When it comes to gaining weight, most people don’t notice it adding on day by day. It may take a few weeks or even a few months, but all of the sudden you’ll step a scale and whoa! You’re ten pounds heavier than you were the last time you checked! Once you realize this, you’ll probably go on a diet or exercise more often, or do both.
But why did it get to that point?
Why is it that we must gain ten pounds or something significant to us before we realize that we need to change the way we eat and exercise? The answer is simple: It’s because we don’t actively measure our weight! If you notice, people who actively measure their weight will tend to improve or maintain it. Sure, they may gain a few pounds here and there, but nothing significant enough that would require a serious lifestyle change (e.g. a crash diet).
The reason for this is the fact that anything actively measured will tend to improve over time. How can it not? When you measure something, like your weight, you will make the necessary adjustments to be at the level you want. So if you gain a few pounds, you’ll find ways to cut some calories or burn a little more. You might run an extra mile a week or cut out the soda and coffee (dare I say it?) from your diet.
Of course, measuring your weight alone isn’t enough. You have to actually care about your weight to the point where you’ll take action and make adjustments in your diet and exercise if necessary. But the keyword is care. And if you notice, those who care about their weight the most are usually the ones who are already actively measuring it. That’s why they produce great results. And you can do the same!
But don’t stop at just measuring your weight. This principle will work with just about anything you apply it to. Simply measure anything that is important to you and you wish to improve.
For example, I want to consistently improve my finances (who doesn’t?), so I track them using personal finance software. I use Mint.com because it works great and you can’t beat the price (it’s free). With Mint, I am able to track my income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. And with the insight I get from tracking my finances, I have been able to consistently improve each and every one of the four.
You can measure just about anything, so get creative! Maybe you can measure how many times you can make people smile per day or how many times you express your love for those you care about. So, what is it you want to improve on and how will you measure it?
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Hi,nice article…a basic concept about improving oneself that I never thought about it before.It’s true that we must continuously measure ourselves each day in everything we do. Nobody’s perfect but everybody can improve and change!