few weeks, we will explore different areas of life and learn how to recognize when we are truly winning, even when it might not look the way we expected.

Today, we are starting with something that affects almost all of us: Success in Fitness Goals. Whether you love working out or you avoid the gym like it has a disease, this topic touches everyone who has ever wanted to feel healthier and stronger.

You know, when we reach the middle of the year, it can really change how we feel about ourselves. This is the time when we look back at all the big promises we made to ourselves in January. Some of us feel proud, others feel disappointed, and many of us feel something in between.

Here is something interesting I have learned: measuring success is not like measuring other things in life. When you want to know how much you weigh, you step on a scale and see the number in pounds. When you want to know how far you walked, you can count the steps or measure the distance in miles. But success? Success cannot be measured with just one simple number or tool.

The most important thing is to be very clear about what success means to YOU. And here is a secret that many people miss: success is more about the journey than the destination.

My Fitness Destination

Let me tell you a funny story. It was sometime near the end of December 2024, and I was having dinner with my friends. You know how it is when everyone starts talking about their goals for the new year. People were sharing their big dreams and plans.

When the conversation turned to fitness, I got caught up in all the excitement. Without really thinking, I said out loud that I wanted to have a six pack midsection by the middle of the year. I am not even sure what made me say it! Maybe it was the energy in the room, or maybe I was just feeling very confident.

Well, here we are six months later, and I am nowhere near having a six pack. I could not even manage one pack per month! 

My Fitness Journey

But here is the beautiful part of this story. Even though I have not reached my original goal of having a six pack, something amazing has happened during these six months.

I have become much more careful about what I eat and when I eat. I pay attention to my meals now instead of just eating whatever I want. I have also worked hard to keep up with my workout routine, even when I did not feel like it.

Key Lesson: Even though I have not reached my fitness destination, my fitness journey has helped me become healthier and stronger overall. My body feels better, I have more energy, and I am proud of the healthy habits I have built. And for me, that is real success!

The truth is, the goal of having a six pack got me started, but the daily choices to eat better and exercise regularly are what actually changed my life.

Action Point

• Take a moment this weekend to think about one fitness goal you set for yourself this year. Instead of focusing only on whether you reached the final goal, write down three good things that happened because you tried. Maybe you sleep better now, or you can climb stairs without getting tired, or you feel more confident. Celebrate those wins, they are your real success!

Remember, every step forward is still a step forward, even if it is not as fast as you hoped.